Summer is finally here and the weather is good enough to get outside in the garden. What better way is there to embrace the good weather than by having a summer garden party? Take a look at this list of 10 things you’ll need to make sure your party is not one to be missed this summer.
Food
Everybody at the party will need to eat. A hungry person won’t exactly be the life of the party. It’s important to make sure you have plenty of options for guests with different dietary needs. Having snacks, nibbles and sandwiches are perfect for people to help themselves when they feel hungry. A BBQ is also a great idea for people who prefer burgers and hotdogs etc.
Drink
What better excuse to have a few drinks than a garden party? Exactly, as a good host, you will have plenty of different options depending on a person’s preference. A small bar area is ideal so guests can help themselves when their glass is empty. You also will need to stock up on soft drinks for children and of course for the designated drivers.
Music
This is the perfect way to add atmosphere to your party. Depending on whether you are having a relaxed gathering or a party with dancing, the music choice can be a perfect way to set the mood.
Center Table With Cake
Whether it’s birthday cake or not, it’s a great idea to have a large cake or some gourmet cupcakes as a feature in the center. This will help keep the party social as people gravitate back to the table to get some more cake and are a perfect way for kids to interact with adults.
Cover
Arizona is known for it’s hot, hot weather so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Have an area where people can get shelter from any extreme weather, a gazebo is perfect for a garden party and doesn’t appear out of place.
Lighting
As the evening rolls in and the sun goes down you want to keep your party in full swing. By hanging some fairy lights around and a few other garden lights will keep the party going and add a relaxed atmosphere.
Decorations
If your party is for a birthday then decorations are more important, but if it’s just a gathering then there is no need to go overboard. Decorate enough to at some atmosphere and liven up the garden a bit.
Sitting Area
A sitting area is a great place for guests to eat food, sit and talk or if they just need to rest their feet from all the dancing. Also older guests will appreciate having an area to relax.
Entertainment
You don’t want your guests to get bored so keep them entertained with some games and activities. Depending on the size of your party adjust the scale of the activity.
Kid’s Area
At any garden party, there will be kids running around with energy from all the food and fizzy drinks. You will need a play area to keep them entertained so the adults can enjoy the party and not worry about the children getting bored.
A garden party is a great way to get friends together for food and drinks without having to venture further than your own garden. By including all of these ingredients in your summer garden party you are covering all bases and will be hosting a party to remember.
If you wish to make your summer garden party something really special, connect with The Gourmet Cupcake Company, and we will help you to select the best cakes for your party and deliver the most delicious, freshly baked cakes to your door!
I have been wanting a gazebo for our back patio since our back porch is so small, II can never hhost a party. Thanks for these tips.
A nice place out of the weather and good food are two of the most important parts of outdoor entertaining. These are all great tips.
What a fun theme for a summer party! I am up for any kind of party in the summer, though – I just like to be outside.
These tips are so helpful for 4th of July and for any parties throughout the summer. Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree that less is more when planning a summer garden party. Let the garden be the backdrop. I love simple entertaining and these are all great ingredients for a summer party.
Those great tips! The most important is the kids are so the adults can enjoy the party lol . Thanks! ^_^
I’ve never had a summer party. Would love to, seems so fun! The summer I’m still waiting for here in Toronto!
I plan on having my daughters 15th bday party at one of the local parks. looks like it may be one down by my home with all the flooding going on. Hopefully things will settle down by than.
Having a kids area is key to any outdoor party/event! This is a perfect list for planning summer parties! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I would love to visit a garden party…rather get invited. I love the outdoors and the awesome settings and colors.
I suppose you could have one such party at night too eh?
Thanks for the fun ideas.
I love to plan summer BBQs. I like deciding on the decorations and the food. I always make sure i have plenty of drinks and snacks to choose from.
I would love to have a nice summer party. Unfortunately the weather in Chicago has not been cooperating for summer!
Thank you the tips they are a big help. I have always wanted to host a garden party!
These are awesome tips! I don’t go too much with decorating. I always let the garden be the backdrop.
Thanks a lot for this! Hopefully, my summer parties will be as smooth as possible.
I’ve never had a garden party before but it seems like fun. We spend more time in our lanai. It’s a place for entertaining in the summer.
Music for the grownups – I love international mixes for our get togethers – is key. Equally important is the kids area! It’s great to give them the space and give adults a chance to have grown up conversations without too much craziness!
I love music, and I feel it is an important part of any party. I think having a kids corner is a smart idea as well.
I need to work on building a nice outdoor area. Usually I use my dining room but drinks and food with music outside would be better.
This post has inspired me to do more entertaining! I love to cook but I don’t often have parties…especially not outside since we were fixing up our backyard!
We love outdoor entertaining. I think we try and do it at least once a month! Bug repellent is also a must LOL!
Yes! I definitely need to keep all of these in mind for my 4th of July party this weekend. Thanks for the tips.
What time should I be at the party? 🙂 Looks like you’ve covered everything for an amazing party.
I’m very new to party planning so I am always looking for great idea’s or tips, this is a great list and gave me some inspiration for my next get together. Thank you.
A summer garden party would be ideal right now for my DIL and her friends. They’ve all just started growing and love to talk about what’s going on. I have to admit it is fun.
Looks like you’ve got all the bases covered there – sadly we still haven’t had anyone over and we’re a month into summer already.