How to organize a garden party?

Published: 28-09-2021

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It would be safe to say that garden parties are a lot of fun for everyone. Both children and adults usually find these kinds of outdoor events much more interesting than parties held within the confinement of four walls. Contrary to what some might think, garden parties are not only meant for children’s birthdays and weekend barbecues. As a matter of fact, you can have a garden party for just about any event you can think of, even very formal ones.

If you have never hosted a garden party before, you might feel rather overwhelmed with the planning that has to be done. Experts suggest breaking it down into smaller tasks so you can be better organized and have more control over the entire process.

 

Conceptualizing the party

This is the initial stage of the planning process where you need to come up with the main concept or theme for the party. First of all, you need to decide how formal you want the event to be. This will determine the dress code for your guests, the decor to be used, the design of the invitations, and so on.

During this stage, you will also have to make the most important decisions about your party. For example, who are the people you want to invite? Are you going to have a theme for the party and if so, what kind of theme would you like to use? Do you want to give away party favours? At this point, it would also be a good idea to come up with a to-do list for the party so you don’t miss any important part of the preparations.

 

Deciding on the food and drinks to serve

If you have decided on the theme of your garden party, the food and drinks should naturally match the theme you have chosen. In general, however, finger foods are an ideal choice for garden parties as they allow guests to serve themselves. Some of the more popular items at garden parties include pies and tarts, skewers, snacks and dips, sandwiches, cheese platters and pickled meats.

As for the drinks, you should set up a table specifically for these refreshments. Fruity and floral options are very suitable for garden parties. As most garden parties take place in summer when it’s warm, make sure you always have cold water for your guests, and a reliable supply of ice.

 

Setting up the venue

Again, the decor should match the theme if you have one. But with that being said, there are some very important things to do when setting up the venue. First, you have to ensure the safety and comfort of your guests, so make sure that there are no roots or rocks that they can trip over. You can protect yourself against this by placing tables strategically.

It is also a good idea to set up a canopy, especially if your venue is a completely open space with no shade. A canopy will not only look nice, but can also be used as protection in case it rains or gets too sunny.

 

Planning the activities

Outdoor games are certainly suitable for garden parties but it would be best to stay away from ball games and activities that are very energetic. Excellent ideas for adults are poetry readings, film screenings, sketching and jam sessions. For kids, board games and tumbling towers would be fine, but you don’t have to worry too much as kids are always having a great time when they are outdoors.

As you can see, there are really no set rules for organizing a garden party. It is important to be true to your own character, keep guests comfortable and just enjoy the event.

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