Your invitations should reflect what your guests can expect at your garden party. You might decide to make the invitations by hand. Alternatively, there are websites where you can download free, printable invitations.

Decorating your garden for a garden party allows you to be innovative and create a really special atmosphere. You could choose a theme and decorate your garden accordingly.

Some ideas for garden party decorations are:

• Fairy lights wound around trees
• Candles on tables, and floating candles in glass bowls filled with water
• Tiki torches in the flowerbeds encircling the lawn
• Table decorations of fresh fruit such as lemons and limes
• Trimmed flowerbeds free of weeds
• Jam jars or vases filled with fresh flowers
• Wind chimes and crystals hung from branches of trees
• Music (for atmosphere rather than decoration)

On a practical note, make sure you have some sort of shelter in your garden - whether it is a gazebo or beach umbrellas – in case it is extremely sunny or there are summer showers.

Setting tables and ensuring that as much as possible is put out before the guests arrive will ensure that you have more time to spend with them once the party gets going.

You will need:

• A large buffet table
• Table cloths
• Napkins
• Plates (ideally paper or plastic)
• Plastic wine glasses
• Serving spoons, forks and tongs
• Plastic cutlery
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Bread baskets
• Condiments
• Ice filled wine buckets

A garden party is a great place to have a barbecue. Below, you can find ideas for barbecued dishes as well as food that can be prepared in advance to ensure your guests have something to eat upon arrival if they so wish.

• Sandwich wraps, with cheese, cold meats and salad
• Trays of raw vegetables and dipping sauces
• Barbecued chicken legs, thighs and breasts, salmon steaks, prawns, lamb kebabs
• Homemade houmous
• Plates of cheese and crackers
• Salsa, with tomato, onion, coriander and olive oil
• Trays of fresh fruit, with chocolate dipping sauce (great for kids)
• Bread rolls and bread sticks
• Warm new potatoes with herbs and butter
• Barbecued corn on the cob
• Grilled vegetables (aubergine, courgette, peppers)
• Homemade garlic mushrooms
• Potato salad

Bottles of beer and chilled wine are always a safe bet at a garden party, but you should make sure to cater for those among your guests not drinking alcohol, as well as any children that may be attending your garden party. A range of interesting drinks will ensure that your guests are kept happy. Some ideas for creative and tasty garden party drinks include:

• Pitchers of homemade lemonade
• Bottled water (sparkling and still)
• Homemade sangria in a plastic punchbowl, with ladle
• Non alcoholic summer punch with ice, a range of fruit juices mixed together, and chopped up mixed fruit
• Large metal bucket filled with ice water, bottled beers, white wine, bottles of ginger beer and alcopops