Garden Set Up for Outdoor Parties

Introduction

Every year in the summer, we often think about throwing a garden party to enjoy ourselves with friends and family. There are many different ideas for garden parties available to you. Outdoor entertaining at home, whether it’s a family barbeque or an extravagant rooftop gala, requires extensive planning and preparation. 

You will also need to decide how to set up your deck for the backyard so there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy themselves, along with creating guest lists, food menus and party games. Planning your patio layout for a party involves measuring the space defining garden table dining, seating, and activity areas, and placing the appropriate furniture and décor in each section.

Ideas to Put into Consideration

1. Choosing a Theme

Planning a garden party will start with deciding on a theme or colour scheme. There are no rules to selecting a theme, but having one can help to tie the party décor together visually and will be a big help when picking out tableware, food and decorations. 

Try choosing a seasonal colour scheme based on the colour combinations of flowers in your garden. And use local, in-season produce as well. If your props include vases, put into consideration what is currently blooming. The same holds true for your food. 

2. Setting the Table

Use a sturdy outdoor table set on a firm base to help the table stay in place. If there has been a lot of rain recently, steer clear from the lawn areas as the tables and chairs will sink into the mud. Alternatively, consider laying a temporary deck using a few wide timber planks laid lengthwise. 

If you decide to use plants and flowers on your outdoor table, put them in vases that are eye-catching and fit the theme of your party. You can use a centrepiece to make your table unique. 

3. Guest Sitting

Having chosen the locations for each of your party stations, it’s time to prepare each area with comfortable and stylish furniture. People will want a place to sit, chat, and enjoy the outdoors during your backyard party. For those who don't have enough outdoor furniture, looking into tables and chairs for rent can be a practical and cost-effective solution to accommodate all your guests comfortably.

To accommodate the guests who would love to just kick back and relax during your party, you can get some sun loungers. You can find a huge variety to choose from at Sun Loungers UK. Adding extra cushions and seat pads to the garden chairs as well as some knits and blankets will make your guests more comfortable in the evening as the sun sets. Alternatively, you could consider renting chair from a reputable vendor like Table Rental Singapore - this may save some budget.

4. Food & Drinks

It’s a good idea to prepare salads and some dishes the night before and then let your friends and family serve themselves. By preparing a few dishes beforehand, you will not be hidden away in the kitchen missing out on all the fun. When hosting an outdoor potluck or family gathering, a buffet style set-up is most efficient. 

Set up your wide extension table to create plenty of room for serving platters and dinnerware. It’s also a good idea to place the table close to your dining area so your guests can quickly make their way between the table and the chairs. Plus, you may want to provide drink dispensers that are already filled with ready-made cocktails.

5. Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting really does help bring the party together. Fix some lights on the main wall, or wrap them around large bushes. Decorate the place with banners, buntings and coloured balloons for décor. Using solar yard lighting is a great alternative to electric lights if you’re looking for an eco-friendly design. 

Also, remember to include lights on pathways, along staircases, and around water features so your backyard party guests avoid any catastrophic incidents.

Conclusion

If you’ve been thinking about it for a while, now is a great time to throw a garden party. The warm summer months are upon us, so make use of your garden.