Champagne and Roses: 7 Garden Party Ideas to Celebrate Summer

On average, we spend about 5% of the day outside. Why not make that time more meaningful?

As summer approaches, the weather is warming up and more people are spending time outdoors. If you have a beautiful backyard, now is the time to share it with your friends and family. One way to do so is to host a garden party.

If you’ve never hosted one before, we can help. Read on to discover our list of garden party ideas sure to impress your guests.

1. The Great Gatsby

Mr. Gatsby knew how to throw the biggest, most talked-about parties in the city. If you want to throw a Gatsby-themed party, it’s all about what was popular in the Roaring Twenties. Think jazz, flappers, and themed drinks.

While you can ask your guests to come in costume, it isn’t a requirement. To make this idea work, create a fancy tables-cape complete with a themed centerpiece. Rich blacks and gold work well with this theme, and don’t be afraid to toss in some pearls, beads, and Art Deco decorations.

Make sure to create room for a dance floor in your backyard. You can make one yourself or even rent one.

If you want to impress your guests, make sure you serve the right type of drinks. Consider putting together a drink menu with themed drinks so guests know their options.

Did you know you can buy alcohol online instead of heading to the store? Make it easier on yourself and get all the drinks for your party at once.

2. Alice in Wonderland

If you’re planning on hosting a summer garden party during the day, why not make it whimsical? The Mad Hatter’s tea party is an iconic theme that works perfectly in your backyard.

Set the table with fancy teacups and sweets for your guests. Incorporate thematic elements like flowers, clocks, and vintage keys. For a centerpiece, consider filling a teapot with flowers.

Serve lighter, finger foods traditionally served at tea parties or whip up some appetizers. Petite fours are perfect for this type of garden party and also double as a decorative centerpiece as your guests arrive.

If you want the party to progress into the night, make sure you have plenty of light for your guests. Hanging twinkle lights provides enough light for everyone to see while still keeping with the whole whimsical look.

3. Watercolor Paint Party

Interested in hosting a wine and paint party but want to have it outside? One of the latest garden party ideas for adults gaining traction is a watercolor paint party.

By using an adult coloring book, you and your guests don’t have to worry about drawing anything. Everyone can just relax and start painting.

This is another garden party idea that’s ideal for daytime get-togethers. All you need is to gather craft supplies or ask your guests to bring some and create a comfortable space to hang out.

Serve lighter foods like appetizers or finger foods. Much like with the Wonderland theme, traditional tea party snacks like tea sandwiches and scones work well.

4. Seasonal Flowers

Whether you host your party in spring or summer, chances are that there are plenty of seasonal flowers you can use to create a theme. Head to your local farmer’s market to see if you can’t stock up on some bouquets for your centerpieces.

Take the floral theme further with floral ice cubes or by decorating your cocktails with a flower garnish.

Looking for some easy spring cocktail recipes? Consider whipping up a lemon chamomile cocktail. Not only does this look summery, but it tastes like summer, too!

For snacks, buy or make cupcakes that look like flowers to carry the theme through to the menu. Otherwise, common summer flavors include lemon, lavender, watermelon, and cucumber. Consider making something with these flavors.

5. Create a Cocktail Bar

Are you tired of looking up garden party decoration ideas and want to keep everything simple? Let your garden to the talking and set up a cocktail bar. Let guests mix and match to create their favorite cocktails.

Present different simple syrups that go well in summery drinks and put out a selection of clear spirits. Make sure to include lemons, limes, and citrus juices. If you want, you can print out drink recipe cards to give your guests some ideas.

To decorate, line the table with fresh-cut flowers and herbs.

6. Create a Classy Secret Garden

Why not mix the “secret garden” theme with some glitz and glamour? Think chandeliers, candelabras, billowing white curtains, and crystal stemware. It’s the perfect setting for a fairytale wedding or a high-end garden parties.

If you want to carry out the theme from the book, consider sending out invitations to your “secret garden” with a little vintage key.

For outdoor lighting, consider buying some solar or tea light chandeliers. You can pick up acrylic candelabras that look as good as glass and cost half the price or less. Check your local thrift store to see if you can’t snag any decorations for cheap.

Opt for Victorian decorations and English garden themes.

7. Make It a Picnic

If you want to keep everything casual, consider making your garden party a picnic. Set out temporary seating areas and blankets for your guests and serve traditional picnic foods in wicker baskets.

Another idea is to go buffet-style and set out a table with a gingham cover. Let your guests pick and choose what they’d like from a selection of appetizers and lighter foods.

For drinks, you could serve lemonade, infused water, and a selection of white wines and rosé.

Garden Party Ideas to Let You Enjoy the Outdoors

The idea of a garden party is to relax and enjoy time with friends and family while outdoors. As long as you keep this in mind, you won’t have to stress too much about the little details.

Pick a few ideas from our list of garden party ideas and get planning! Make sure to send your guests an invitation and let them know what to expect before the event.

Need more ideas like these? Be sure to check out the rest of our site for ideas and enjoy the summer while it lasts.