Tips to host a fun n’ fabulous summer garden party

It’s that time of the year again (well, almost) when the sun is shining, the weather is warmer, the days are longer and the barbeques come out. Garden parties are what summer weekends are all about. And while it’s fun in the sun, it also takes some planning to host and enjoy the perfect garden party. Here are a few essential tips to get you started.

1. Sort out your garden

First things first, if you’re going to host a garden party, it’s imperative that your garden looks clean and fresh and summery! After the long and cold winter, your garden will be neglected, so get those gardening boots on and get to work!

• Mow your lawn a day or two before the party so that there are no loose strands of grass fluttering around
• If you’ve attended to your garden through Spring and planted some flowers, good job. If not, it’s worth making a quick trip to your local garden centre and purchasing some colourful potted plants to dot your garden. The varied colours will make a big impact.
• Make sure you have a sun umbrella or awning to open up – the scorching sun can get too much for some guests

2. Food and drink

These are the showstoppers when it comes to a summer garden party, so make no mistake here. Having a barbeque is the most common and preferred option, but if that’s not possible or not your jam, then opt for snacky, finger foods laid out on a table. Garden parties are all about the guests walking around and mingling so having a sit-down meal is pointless. Supermarkets have a wide range of frozen party snacks, and even do ready-to-eat platters so your options are endless.

If you have the space, keep the drinks on a separate counter to the food so that your guests have more space to serve themselves. Get a couple of beverage dispensers and fill them with iced water and summer drinks such as fresh juices and lemonade. If your guests drink alcohol, pre-make a large quantity of summer drinks like Pimms or Sangria so that you are not spending all your time making drinks for your guests. Gin and Tonic, Scottish Barley Vodka from X Muse, Prosecco, White Wine and Champagne are other great alcoholic choices.

And for the guests that don’t consume alcohol, there are delicious non-alcoholic mocktail options thanks to Clean Co. Their non-alcoholic gin, rum, tequila and whisky alternatives make for delicious ‘clean cocktails’ with no hangovers, no sugar and less than 18 calories per serving! What’s more, they taste absolutely delicious!

I tried the Clean G Pink gin alternative in this Barbie-inspired mocktail – Clean Pink Spritz – and believe me, it was refreshing, delicious and a hit with my friends as well! The design of the bottle is a showstopper in itself, but what’s also cool (and very helpful) is the recipe booklet within with a host of different mocktail recipes. Perfect for your summer parties!

3. The logistics – furniture and cutlery

If you have a garden, it’s likely you will have garden furniture; but you might not have enough seating for all your guests. You have a number of options in this department:

In which case…

• You could hire some outdoor chairs and tables for the occasion
• However, if you want to save on your costs, it might be worth asking neighbours or friends to lend you their garden furniture for the day… you can use those saved pennies for the food or entertainment instead.
• A third option is to get some picnic mats and lay them out on the grass – if it’s a casual afternoon with friends, most guests won’t mind. Bonus points if you have a beanbag or a hammock or hanging chair too – it just adds to the summer garden feel!

Now you could go all out with your fancy crockery and cutlery, but that’s not the most practical thing to do for a garden party. Leave the china and glass for a sit-down meal and bring out disposable or melamine instead. It’s light enough for guests to hold and eat/ drink; you won’t feel bad if it breaks and cleaning up will be so much easier! If you’re going with a barbeque, this Chef’s Knife by Katto Knives will come in good use.

And if you are going to be setting up a table for drinks/ snacks, then why not get these fun, custom table covers?! They’re sure to add more zing to the decor.

4. Entertainment

Again, you don’t have to go all out here. Unless it’s your child’s birthday party – in which case there will be numerous children running around so you might want consider a professional entertainer – there is no need for any lavish entertainment. Good ol’ music will do just fine. See if you can move your speakers or amplifiers outside, and if you can plan the music according to your guests’ age and liking, you’re sorted!