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Spring

How to host the prettiest (most successful) garden party

Celebrate the warm weather with an outdoor reception filled with music, scrumptious eats and good company.
By Janice Yeung
outdoor hanging lights and lanterns party

Jessica Claire via Rubyrhino.co.uk

Garden party hosting tips

Choose a signature drink

Surprise your guests with a ready-made drink stand. Choose ingredients with seasonal fruits such as rhubarb and mango for a spring-themed cocktail. Our pretty drink picks: rhubarb spritzer and mango sunrise bevvie.

pink lemonade outdoor drink stationAsubtlerevelry.com

Keep it casual

Hosting a bright and lively outdoor party doesn’t mean that it has to be extravagant. Put together a casual backyard get-together by throwing a couple of pillows on a picnic mat, cover tables with brightly coloured flowers and matching plates and cups, and your leisurely garden party is ready to go!

casual garden partyJessica Claire via Rubyrhino.co.uk

Set the tone

Music is absolutely essential to setting the ambience and mood right away. Kick it old school with a vintage record player and sweet-sounding vinyls. Encourage your guests to comb through the collection and put on their favourite tunes.

record player with vinyls garden party outdoorsGriffin Gibson via Laniersbooks.com

Decorate the table

Put together a gorgeous table setting with bouquets of flowers and nature-inspired centrepieces. Place a table runner across the table — it adds an elegant touch and will unify the look.

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table decorating garden party floral centrepieceCanvasandcanopy.com

Keep the food simple

Don’t stress yourself by trying to serve a grand banquet. Create simple edibles like salad, sandwiches and finger-food platters that are visually appetizing. Get the recipe: Shrimp dip trio

Shrimp cocktail platter with dipsAndreas Trauttmansdorff

String up some lights

As the party goes later into the night, use candle lighting and pretty hanging lights to keep the outdoor ambience going.

outdoor hanging lights and lanterns partyRoberto Caruso

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