Planning The Perfect Garden Party: Themes, Decorations, Food, & More!

With summer on the horizon and the warm weather in full swing, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to make the most of the glorious British summertime. From delicious food and drink inspiration to stunning garden party decoration ideas, we’ve put together the ultimate guide for planning your next outdoor get-together.

So, whether you choose to host a sunny brunch or an elegant evening under the stars, how do you plan a garden party?

Planning the perfect garden party means placing a focus on the atmosphere, entertainment, and cuisine.  Here’s how to get started:

• Choose a theme and stick to it throughout the planning process.

• Decorate your party with bunting, balloons, flowers, lighting, and more.

• Choose your food, whether it be a BBQ or a picnic.

• Gather a range of both alcoholic and soft beverages.

• Entertain with some garden party games, like croquet or rounders.

This blog post will run through our favourite food and drink ideas, theme ideas, decorations, and much more!

Garden Party Theme Ideas

The first step to planning any garden party is choosing your theme. This will guide how you pick your décor, food, and even dress code, so we've outlined some of the best theme ideas below:

• Summer Solstice Celebration: Celebrate the longest day of the year (June 21) with flower crowns and fresh fruit platters. Enjoy each other’s company through sunset, with glowing lanterns to add to the ambience. 

• Tropical Paradise: Bring island vibes to your garden with palm leaves and a collection of fruity drinks. Decorate with hibiscus flowers and choose your favourite coconut treats.

• Spring Fling: This theme is perfect for late spring or early summer. Decorate the table with tulips, daisies, and pastel colours, whilst adding to the charm with finger sandwiches. 

• Pink Party: Go all out with an all-pink theme, featuring rose wine, strawberry deserts, and pink florals. Why not treat your guests to a photobooth with fun props to really make it Instagram-worthy?

• Garden Brunch: Bring everyone together for a mid-morning feast, with pastries and coffee sitting perfectly on cozy table settings. Really lean into this theme with mimosas and a backdrop of soft jazz music.

• Boho Picnic: Earthy vibes are the focus of this theme, with macrame and dried flower decorations fitting in perfectly. Even the food can have a rustic touch, so why not try your hand at a grazing table?

• Beach Party: Have some seaside fun in your garden with beach towels and inflatable palm trees. Serve your guests classic fish and chips, followed by delicious ice cream sundaes. 

Throwing a garden party for younger kids or teenagers? Try these themes out to strike a balance between fun and feasts.

• Mad Hatter’s Tea Party: Take your kids into a whimsical wonderland with oversized teacups and a dress-up station. Take it one step further and DIY your own “Drink Me” juice bottles or a game of “Find The Cheshire Cat”.

• Unicorns And Rainbows: Unicorn cupcakes and glitter lemonade are essential for this theme. You can also give them somewhere to get out all that energy with a mini dancefloor, complete with a bubble machine.

• Football: Perfect for those huge events like the World Cup, this garden party won’t be complete without dribbling races and penalty shootouts. Refuel with hotdogs before handing out those coveted medals.

• Animal Jungle: Transform your garden with leafy garlands and animal prints for this theme. Serve your safari snacks on themed plates and encourage your guests to dress as their favourite wild animal. 

Garden Party Decoration Ideas

Decorations are a must if you’re looking to host a Pinterest-worthy garden party. We've listed some of the most colourful and creative decoration ideas below, so you can elevate your space without breaking the bank.

Shelter

We all know that British weather can be unpredictable, so it’s important to plan ahead for wind, rain, or even an unexpected heatwave. Consider renting or buying a gazebo to shelter your guests from the rain, or use a teepee to create an area for the little ones. If your goal is to simply create a shady spot for your guests, why not try a garden awning?

Bunting And Flags

Bunting is just one cost-effective way of decorating your garden or gazebo, especially if you choose something that can be reused. Be sure to keep your chosen theme in mind when buying your bunting or flags. Bright colours and fun patterns, for example, are perfect for your garden party, but also suit a number of future occasions, like birthdays.

If you have time ahead of your event, why not get your kids involved and make some paper chains? These can be made in almost any colour or pattern, and they’re a great eco-friendly and cost-effective option.

Wicker Baskets

If you’re going for a coastal or boho theme for your garden party, wicker baskets are the perfect choice. This is also another product that you can reuse time after time, with useful household options also functioning well for your garden party.

As the colder evening draws in, we’d recommend that you fill up a blanket basket with cosy throws for guests to wrap themselves in. Wicker baskets also work really well as planters or cutlery holders, only adding to the atmosphere.

Here at Northern Willow, we stock a range of stunning and sustainably made wicker baskets. Find the perfect option for you by exploring our website categories.

Fresh Flowers

Perfect for the spring and summer months, flowers can bring elegance or fun to any garden party. Keep your theme in mind and choose some arrangements that match your other decorations in colour.

