Garden Party Planning

Garden parties are a staple of summer season. The successful garden party takes into account various aspects ranging from preparation of the party schedule in advance, to deciding the menu and recipes, choosing table topics to the entertainment.

Garden parties are best hosted during the day. As it maybe obvious, the beautiful flowers and garden décor would not be as visible in the night as it would be during the day.

Preparing The Garden

The garden needs to be properly weeded and all flowers must be well-placed and visible. If there is a stretch of grass, ensure it is mowed the day of the party. Unkempt gardens are an eyesore when it comes to garden parties.

Decorating The Garden

Spruce up the backyard with some nice silverware, flower centrepieces and beautiful tablecloths. Vintage table pieces and tablecloths are always popular especially during garden parties.

Placing fruit bowls along the table is a good idea to add more colour to the surroundings. Fresh flowers or even silk or paper variants can be set up in the garden areas.

Beautiful terracotta utensil pot holders and bright baskets can be placed along the garden. There could be chances of it raining. As a precautionary measure, a special enclosure needs to be earmarked so that guests can go party inside that place.

The Invitations

Invitations can be casual yet creative with garden photographs or clipart downloaded images. The more creative and colourful your invitations are the more guests will be tempted to attend the party.

Themes

Garden parties become more special when there is a theme involved. Some of the common themes popular in garden parties are tea parties, graduation parties, bridal showers, spring Easter parties etc.

The party can be a simple affair if it is for close friends, family members or more extravagant if it is a banquet with 7 course meals to it. Simple buffets work well too when it comes to garden parties.

Keepsake / Favors

Since this is a garden party, the keepsake provided to guests should be in tune with the occasion. Therefore, great keepsakes include seed packets for planting flowers, fresh flower bouquets, home-grown produce like fruits or vegetables from the backyard etc.

All of these gifts are in tune with garden party themes and are sure to be appreciated by guests.

Food And Menu

In the case of garden parties, the best choice would be a buffet as that way everyone can help themselves to whatever food items they need. Deciding on the menu in advance and preparing as much as possible beforehand can go a long way in keeping stress levels at bay on the actual day of the party.

In case of foods, which need preparation that very day such as fresh juices, fruit bowls etc., these can be made a couple of hours before the party and stored in the refrigerator.

The menu should be light and fresh with the focus being on fruits, vegetables and herbs. If barbecue is very popular amongst the guests invited, steaks and special meats can be served along with some hearty salad.