Whether you are planning on holding a surprise birthday party for a beloved family member or holding a garden barbecue party just ‘because,’ as the host of the event, you will obviously have a lot to organize.

To help you along the way, read on for a comprehensive guide on how to host the perfect summer garden party in your own home.

Table of Contents

1. Prepare Your Backyard

Firstly, you need to make sure that your garden and backyard are both not only aesthetically pleasing and project an image of entertainment and relaxation for your guests but also that every element is safe, especially if younger children are invited.

Make sure you mow the lawn, remove the weeds from between the patio slabs, and, if possible, hire or even buy a high-quality pressure washer to thoroughly clean the slabs (use this at the front of your home, too.)

To make your garden and backyard suitable and safe for young children:

Ensure there are no poisonous plants or shrubs anywhere in the garden
Only invest in high-quality and guaranteed play equipment
Keep the barbecue and grill far away from where children will be playing
Do not use any chemicals or harsh lawn sprays ahead of the party
Lock your lawnmower and other garden tools away in the shed

2. Clean the Pool

Should you be fortunate enough to have your very own pool in your backyard, then even if you do not intend to use it during the party, you still need it to look clean and sparkling.

Unless you know exactly what you are doing in terms of cleaning the pool, it makes far more sense to hire a professional, which will take far less time and probably, in the end, cost significantly less money, too.

You could also invest in some solar lights to float along the water, either in a warm white or else multi-colored lighting for a more party-style lighting theme when the sun goes down.

If you are planning on inviting your guests to enjoy the pool, too, then make sure you treat yourself to one of the new SPF swimwear pieces with additional fabric to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

3. Think About Food & Drinks

After you have sent the invitations for the garden party of the century, it is time to turn your attention to the refreshments, and of course, it is entirely up to you which direction you go.

If you have plenty of time, you could choose to prepare and serve all the food yourself, either with a BBQ feast cooked right in front of your guests or else as a help-yourself buffet you bring out once everyone has arrived.

Usually, when someone holds a house or garden party, the host asks for everyone to bring their own drinks, but even if this is your plan, you still need to provide the basics in refreshments, just in case someone either forgets or simply doesn’t bother bringing their own (or enough).

As a rule, make sure you go grocery shopping for bottled water, a selection of sodas and juices, a couple of bottles of wine, and a crate or two of beer, and if no one ends up drinking any of it, then you and your household will be stocked-up for weeks.

4. Plan Your Entertainment

Now, the type of entertainment you are looking to provide on the night is wholly determined by the style of garden party you host. For example, if you have your sights set on an Alice-in-Wonderland tea party, then parlor games on the lawn are the order of the day.

Should your garden party be happening in the evening and have more of a party vibe, then you could either go all out and book a DJ for the night or, for a more affordable choice, create a personalized Spotify playlist and blast it through the speakers.

Finally, unless you live in a part of the country where you can almost guarantee that it will stay warm and dry all night, you should also have some backup cover in place, such as a gazebo or even a rented pergola.