Garden party ideas: A complete guide to outdoor entertainment

Memories of sun-filled days and warm summer evenings keep us warm all-year-round. So don’t miss an opportunity to host an outdoor gathering! Our summer party ideas work in any outdoor space, whether you have a small patio out the front, or a large lawn out the back. All you need is a good summer spread and decorations that dazzle.

To make sure you get to relax on the day and enjoy the fun, it’s best to have a gameplan. Our garden party ideas will help you suss out what kind of event it’s going to be and what kind of prep you can get out of the way now, leaving you free to mingle, bask in the sun and enjoy great food with family and friends.

Choosing a theme for your party

Throwing a party can be daunting, but picking a theme makes it more fun and enables your guests to pitch in on the food and décor too. When choosing your garden party theme, consider what mood you want to create, the food you want to eat and what kind of garden party entertainment you’ll be lining up.

We recommend something summery and straightforward, just enough to help make it an extra-special occasion for everyone.

Should your party be for adults only?

Now, this all depends on the kind of garden party you want to throw. Perhaps you want a lively afternoon, with outdoor games and guests sprawling on garden furniture. Children don’t often fail to put a smile on our faces, and it would be a shame to leave them out. Just make sure that your outdoor gathering has something for everyone – that includes the kids!

It’s easy to make sure that little ones charging around your garden are catered for. Homemade ice lollies are a known winner, a sweet and cooling treat that won’t result in a sugar crash. If you’re throwing a pizza party, then get them involved in building and topping their pizzas.

On the other hand, if you’re pursuing slightly more sophisticated outdoor party ideas – which you’re hoping will spill into the late evening – you might want to consider asking your guests to try and find a babysitter for the night. Some parties simply aren’t suitable. If you’re already looking forward to popping up the home bar and lighting up the BBQ then it might be one that children should skip.

Garden party food ideas

Of all the things to think about when it comes to outdoor entertainment and throwing a great garden party, perhaps the most important is food. If you get it right – outgrowing the stale crisps-and-dips format – then your guests will be talking about it for weeks. Don’t forget to pick out a few fresh recipes from our delightful summer drink menu too.

Here are some of the most loved outdoor cooking options and garden party food ideas for your summer gathering.

How about a pizza party?

Homemade pizzas are an extremely popular choice for outdoor entertaining, and once you’ve seen what outdoor pizza ovens are capable of, you’ll understand why. With the Lakeland gas pizza oven, for example, you can rustle up crisp, hot pizzas in as little as 60 seconds – what’s not to love?

The question is, which pizza oven is right for your garden party? Luckily, we can help you to answer that very question: Wood-fired vs gas: The best outdoor pizza oven for you. Whichever pizza oven you choose, you’re sure to be the host with the most delicious outdoor menu this summer.

And if you want to make your pizza party a little more creative, how about having a toppings menu? Your guests can choose their toppings on arrival and have their custom pizza brought to them on a plate – just like in a proper restaurant. Or you could let your guests get even more involved by setting up a topping station and letting them craft their own pizzas, exactly how they like them. There are plenty of pizza oven accessories to choose from on our website to help spark some extra pizza inspiration.

Bring on the barbecue

Perhaps pizzas aren’t quite right for this occasion. Well, there are plenty of other garden party food ideas to choose from. There’s always the good old-fashioned barbecue – although ‘old-fashioned’ isn’t a phrase we’d use to describe the barbecues in our current range.

Take the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven, Artisan Pizza Maker and BBQ Smoker, for example. Powered by electricity, this 8-in-1 outdoor oven offers a world of premium flavours, textures and results at the touch of a button – and add authentic smoky flavours with Woodfire Technology.

Then there’s Cobb’s incredibly versatile range of portable cook anything, anywhere cooking systems. Thanks to our generous cool bags and lunch boxes, you can set up your party anywhere you like. Just make sure you pack a decent midge repeller if you’re heading out into the wilderness! Check out our tips for making any outdoor gathering a fly free event too.

With our summer skewer recipes, preparing food for any number of guests is easy. From sweet, charred peppers to smoky strips of chicken, BBQ skewers can be easily adjusted to suit every individual craving and dietary need.

Something sweet

Now, let’s talk desserts. Loved by children and adults alike, ice creams are a fantastic dessert option for a laid-back lawn party on a scorching summer’s day – and they’re even better when you’ve made them yourself.

With Lakeland’s range of ice cream machines and dessert makers, you can get crafting and create signature sweet treats that’ll keep everyone cool, refreshed and thoroughly impressed.

Thoughtful garden party decoration ideas

And when it comes to decoration, it’s all about the little details – festoon lights for when the sun goes down; floor cushions to help make everyone comfy; an ice bucket to keep the drinks cool. You don’t need to go overboard with crazy displays and extravagant entertainment; you just need to be a little creative with the things that matter – your guests will be sure to notice and appreciate it.

5 essential garden party decorations to add to your shopping list

  1. Festoon lights – Simple, yet glamorous, festoon lights are the perfect mood-setter for when the sun decides to retire for the day. As the natural light begins to fade and your guests start to think it’s all over, these bulbs offer a twinkle to help make the smooth transition into the evening.
  2. Glassware – Avoid breaking your best glasses for the sake of a party – you’ll pretend not to care at the time, but you’ll regret having used them afterwards. Beautifully designed and far more sophisticated than paper cups, our outdoor glassware could prove to be a life-saver – or a plate-saver at the very least…
  3. Bunting – If you want to add some festival vibes to your garden party, bunting is the way to go. Simple, effective and easy to put up, our summer meadows bunting surrounding the place will help bring the carnival to your garden.
  4. Food covers – Okay, so not strictly a decoration, but the elegant and colour designs in our food cover range mean they pass as décor. Breathable, eco-friendly and far less fiddly than cling film and foil, they’re perfect for covering your food bowls in between servings.

Hopefully, you can take inspiration from these fun and floral outdoor party ideas. Remember, taking care of the little details really will make all the difference, from the plate you eat off to the music that plays in the background.

If you need any further inspiration, our inspiration pages are packed with ideas and products to help you make the most of summer. Here’s hoping the weather is on our side!

By | 12 April 2022