How to Host the Best Garden Party

Hosting a garden party can be stressful when worrying about your guests and making sure your guests wont go home hungry! However, with some helpful tips for hosting the best garden party, you and your guests are sure to have the best time!

Food

Arguably one of the most important things to think of when hosting a garden party is making sure your guests are fed! However, you don’t want to be spending your time inside in the kitchen when all your friends and family are outside enjoying the sunshine, so plan food that can be prepped in advance and cooked in the garden!

The go-to choice for most garden parties is of course the barbecue, because who doesn’t love a BBQ? If you’re struggling to choose between charcoal or gas then why not go for both and have a hybrid. This will allow you to cook a variety of foods that will still have that authentic BBQ taste (and smell!)

Another option for some quick and easy food is a pizza oven. Once heated, they often cook the pizza in as little as a couple of minutes. This is a fantastic idea for a garden party with kids as they can get involved and create their own toppings.

Garden Bar

Who needs to go to the pub to meet friends when you can have your very own bar in your garden? Having a bar in the garden is great for socialising and creates a relaxed atmosphere amongst you and your guests. Add some decorations and bar signs and get creating some signature cocktails that your guests will love!

If your garden is restricted when it comes to space and you don’t want compromise on storage then why not have a garden bar that also doubles up as a shed. Simply close the hatch when you’re finished serving drinks and the building can continue to be used to store your garden items.

Light up

Lighting is a great way to not only add ambience but to help your party seamlessly go from day to night.

A tip to keep in mind when looking for lighting for the garden is that it doesn’t have to match! Mix and match with string lights, candles and lanterns to add a cosy feel.

A place in the sun – and the shade!

Even with the unpredictable British weather, it can still get pretty hot here on summer days so be sure to create a shaded spot in the garden for those guests who may want a spot to sit out of the sun.

You can easily create a shaded spot with a parasol or sun shade, which can be put away in storage in winter months. However, you can look for a more permanent fixture like a gazebo that has a sliding roof making it easy to switch from sun to shade when needed.

Stay Warm

Make sure guests feel comfortable well into the evening when it starts to get a bit cooler. Keep plenty of blankets and throws in baskets outside so guests can help themselves if they start to feel a bit chilly.

Fire pits and heaters are a great addition to the garden and always come in handy when hosting a party or gathering. With such a wide variety of heaters available; from hanging, to floor standing to table top heaters there is something to suit gardens of all sizes.

Fire pits are fantastic for not only providing warmth but they also create light and they are a great place for guests to gather round as the evening draws to a close. An added bonus is that you can have great fun toasting marshmallows and making s’mores over the fire too!

Play!

Lawn games are a fantastic way to have fun at a garden party – for both adults and children! This is a great way to keep the kids entertained, but also a great ice breaker for the grown ups too.

Giant versions of family favourite games such as Connect 4, Jenga and Noughts and Crosses make great lawn games in the sunshine. If this is a family party with a number of children, then why not set up a play area for them away from the cooking area– sand pits, mud kitchens and tables with pens and paper will keep little ones busy and entertained!

No Trips to the Fridge

Save your guests from taking unnecessary trips to the fridge whenever they need a drink with a handy ice bucket or drinks cooler.

If you don’t have a drinks cooler or ice bucket, then simply use some big tubs filled with ice and water instead!