Summer has arrived, which means garden party season is upon us. If you want to level-up your event this year, we've gathered flower-bedecked bakes, garlands and crowns for a charming garden party your guests won't forget about in a hurry.
Whether you're hosting a birthday or gathering loved ones for an enchanting garden soiree, these delightful ideas will elevate your festivities.
Read on for plenty of inspiration that will impress your guests and keep both adults and children entertained.
The festive feast
Kick-start the celebrations by setting up a banquet table laden with blooms and bakes atop a striking floral cloth. Add flower garlands and ribbons streaming from branches, simply tied in place so they will flutter gently in the breeze.
Flower-topped bakes
Cupcakes will keep children happy! Blend 120g each of butter, caster sugar and self-raising flour, two eggs and vanilla extract. Pour into a tin with cases and bake at 160˚C fan oven for 15 minutes. Pile with buttercream, sprinkles and flower cake toppers (try Meri-Meri).
Cool botanicals
Ice cubes sprinkled with edible pansies, violets and rose petals (try Floracle) look enchanting when plopped into celebratory drinks. To make, half-fill a tray with filtered water (for clearer cubes); freeze, add your blooms and top up the water; freeze again.
Magic wands
For younger guests, making dragonfly and damselfly wands is a crafting and nature lesson combined. Making sure an adult supervises, hot-glue gun same-length leaves to a twig for damselfly wings; use broader, different-sized ones for dragonflies. Bind colourful thread round the twig.
Basket of smudge sticks
Create going-home presents inspired by the late-spring tradition of cleansing your home with fragrant smudge sticks. Using natural and untreated twine, tie dried sage, rosemary and rose petals in bundles and pile in a basket with a handwritten note on how to light and fan the scented smoke.
Platter perfection
Individual platters of easy-to-pick-at foods – such as pastries, meats and cheeses – offer a relaxed way to lunch, sitting at the table or pottering around the garden. Add a handwritten menu under a cornucopia of treats piled into wooden canapé dishes (these are made from lightweight pinewood sheets and are biodegradable).
Hanging flower wreaths
Make a den of bright ribbons flaring out from a willow circlet woven with fresh, faux and dried flowers. Soak whips in water to bend into shape more easily. Drape ribbons outwards in a teepee shape and secure to the ground with tent pegs, layering the space with quilts and cushions to relax on and make daisy chains in the dappled sunlight.
Party crowns
Celebrate in style with pretty headdresses. Make a wire circle with a loop at each end and layer flower bunches over one another, securing in place with florist tape. Use ribbon to tie the loops together to fit.
Decorate a cake
Load a bundt or sponge cake with fruit and edible flowers for an effortless topping with showstopper impact. Casual, colourful informality is the vibe, letting the toppings tumble down the sides. Off set with a simple stand that lets the bake steal the show.=
Cocktails and cordials
Take a leaf out of Lydia Millen's book and try homemade lilac syrup to add a zing to gin cocktails or water. Dissolve sugar in a pan of water, one cup of each, on a gentle simmer. Pour in two cups of rinsed flowers (stems removed) and steep in the syrup to the desired strength. Add blueberries for a tint. Strain, cool and bottle.
Pockets full of posies
Hang posies of flowers and herbs from chair backs. Make cones by rolling paper squares diagonally and securing with washi tape. Punch a hole to attach a hanging ribbon. Use seed paper (try Little Green Paper Shop) and guests can plant them afterwards.
Garden Party must-haves
Salcombe Stripe Square Mattress
Nomad Stella Floor Cushion
Soundcore Nebula HD Projector With 100-inch Screen And Stand
Wimius Smart 4K Projector
