Every summer, the Queen of England hosts a number of garden parties at Buckingham Palace. It is a recognition from the Royal Household to the services of the public which includes over 30,000 guests from all walks of life.
Garden parties generally have an informal and relaxed feel, and I strongly encourage to host one to your own liking if you have a garden of your own. I usually plan a garden party in mid-August to celebrate my birthday where my friends and family meet and share stories about their holidays.
Please have a look at the
check list below to make your garden party - and any other party, really - a succes:
- What is the occasion? An anniversary, birthday, or something else?
- For how many people are you hosting the party?
- How many portions of drinks and beverages are needed and when/how will you serve these?
- Division of tasks: who is helping you out? Who will be doing what at what time?
- Be sure to ditch that laidback vibe when it comes to inviting guests. Let them know at least four weeks in advance about the engagement.
- Is it necessary to hand out practical info for your guests? Think: information on parking spaces etc.
Once taken care of practicalities, it is about time to move on to the fun stuff. What is the garden for the party going to look like? Here are a few guidelines that might help you to come up with your very own vision:
1. Choose a colour schemeColours look brighter in summer, so make the most of it. You do not have to overdo it by throwing in many types of colours and shades. One colour that is brought out in neat little details makes all the difference.
2. A dress code is a guideline, not a rule It is summer, so unless the occassion requires a strict dress code, keep it simple.
3. Stick to natural materials Non -reusable plastic cups and plates make me want to squash and break them. It is bad for the environment and for my mood, so I generally stay away from them and arrange whatever I have nicely in a buffet-style manner on a large table.
Style at Home - Garden Party Essentials
4. Do NOT experiment with new recipes Keep it simple and do not be tempted to try new and time-consuming recipes if it is not neccessary. You can make any occassion as big or as small as you like, but make life easy for yourself and stick to reliable recipes if you expect many guests.
Have fun with your garden party! I myself will be serving some good old mini Dutch syrup waffles, sandwiches, and spritzers at my birthday
For more information on garden parties at Buckingham Palace, visit the
official website of the British monarchy