Vintage jars are a great way to display both single stems and bigger arrangements. Alternatively, you could invest in both your party and your garden by refreshing plants already in the ground, creating your own hanging baskets, or even adding some wicker plant pots around your seating area.

If you feel like the rustic vibes of wicker baskets are perfect for your garden, why not check out some of our other blogs? We’ll guide you through everything you need to know about taking Northern Willow products into any outdoor space!

• Can You Plant In a Wicker Basket?

• Can You Waterproof a Wicker Basket?

• Can You Leave Wicker Baskets Outside?

Mood Lighting

If you’re planning on partying well into the evening, remember to grab some fairy lights, lanterns, or even candles. Mood lighting will not only enhance your garden party decor, but also makes sure everyone can still see all your hard work as the sun starts to set.

If the British weather is letting you down as the day goes on, you could also use a fire pit or patio heaters for both lighting and warmth, especially if you already have them on hand.

Other Decoration Ideas Include…

• Wine baskets or chilled drink stations.

• Handwritten signs and name cards.

• Mismatched tableware from vintage stores or charity shops.

• Biodegradable plates and cutlery for a super easy clean up!

• On-theme balloons - whether it’s loose or as part of a bigger display.

Food And Drink Ideas For Your Garden Party

No matter how inventive your theme or beautiful your decorations, food and drinks are arguably the most important aspects of any garden party. With a wide variety of options for every idea, budget, and space, be sure to choose the right food and drink for you and your guests.

Food

Grazing Tables 

Grazing tables and platters are (in our opinion) one of the most stylish food options you can go for. They’re super versatile, whilst keeping in mind the social aspect of your garden party. Guests can graze over the options and chat around the table throughout the day. Grazing platters can also be made to suit groups of any size or dietary needs, so they remain an extremely hassle-free option for you as a host.

If you'd like to find out more about grazing tables and how best to style them for your event, read our blog from an expert: "Styling A Grazing Table: 7 Top Tips"

Classic BBQ

There’s nothing that signals the start of British summertime than a BBQ, making it a perfect choice for your garden party. Most supermarkets will start to sell dedicated BBQ ranges around this time of year, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. 

Veggie guests don’t have to miss out either! Try grilling some halloumi and vegetable skewers, or keep them truly involved with some meat-free burgers. Serve alongside some fresh salads and plenty of sauce options, and you’ve got the perfect feast!

Posh Picnics

If you’re looking to keep numbers to a minimum, or want to celebrate away from home, posh picnics are a great option. Lay down a soft rug or blanket and set out a selection of picnic nibbles. If you’re feeling super fancy, pop your supplies in a fully-stocked picnic basket, complete with crockery, plates, and wine glasses!

If you’d like to find out more about creating a fancy picnic for your guests, complete with equipment, food and drink ideas, and decorations, why not check out our blog: "Luxury & Posh Picnic Ideas: The Ultimate Guide"

Potlucks

Popular in the US and becoming more frequent in the UK, a ‘potluck’ encourages each guest to bring their own dish to share with everyone. Agree in advance about what each person should bring, which could include a dip, platter, a salad, or pudding. Potlucks are great if you’re on a budget, or if you’re busy and don’t have the time to cook a larger meal.

Drinks

Cocktail Pitchers

If you’re hosting a garden party in the summer sun, pitchers of your favourite cocktails are a must. You’ll save time on prepping individual drinks and you can cover the tastes of all your guests. Some of our favourites include:

• Classic Mojito

• Spiked Strawberry Lemonade

• Spicy Margaritas

• Pink Sangria

• Bloody Marys

‘Pimp Your Prosecco’ Table

If your garden party is for you and the girls, a ‘pimp your prosecco’ station always goes down a treat! It’s the perfect option for a chatty group and gives everyone the opportunity to create something they’ll enjoy.

Simply set up a table with the following:

• A large ice-filled bucket with plenty of prosecco

• Carafes of fresh orange, cranberry or elderflower juice

• Slices of citrus fruits and berries 

• Edible prosecco glitter 

• Sorbet in a variety of flavours to make a sgroppino-style cocktail

• Springs of fresh mint

Homemade Lemonade

A classic that’s popular with almost everyone, homemade lemonade is super easy to make! Here’s how:

Garden Party Games

We all love the thought of getting our favourite people together, but keeping them entertained all afternoon can seem really intimidating. Trust us, it’s way easier than you think! Here are a few of our favourites below:

• Croquet 

• Beer or prosecco-pong

• DIY pub quiz

• Giant classic games like Jenga, Connect 4, or Noughts & Crosses

• Mölkky (also known as Finska)

• Rounders

Host The Perfect Garden Party With Northern Willow

From posh picnic baskets and elegant wine carriers, to outdoor planters and blanket baskets, Northern Willow has everything you need to host the perfect outdoor soiree. Each of our products is carefully handcrafted from sustainable materials, so you can trust that they’ll last for years (and many garden parties!) to come.

Get in touch with our lovely team if you have any questions. We’ll be happy to help!