6 Summer Garden Party Ideas For Every Type Of Host

Summer is finally here which means it’s time to take are social lives outside for the season of the garden party. This time of year heralds afternoon barbecues, hazy evenings spent with jugs of Pimm’s and all day outdoor lunches which last until long after the sun goes down. There are so many ways to host a fabulous summer garden party and it all depends on the type of party you are looking to throw as to what you need to do to prepare. We've rounded up six key summer garden party ideas to cater to every type of host…

1. Relaxed Pool Party

Image courtesy of Sunnylife

If you are lucky enough to have a pool or a hot tub in your garden, which more and more of us now are thanks to the new trend for inflatable hot tubs, a pool party is an incredibly fun choice for a garden event. This type of party can be as excessive or as laidback as you want, so decide before hand if you are aiming for a Great Gatsby-esque affair or if you just want a few friends round to laze by the water for the day and prepare accordingly. A big trend for the pool again this year is of course the ever-popular inflatable accessories, so make sure you stock up on flamingo, pineapple or even unicorn floats for your party and floating drinks holders and pool games are also a must for this year. Don’t forget to stock up on plastic dinnerware, glasses and cutlery to avoid any accidents near the water and opt for a light bite menu that your guest can graze at throughout the day.

Pool Party Checklist

A light bite & finger food
Plastic glasses, dinnerware & cutlery
Sun loungers & hammocks
Pool inflatables
Pool games
Floating drinks holders

Outdoor Dinner Party

Image courtesy of Maren Winter / Adobe Stock

For a stylish outdoor dinner party you simply need to make all of the same considerations as you would an indoor event and just take the party outside. Stick with formal tableware, glasses and cutlery for an outdoor dinner party, but now’s your chance to update your collection to include a fresh tableware design to complement the new setting. Compile a delectable summer themed menu to delight your guests and don’t forget seasonal table decorations and centrepieces such as wildflower blooms, fruit or foliage which will beautifully enhance the garden feel. You will also want to set the mood of the evening with atmospheric lighting, however make sure you provide enough illumination for your guests to still be able to clearly see their food.

Colorful plates on table with grapefruit

Dinner Party Checklist

Summer themed multiple course menu
Formal yet fresh dinnerware & cutlery
Placemats, table cloth and napkins
Formal glassware
Summery centrepiece
Atmospheric yet still illuminating lighting

Barbecue Feast

Image courtesy of BergHOFF

Image courtesy of BergHOFF

Is there anything better than that first barbecue of the summer? The perfect garden party choice for foodies and those that love a more relaxed atmosphere, barbecues are one of the most versatile events to throw and they can be held in the day or evening with ease. If you are an avid barbecuer chances are you will already have all your equipment ready to go, so now you just need to make sure you have enough grilling space for a selections of meats and sides for the amount of guests you are inviting and start preparing a feast your friends and family will love. Set up a table with all of the sides, relishes and salads displayed for your guests to customise the food they get from the grill for a hearty summer foodie party.

Image courtesy of Hoefats

Barbecue Party Checklist

A barbecue big enough to cater to the amount of guests
Serveware to transport food from grill to table
Selection of grillable meats & sides
Relaxed tableware
Relishes & extras for guests to customise their dishes

Al Fresco Cocktail Party

Who doesn’t love a cocktail party? Well now it’s time to take the soiree outside and throw yourself a glittering evening get together which will be the talk of your friends all year. Easily combinable with the Gatsby inspired pool party mentioned above, for an outdoor cocktail party you can utilize an on-trend bar cart to take your favorite cocktail ingredients al fresco and we suggest offering just two or three tipples to keep the cocktail making simple on the night. By choosing which cocktails to serve in advance you can also prepare them in pitchers and just garnish them at the cart when the party is in full swing. Don’t forget the correct glasses for the cocktails you are serving and to set the tone with some mood lighting, think string lights and flickering lanterns.

Cocktail Party Checklist

Drinks station/bar cart
A menu of 2-3 cocktails
Jugs for pre-making the cocktails
Cocktail glasses & accessories
Canapes & nibbles
Stylish serveware
Moody lighting

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Lazy Summer Lunch

Lazy summer lunches are the kind that can span from noon until the sun goes down with relaxed conversation, good food and free-flowing drinks. The key to hosting summer lunches is to not get too hung up on the details, just provide a simple, hearty menu your guests will love and keep their glasses topped up as the day progresses. For this type of summer garden party idea make sure to invest in a good quality parasol to protect guests from the midday sun and insects can quickly blight the best planned events so look for citronella candles or other insect repellents you can place nearby to keep your dining pest-free.

Image courtesy of Rawpixel / Adobe Stock

Summer Lunch Party Checklist

A simple, hearty menu
Laidback tableware & cutlery
Tumblers & wine glasses
Parasol
Citronella candles/insect repellent
Comfy outdoor cushions & seat pads

Blissful Summer Picnic

Picnics don’t always need to be an adventure that takes you far away from home, you can have a blissful picnic in your own back garden too. The perfect excuse if you’ve invested in a chic picnic hamper or backpack and you haven’t had a chance to use it yet, now’s the time to treat your family or friends to a relaxed picnic party. Prepare some easy to eat tasty treats, lay out a comfy blanket with some outdoor cushions and you’ll have yourself a stylish picnic setting in an instant. If you don’t yet have a picnic set, then just a melamine dinnerware, glasses and cutlery set will also work and don’t forget the cooler to keep the drinks ice cold.