A Guide to Hosting a Summer Garden Party

A Guide to Hosting a Summer Garden Party

Australians absolutely love the long, hot summers, as they offer opportunities to do some outdoor entertaining, and if you are planning such an event in your back yard, there is much to arrange. Ask any seasoned host and they will happily confirm that the key to a successful garden party lies firmly in the planning, and with that in mind, here are some tips to ensure that your event is remembered for all the right reasons.

A Guide to Hosting a Summer Garden Party

Start with the Guest List

The number of guests will very much determine the scope of the party, so start by drawing up a list of all you wish to invite. Of course, you must assess the available space and make sure that you do not invite too many people, as this could be disastrous.

The Music 

Of course, no party would be complete without a decent playlist, and knowing your guests as you do, selecting suitable tracks should not be an issue. Bluetooth technology allows you to place speakers in all the best locations, and with a memory stick that is crammed with MP3s, your entertainment is sorted. Make sure you invite the neighbours, which will eliminate the risk of complaints, plus it will give you some extra parking space.

The Menu

A buffet style menu is the ideal choice for an outdoor summer party, and if it all seems a bit much, you can use the cocktail party catering services that can be found online. The caterer can tailor their service to suit the client, and if you want a full-on cocktail do, they are the people to approach.

The Drinks

It goes without saying that you need a good selection of beers, wines & spirits and let’s not forget those who don’t drink alcohol. If you are using an outside caterer, they can handle the drinks and will even provide a bar and barman, should you wish, which really does take the strain out of organising the event. You will need a never-ending supply of ice and if you don’t have an ice-making machine, you can hire one for the occasion.

Lighting and Ambience 

The right ambience is important when throwing an outdoor party, and with LED lighting, you can really go to town, especially by investing in some LED strips that can be draped over shrubs and trees.

There are two more wonderful solutions for embellishing your outdoor party that meld with nature to improve the atmosphere even further. First, you might add a variety of beautiful lanterns and candlesticks. To produce a warm, cozy light, hang them from tree branches or scatter them thoughtfully across the garden. Custom outdoor inflatables are another choice for decorations with a natural theme, as you can incorporate fanciful animals, flowers, or even floating orbs that go well with the garden's environment. In order to achieve the best results, it's crucial to maintain a harmonious balance between artificial items and the outside space's natural beauty when decorating for a garden party.

Directions

When sending out the invites, it is wise to include a small map, for those who are unfamiliar with your home address, which could really help some of your guests. As you know who is attending, you can make an educated guess on the number of vehicles to cater for, as parking space will be needed.

Overnight Accommodation 

It is very likely that a few of your guests will not wish to drive home after imbibing alcohol, and if you have a spare room, it can be used as a temporary overnight room. If you have limited space, it wouldn’t hurt to source a nearby hotel, just in case.

With a lot of planning and some help from good friends, there’s no reason why your garden party won’t be a resounding success.