Everything I Need For The Perfect Summer Party
I love the summer season - especially when it comes to garden parties. However, that isn’t the case when it’s my turn to be the host. There’s a lot of pressure to put on a great night, and in recent years I have left it to the last minute and been an ultra-stressed mess! This year is going to be different. I’m planning well in advance and will have everything ready with time to spare. Well, that’s the idea, anyway.
So here’s what I’ve managed to sort out so far. There’s still a way to go, but I’m feeling confident I can put on a great night for my friends and family. Take a look and let me know if you have any suggestions!
Seating arrangements
It’s a tough one to call right now - I don’t know how many people are coming yet. But in my opinion you can never have enough seats in the garden. I’m thinking of getting a few hammocks put up between my trees, and investing in some long cushioned seats. It’s a little more intimate than having single chairs strewn all over the place. One thing I'm definitely looking into for the future is building my own. I’ve been inspired to get hold of some railway sleepers and make some awesome chairs from them - take a look over here to see what you can do.
Lighting
I have some great solar powered lights in the garden already, but I like the idea of having some lighting at different levels. Some fairy lights in the trees are on the planning list, and I also love this Quoizel outdoor lighting. A few of those classic lamps will look great hanging up or at ground level. It's worth putting some effort into your lighting when you have a garden party. It creates such a magical atmosphere if you get it right. Although whether I do or not remains to be seen!
Decor & food
OK, so a theme night always works well. I’m thinking a Mad Hatter’s tea party at the moment and put on a buffet in the middle on a table. So a gingham tablecloth is high on my wish list. I’m going to pick up some old teapots and use them to serve up food - it’s going to help me get that surreal vibe that I’m looking for. As for decor, well, there are plenty of things I’ve got in mind. A few old packs of cards can be threaded easily enough and hung from anywhere. I also have an excellent collection of hats that I can throw about the place. I’m pretty sure I can work in a party game with the hats - maybe I could get ‘hat croquet’ to work? Let me know if you have any suggestions!
Music
As some of you will know, I love a good mix tape. But let’s be honest, they can take a while to compile and create. I’m hoping to have something ready - but just in case I’m going to make a Spotify playlist. To go with the Mad Hatter theme, I’m thinking of plenty of Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, and Mother of Invention. I hope that a healthy mix of 60s psychedelic rock will be the perfect backdrop - what do you think?
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Disclosure: This is a collaborative post, not all thoughts and opinions expressed on this post are mine. This article is intended to be a general resource for people who are planning for the perfect summer party.
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