It’s the start of summer and time to start enjoying the great outdoors…
Ahh summer. The smell of cut grass and flowers, sunlight dappled through the trees, birds twittering, bumblebees buzzing around and the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. Relaxed, al fresco dining lists highly on our favourite holiday memories, but in the spirit of living life to the full make the most of as many sunny (or at least dry) days as possible by moving your entertaining out into the garden. By adding a few touches, the kind that holiday memories are made of, you can make sure that any opportunity becomes a garden party to remember.
If you have a more formal dinner party or romantic evening planned think of the entire outside space as your room when it comes to dressing. If you position your table under a tree use low hanging branches to suspend tealights in jam jars tied with wire to create a natural chandelier or use battery operated fairy lights to create a more subtle look. If you don’t have a tree big enough you can utilise nearby fence panels or string some twine between bamboo posts in the ground to get a similar feel. Make sure that your table is well dressed with all of the items that you would usually use inside; pressed table cloth and napkins, lots of glassware, cut flowers from the garden in jam jars dressed with a simple ribbon. More is most definitely more when it comes to outside entertaining. Make sure that you include a couple of citronella candles to help keep bugs at bay and drape chairs with blankets or pashminas to help ward off any evening chills.
When it comes to food and drink don’t feel that you have to base it all on the barbecue. There is something magical about dining outside that makes a simple but elegant plated dinner seem all the more special. Elegance is the key, beautiful chilled wines and bubbles, delicate seafood or light summery dishes and homemade chocolates to round off the dinner.
For a daytime party soft furnishings are key. Giant cushions, printed fabric or bright blankets dotted around the garden will immediately make your guests feel like lounging and relaxing and will change the atmosphere. Colourful bunting draped across the garden will create a vintage party feel and garden games such as croquet or boules will provide an additional fun diversion. If you have children coming over create a wigwam using bamboo poles and fabric and it will provide a fantastic place for them to play and hide from the grown ups.
Keep the food and drinks fun, easy and bright and it will reinforce the party feel. Big jugs of fruity Pimms or homemade lemonade, platters of mini barbecued spears with haloumi and vegetables and homemade ice-cream either frozen onto lollipops or spooned onto cones and rolled in sparkly cupcake toppings are a sure-fire way to transform a weekend gathering into a memorable garden party.
However you plan to host this summer, make it outdoors and get ready to embrace the great British summer!
Katy