10 Decorate with Fresh Blooms

arranging peonies in glass pitcher outdoors

In-season flowers are one of the easiest garden party ideas for decorating an outdoor gathering—especially if you can source the flowers directly from your yard! Peonies, roses, and calla lilies are all summer flowers that make a big statement. If you don't have them in your yard, head to your local farmers market to pick up a bouquet or two.

11 Use Edible Flowers

Lemon Verbena Ice Cream Pie

The party decor doesn't have to stop at the food table! For example, we used edible flowers to decorate an ice cream pie, with gorgeous results. Add extra flair to a garden party or summer brunch by making one of our edible flower recipes.

12 Ditch Paper Plates

party food on platters

An easy way to class up your gathering is to break out the outdoor dinnerware—no paper plates or plastic trays here! Serving finger food eliminates the need for each guest to have their own plates, so you can use pretty serving platters without having a mountain of dishes to do after the party.

13 Grown-Up Party Favors

outdoor entertaining party favors

Don't let guests leave the party empty-handed! Instead, send them home with a grown-up party favor like individually packaged homemade granola bars. It's easy to put these together; make a big batch of bars and individually wrap each one. Tie with string or velvet ribbon, add a sweet tag, and place them in a large bowl so guests can easily grab one on the way out.

14 Set Up Stations

berry picking station

Make sure you have extra supplies for each guest regardless of your party activity. For example, for berry picking, we gathered baskets, sun hats, and muck-ready boots for guests to borrow. Other garden party ideas to make your guests comfortable include supplying sunscreen and sunglasses or having cup koozies to keep drinks cold. In addition, lawn games like bocce or croquet add entertainment for all ages.

15 Rent a Tent

party tent

Don't let unpredictable summer weather ruin your outdoor affair. Rent a tent for the day to add shade and sophistication, and use a few of our colorful outdoor party decor ideas to dress up the area.