With summer officially here and restrictions largely lifted, now – right now, at the very moment, off you go – is the perfect time to throw a summer garden party.
This summer season, if you want your alfresco soirée to be super stylish, it’s all about the finishing touches; you know, those finer details that all add up to the overall impression of a seriously cool event and host.
From creating different ‘party zones’ to clever lighting tips that make your outdoor space look magical as dusk falls, today we explain how to really impress your guests this summer.
With the help of Philly Mackinnon, founder of party planning website Sugar & Rind, here’s how to throw a stylish garden party this summer in 7 simple steps.
CREATE A ‘GARDEN ROOM’
For shade, sanctuary and a designated chillout space, creating a ‘garden room’ is ideal for your summer garden parties. One of the best ways to do this is by using a covering, like a stretch tent.
Though it doesn’t have to be a big project, doing so is a really effective way of maximising the space you have in your garden, however expansive or compact. A temporary garden room also looks super chic and is great for the ever-unpredictable British weather.
The free-flowing design and flexibility of a stretch tent means that suddenly you’ve created a whole room where there was no room before. What’s more, the sides can also be pulled down if it rains.
Read: 8 unique ideas for socialising in your garden
HAVE DIFFERENT PARTY ZONES
This will depend on how big your garden is, but if you have the space, consider creating different party zones.
As guests arrive, direct them to the ‘cocktail zone’ in the garden, with ready-made drinks that they can easily help themselves to. This is where people will initially spend time catching up and chatting so it should be free from loud music so they can hear each other talk.
You could also add an outdoor bar area, which acts as a focal point for guests to gather around. To designate this space as a watering hole, of sorts, you can ‘zone’ the area using a fountain. The experts at Outdoor Fountain Pros recommend that if you’re looking for something sleek and modern, a black fountain ticks both boxes; ”A black fountain adds sharp contrast and inserts a modern and classy look to a zen garden area”. We couldn’t agree more.
Once people have eaten and become more relaxed – in the dining zone, of course – there needs to be a designated chillout zone (perhaps in that garden room we mentioned earlier?). This could be as simple as a few seats with added blankets for when the temperature starts to drop.
If you’re going all out, you could add a firepit with low slung benches to create a cosy corner, but if you’re serious about throwing a proper party, then you’re going to need a dancefloor, too.
Read: 5 top tips for creating your very own beer garden at home
DITCH FORMAL SEATING
You can instantly update your outdoor space by playing around with different styles of seating.
It’s summer, and in the warmer, brighter weather, no one wants to attend a stuffy dinner party or get stuck next to someone you don’t really want to make conversation with for an hour.
So, ditch the traditional sit-down meal and nurture lots of sociable, informal seating arrangements instead. Think comfy seats, low slung coffee tables, cushions, outdoor rugs, and fold away chairs so you can create extra space later on.
HAVE A ‘DINE ANYWHERE’ APPROACH
An easy way to feed guests, especially in the garden, is to put together (or order in) a selection of food platters rather than having a sit-down meal.
Grazing platters are so on-trend right now and come in a whole host of different shapes and sizes, from antipasti to tapas, meze, cheese and even dessert platters.
One bowl wonders – a large central dish such as risotto, curry or chilli – are another great ‘dine anywhere’ option, and can either be served by wait staff if you are having caterers in or are great if you’re keen for guests to simply help themselves.
The ‘dine anywhere’ approach means guests can perch wherever they like as they eat, giving everyone a much-needed chance to catch up with friends and family they might not have seen in over a year.
ADD CLEVER LIGHTING
When the sun goes down, the best summer garden parties really get going, so make sure you manage the lighting so your guests are illuminated just right rather than stumbling around in the dark or blinking into overly bright, stark bulbs.
Festoon lights are a great way to instantly add a party feel to your garden – and best of all, you can keep them up all year round.
Another thing that can completely transform your outdoor space, and is a little boho and funky in its vibe, is adding lights to plants and trees. So, if you have a tree in your garden, wrap fairy lights around it. You’ll be amazed at how effective this simple trick is and nothing beats that twinkle, right?
Consider adding solar lanterns to flower beds, too, which will light up as darkness falls.
BRING THE WOW FACTOR
If you have the budget, go all out and bring the wow factor to your party with some added extras to surprise your guests. This could be hiring a mixologist to serve proper cocktails, or having a flair bartender put on a show – which is a fabulous opener for any party. You could even add a live performer, such as a percussionist, saxophonist or violinist, to play alongside a DJ, to really get the party rocking.
It could be argued that having just one well-thought-out decor element can truly change the dynamic of your party. If you introduce giant thematic inflatables to your garden, for instance, the vibe shift will be immense. You could design your own inflatables in the shape of welcoming arches, character replicas, furniture, and tunnels all adjusted to your party theme to make it as personalised as possible. They will only require a few seconds to set up, but they will give your event breathtaking views and a wow factor.
CHECK YOUR GUEST LIST
Though restrictions on both household and larger gatherings have been lifted, you should still exercise caution when organising your event, paying close attention to the number of guests you invite in relation to the space you are using.
This is super important and very often overlooked, but is vital not only for the safety of your guests but also for the vibe of any party. There is nothing worse than a huge room with not enough people in it, or a tiny room packed like sardines, after all.
Instead, manage that guest list just right, and always check in on the latest government guidelines on events and gatherings, both indoors and out.