25 Best Garden Party Ideas for a Beautiful, Elegant, and Memorable Celebration
How can you throw the prettiest garden party ever at home? Step right this way for the best DIY inspo.
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Whether it’s for a milestone birthday, Mother’s Day, a special anniversary, or a baby shower, elegant spring and summer parties are a lovely, creative way to celebrate any event. Because the warm weather months are fleeting, make the most of them with these garden party ideas we’ve rounded up for every occasion. From elevated picnic dishes, light and refreshing recipes, and pretty floral cocktails to simple and beautiful favors for guests and pretty outdoor lanterns for decoration, we’ve pulled together our favorite garden party inspiration and DIY crafting ideas for al fresco parties.
You don’t even need a complicated menu to welcome your guests. A charcuterie board and champagne cocktails (or mocktails!) are just as enjoyable as a full-fledged buffet if you don’t have time to fuss. Or simply offer a few different dainty, pretty desserts and some bubbly to make everything feel more festive. Then don your best floral party dress (extra points for hats or fascinators!) and enjoy a sunny day in your garden with family and friends. And if the weather doesn't cooperate, no worries. Simply adorn your indoor table with plenty of flowers, houseplants, and pastel colors.
Now get ready to celebrate with these garden party ideas for flowers, pretty decor, and lots of good food for the spring and summer months ahead.
Make the Scenery the Star
Fabulous scenery can take center stage with low-key arrangements and neutral bamboo tableware and accents. But even if you don't have a lake view, this idea works equally well under an arbor or on your flower-filled patio.
Get the Alfresco Dining tutorial at Julie Blanner
Use Paper Invitations
Yes, it's easy and quick to send an email, but why not get guests excited about the event by sending real, old-fashioned paper invites. This sets the scene and tells everyone this will be a very special event.
Stock a Spritzer Bar
Nothing is as light and enjoyable as a spritzer on a spring or summer day. This spritzer bar includes everything your guests need to create their own garden party spritzer, all arranged on a pretty bar cart.
Get the Spritzer Bar tutorial at Sugar and Charm
Bake a Giant Sugar Cookie Bouquet
This pretty (and delicious) bouquet is so easy to make. It perfectly sets the theme for your party in a creative way.
Mix Up a Pitcher of White Iced Tea
Use white tea and a refreshing mixture of herbs such as lavender and mint for this garden-party-perfect beverage.
Get the White Iced Tea recipe
Craft DIY Herb Garden Favors
Make these adorable DIY herb gardens as party favors, or assemble them with your guests as part of your garden party activities. They're easy to make, cute as can be, and upcycled from household items.
Get the DIY Herb Garden tutorial at Sugar and Charm
Serve a Fresh Fruit Cheesecake Pie
No one will guess that this pretty no-bake cheesecake pie is so easy to make. Serve it on a floral ceramic pie plate for the prettiest presentation.
Stir up a Raspberry Gin Rickey
The classic gin rickey gets an update with the addition of in-season raspberries. Take this cocktail up a notch if you use gin infused with flowers, such as elderflower, roses, and lavender, for a garden party signature cocktail.
Get the Raspberry Gin Rickey recipe
Craft an Easy DIY Letter Decoration
Every garden party needs flowers everywhere! Create these darling favors for guests or to display as party decor. They're so simple and pretty!
Get the Easy DIY letter tutorial at Best Friends for Frosting
Wow Your Guests with a Special
Is there anything more delicious than chocolate and strawberries? We don't think so! This sky-high layer cake is just right for berry season (or any time, really). Show it off by displaying it on a pretty cake stand.
Get the Choco-Berry Surprise Cake recipe
Create a Hydrangea Centerpiece
Hydrangeas are stunning and super-easy to arrange. Snip blooms from your garden, or pick up cut stems at the local grocery store or florist. Line the table with the arrangements in a clear vase, or use bee-themed or vintage-style Mason jars. They're pretty, practical, and not too expensive (and you can reuse them for other purposes later!).
Get the Hydrangea Centerpiece Tutorial at Julie Blanner
Hang Beads and Poufs
Glam up your table setting by draping crystal bead garlands and poufs from a nearby limb. It's fairy-tale magical!
Set Up an Ice Cream Bar
We all scream for ice cream! Make an ice cream bar the highlight of your outdoor party.
Get the Ice Cream Bar tutorial at Sugar and Charm
Host a Traditional Tea Party
The garden is the perfect setting for a traditional tea party. Serve scones, finger sandwiches, and tiny pastel desserts, such as macarons, on tiered cake stands alongside tea in pretty vintage cups.
Get the Girly Tea Party tutorial at Best Friends for Frosting
Adorn Dishes with Edible Flowers
Did you know that many flowers are edible? Add a garden party perfect touch by adorning salads or lemonade with edible flowers, such as pansies and nasturtiums.
Mix a Batch of Red-Hot Bloody Mary Cocktails
If you're hosting a garden party brunch, why settle for average cocktails? Make this bloody Mary recipe even better by swapping the vodka for smoky, sultry mezcal. Simply leave out the horseradish if you like a less spicy drink.
Get the Red Hot Bloody Mary recipe
Give Lavender Sachet Favors
Tiny sachets filled with lavender buds make the perfect favors for your garden party. Guests will love tucking them into drawers or under pillows for a good night's sleep.
Blend up an Easy Frozen Rosé
What's more refreshing than this frozen rosé drink? Mix these up in batches, and enjoy the "oohs" and "ahhs" from your guests!
Get the Easy Frozen Rosé recipe at Sugar and Charm
Adorn the Trees with String Lights
String lights make everything more magical! If you don't have an outlet handy, opt for solar-powered lights.
Go Natural with Tabletop Decor
Focus on an earthy, natural approach for tabletop decor, like these tiny bird cages and birch logs used as vases. They also can serve as favors for guests to take home.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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