The lure of parties and picnics outside is hard to resist . As soon as there is some sun, I’m out in the garden. I love spending time in the garden and wining and dining with friends. . .and so it’s easy to organise with these handy hints…
- Keep the food simple: Plan food you can prepare ahead and be organised so that when your guests arrive, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the company. See Part 3 on fantastic ways to prepare and present party food.
- Put food and drink in different areas so guests don’t all congregate in one space. I like to create different zones in my gardens for guests to mill around in.
Table and chairs
garden benchTable and chairs
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Having plenty of seating, so your guests are comfortable, is high on my list. Having some of these handy fold up chairs is ideal for backup! I love the design of these chairs, they just pull out into a chair in one move, no fiddly assembly.
Fold up camping chairs
fold up camping chair
Deck chairs
Presentation: Small touches make a big difference. Use hollowed out red, yellow and green peppers to serve ketchup, mustard and relish. Float flowers in shallow glass bowls. See Part 3 on presenting food.
- Keep drinks cool in a tub full of ice: You can use a laundry basket, baby bath, paddling pool or bucket—it just depends on the size of your party! Keep any flies off your food with pop up food covers.
Pop up food covers
Pop up food covers
- Use candles or torches after dark: Candles in jam jars hung from trees can be just as effective as expensive lighting. Old lanterns can be a good find at car boot sales. I love the lawn candles too. Pop on heaters once the weather starts to dip in the evening. Night lights that keep mosquitos at bay are also ideal.
Patio HeaterLawn Candles
Night Lanterns
- Keep a step ahead of the weather: Be prepared to move inside if necessary. This is the ideal prompt to clear out the garage or shed!
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Having some games around can be good fun too and board games if you’re indoors.
Garden Chess
Garden Draughts
Garden Dominoes
- Have a first aid kit handy: …for insect bites, splinters or barbecue burns. Leaving a bottle of insect repellent in sight can also be a life saver!
- The big clean up afterwards: No floors to hoover or mop, no stains on your furniture!
For advice on BBQs see Part 1
Part 3 covers party food preparation and presentation
Filed under: BBQ, Birthday, Entertaining, dining, parties | Tagged: backup, barbecue, BBQ, camping chairs, candles, chairs, chess, deck chairs, dining, dominoes, draughts, friends, garden, handy hints, lanterns, lawn candles, organising, party, patio heater, picnic, pop up food covers, tables, torches, wining, woollywotntos
You have so many good ideas, Katharine. I want to come to your house and join the garden party !
PS. Where were you when I was a complete wreck throwing my sister a bridal shower last May? Oh, I needed your help!
Thank you for such a lovely comment, we really enjoyed having Jade over, she is so sweet, and it did take my mind off things. xxxx
Just the tonic!
What great tips.
Thank you for all your lovely comments on my blog. I’m off to look round yours but your wonderful knitted wot nots are fantastic, who knows after my lesson one day I might be as good as you!
Victoria xx
Hi Victoria, thanks for popping over to my blog and leaving a comment.
[...] Part 3/3 Great ways to present party food at BBQs Posted on July 6, 2009 by woollywotnots Today concludes the three part series on garden BBQs. To recap, click here for Part 1 Bring out the BBQ and Part 2 Party Organising [...]
[...] Visit tomorrow for part 2 on organising parties [...]