Perfecting the Garden Party
By: Angela Minichiello
There is nothing more fun and beautiful for a Summer gathering than a party in the garden. If you have access to a beautiful outdoor space, it may be the perfect location for your next event.
Planning any gathering can be challenging, but an outdoor event can add some extra stress. Here is a guide for seamless and stunning garden gatherings.
Start with a thoughtful guest list. You want to include all the most important guests, but you don’t want to invite so many people that your outdoor space becomes cramped. Give everyone space to mingle, eat and enjoy.
Once you have the invitees determined, work on a weather-appropriate meal that accommodates any dietary restrictions. Consider if you are able to handle the food yourself, or do you need to recruit friends or a caterer? You could have the whole event catered, or you could pull in special food elements like a grazing spread from Picnic Grazing Co., mobile desserts from The Jolly Sheep, or specialty popsicles from Wild Honey Co.
Once the food is settled, do you have everything you need to serve your menu? If you don’t have everything on hand, you may benefit from a tabletop design service. Leigh Rose Events always helps us pull all the details together. Don’t forget flowers or greenery to bring your table to life.
Now that you have most of the major details nailed, what extras might make your event more magical? A pretty ice bucket with herbs or floral ice to display all your beverage is a must. Don’t forget to include a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Music is an excellent touch, even outdoors. Make sure your playlist can reach your outdoor space.
Lastly, don’t forget the shade, the water, and AMPLE ice and ways to store it. You did all this work; now you want to enjoy it! Everyone prefers to dine in the shade so they can properly enjoy the fruits of your perfectly planned garden party.
Happy Entertaining!
Angela, co-owner of The Hardware House Kitchen
www.thehardwarehousekitchen.com
