How to prepare the perfect garden party

Summer is made for outdoor entertaining when the long nights and warm weather send everyone outdoors. It’s a wonderful time of the year to have a party, invite a lot of people and keep the mess outside. Here are some tips on how to prepare the perfect garden party.

Tidy up the garden

This is a time to make sure your garden is looking good by tidying it up before guests come over. It is a good idea to sort the garden out in the days leading up to the party to avoid having too much to do on the day. The checklist should include mowing the grass, removing the weeds and tidying up anything else that looks as if it could do with some attention.

Food

A lot of people like to hold garden parties in the summer because it gives them the chance to use the barbecue. Not only is it fun to make delicious food al fresco, but it’s easy to make the accompanying dishes, such as salad, beforehand. This saves a last-minute dash around the kitchen trying to get all the food ready on time and it means that the part and the host can be relaxed.

When creating a relaxed party, it is a good idea to incorporate a lot of finger food as people will probably prefer to perch or stand to eat, rather than sitting down and having to use cutlery.

Drink

Next, it’s time to decide where to place the bar for drinks. The patio is a fabulous place to set up a bar as it means guests won’t traipse in and out of the house whenever their glasses are empty. Many people bring their own drinks to an outdoor party – and there’s no need to be afraid to stipulate that on the invitation so that people can drink whatever they want, and hosts won’t be left out of pocket. However, it’s best to make sure there are enough mixers and soft drinks for the drivers.

Furniture

Although many guests will remain standing, it is still a good idea to provide some seating for guests who can’t stand for prolonged periods – check out the garden benches buyers guide to see which piece of outdoor furniture will suit the occasion best. A few side tables are also necessary as people will want to be able to set their drinks and plates down somewhere. This might be a wonderful opportunity for hosts to treat themselves to some new outdoor furniture such as this 4-seat garden table by Lazy Susan.

Music

Music can be changed throughout the party, so there’s no need to stick to one genre unless it works. Soft jazz or classical works well in the daytime and hosts can play something more modern in the evening, especially if people want to dance. However, it’s worth trying to cater to the tastes of guests as much as possible.

These ideas should make any garden party go off with a bang this summer – just don’t forget to check the weather forecast before setting the date!

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