10 Top Tips for the perfect Summer Garden Party
Summer is here, the weather’s hotting up… and we can socialise outdoors! It’s the perfect excuse to throw a big garden get-together with all your loved ones.
So if a summer garden party is on the cards, we’ve got plenty of ideas to get you started. Follow these 10 top tips and your guests will be talking about your outdoor shindig for years to come…
1. Light it up right
The party doesn’t need to end once the sun sets. In fact, that’s when your party should be in full swing! With garden lighting, you and your guests can natter and catch up through dusk and beyond – without having to head indoors or call time on all the fun.
When it comes to lighting up your garden party, it’s best to stick to softer lighting with a warm hue. Harsh or fluorescent lighting, like an outdoor floodlight, can create an unwelcoming feel – it’s more ‘underground car park’ than ‘fun summer party’.
With the lovely outdoor light from Extreme Lounging (below), your guests can bask in an ever-so ambient glow. And with up to 22 hours of battery life, your party can go on and on… next door neighbours permitting!
Extreme Lounging B Bulb Plus Outdoor Light
2. Keep everyone warm
Weather can make or break a garden party. And when guests have chattering teeth and goosebumps, they might find a sudden reason to dash home …
And with our good old British weather, you can’t bank on hot temperatures throughout the summer. So to keep everyone warm, an outdoor heater should be number one on your guest list – it means your guests are guaranteed to stay toasty, no matter what the forecast has in store.
With the freestanding heat lamp by Heatsail (below), keeping everyone warm has never looked so good. This handy lamp keeps any guest within a five-metre radius extra toasty. And with the option to add Bluetooth speakers to the base, it also helps you get the party started.
Heatsail Dome Freestanding Electric Patio Heater Floor Lamp in Black with +25 HEAT
3. Host a pizza party
Who doesn’t like pizza?! It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser and ready in no time.
And since you’re busy being the top host or hostess (with the most-ess), pizza is one of the easiest dishes to serve up. Simply pop a ready-made base and toppings into the oven, and you’ll have a deliciously authentic pizza in a matter of seconds. So it means less time cooking, and more time catching up…
This gas-powered outdoor pizza oven by Ooni (below) makes feeding guests easier than ever. Heating up to 500 degrees in just 15 minutes, your guests won’t have time to go hungry – and once it’s up to temperature, your pizza will be ready in just 60 seconds.
Ooni Koda 12 Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven
4. Dare to be different on the grill
A BBQ is a timeless classic for garden parties. And while a hot dog and burger always go down well, they’re not always the most memorable or imaginative options.
But if you’d like to go the extra mile and really get your guests talking, get a little creative and test your grill with some alternative BBQ ideas. Here are a few fun ideas to get you started:
- Grilled steak tacos
- Tandoori chicken wraps
- Chicken shawarma
- Chimichurri steaks
- Halloumi burgers
And when it comes to grilling up these treats, you can’t go wrong with the Tramontina Beer Barrel BBQ Grill (below). With its rounded handles, it’ll be easy to move this grill to wherever the action is – so you won’t miss a moment with your guests while you cook up a storm.
Tramontina Beer Barrel BBQ Grill
5. Blast a summer playlist
It goes without saying that every decent garden party needs a catchy summer playlist. And to keep everyone happy, it’s good to include a variety. Mix it up with modern chart-toppers, cheesy classics, and singalong favourites…
It’s also a good idea to include mellow chilled-out songs as the party winds down and your guests relax into the evening.
You’ll need some quality weatherproof speakers to really enjoy those summer tunes. Nothing ruins a fun party vibe like a crackly or quiet sound – so you’ll need to make sure your speakers provide a strong sound for outdoor use.
The smart lantern by Koble (below) gives off ambient lighting and high-quality sound. With Bluetooth connectivity, you and your guests can easily queue up songs and take requests. Plus, with a battery lasting for up to 18 hours, you can keep the party going without a hitch.
Koble Mantle Smart Lantern with Speaker
6. Have a movie night
Looking for a different idea for your summer garden party? Hosting an alfresco movie night is a great way to entertain your guests
With just an outdoor projector and screen, it’s easy to enjoy a blockbuster from the comfort of your own garden. Hand out popcorn and blankets, and your guests can snuggle up for a film extravaganza.
Dot some outdoor beanbags around and everyone can unwind in ultimate comfort – the only issue will be getting up once the film ends!
It doesn’t need to be a costly affair, either. With the mini projector from Philips (below) at just £199, you can enjoy countless movies for life – and when you consider the price of cinema popcorn and family ticket prices, this will pay for itself in no time!
Philips NeoPix Prime 2 Mini Projector
Extreme Lounging Pastel B Bed Outdoor Bean Bag
7. Gather round a fire
An alfresco fire is the perfect way to light up your garden party and create a place for guests to gather.
Whether you’re toasting smores or telling tales campfire-style, a fire provides the perfect spot for your guests to catch up. Plus, it’s great for keeping your friends nice and warm after the sun goes down.
With this deep fire bowl by Cook King, you can create a long-lasting fire with minimal fuss. Its concave shape means there’s plenty of space for lots of logs – so you can get a good fire going in no time.
Cook King Kongo Deep Fire Bowl
8. Keep the kids entertained
Is your garden party open to kids? If your guests are bringing their little ones, think about ways to keep them entertained. Because your party should be fun for everyone on the guest list – and when the little ones are having a great time, it saves the parents from having to intervene. It’s a win-win.
So create a designated ‘toy zone’ for youngsters to dive into. Bubble wands are great for keeping kids entertained, and they also create a fun party atmosphere – who doesn’t love seeing those gigantic bubbles float around?
And with the wooden playhouse by TP Toys (below), kids can host their own picnic and entertain their teddies – while you get on with entertaining your guests.
TP Toys Wooden Cubby Playhouse
9. Create a self-serve bar
When you host a garden party, you won’t want to spend all your time topping up drinks. So why not let your guests serve themselves with an on-trend bar?
With a selection of ready-to-go cocktails, a big jug of Pimms or punch, and some beers in a cooler, your guests will be spoilt for choice. And it means you can sit back and enjoy the party while your guests help themselves!
Go the extra mile and create a fun chalkboard sign to let guests know to dig in. With some fancy lettering and a cheeky message, it’ll go down a storm on the ‘gram.
This handy little bar table by Keter (below) is ideal for summer garden parties. With a space to pop snacks on top and keep drinks on ice below, it ticks every box. And with its ambient mood lighting, guests won’t trip over this table once it’s dark! Unless they’ve had a few too many, that is…
Keter Cool Bar Table with Lights
10. Beat the heat with parasol
Your friends are over and the sun is shining … yay! But when it comes to scorching temperatures, it can sometimes get a little too hot to relax.
To give your friends a break from slathering factor 50 on, pop up a few parasols. The shade will be a welcome spot to sip an icy drink and keep cool.
And with this stylish carousel by Norfolk Leisure (below), it couldn’t be easier to create a shady spot. Withnext-door just a simple click of a button, you can tilt the canopy – so you can protect your guests from all angles.
Carrousel Aluminium Garden Parasol in Cream
Get ready to party with Cuckooland
Whether you’re bossing the BBQ or serving up cocktails, our complete range of garden furniture and accessories is here to help you wow your guests.
Want to get in touch and chat about our garden furniture? Simply call our friendly team on +44 (0) 1305 231231 or send us an email today.
