19 Garden Party Ideas for an Unforgettable Event

When the weather shifts to warm and breezy, the earth is green again, and the outdoors beckon to us from our indoor dwellings, you have the perfect excuse to throw an intimate garden party. Maybe you’re hosting a small tea party, gathering friends for an intimate birthday celebration, or celebrating a baby shower.

Whatever the occasion, it only makes sense to go all out on the display centerpieces, decor, ambiance, and—of course—the menu. Let these garden party ideas turn your event into one that’s full of magical moments and memories.

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Candy Flower Cupcakes

candy flower cupcake garden party food — Credit:
Aaron Dyer

Wow your guests with these beautiful candy flower cupcakes, which are actually much easier to make than they seem. These simple vanilla cupcakes utilize pre-made candies, which are carefully shaped into blossoms.

How To: Candy Flower Cupcakes

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Potted Herb Centerpieces

For a burst of green and fresh aroma, opt for potted herbs as your centerpieces. Place them in cement pots for a uniform look and space them out across the table. You could even offer these up as take-home party favors once your garden party has wrapped up.

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Linen-Covered Pots

flower print linen pots and bag — Credit: Ryan Liebe

You can dress up just about anything for a backyard party, and that includes your prized plants. Floral-themed linens accent flowerpots to make every aspect of your festivities fresh and in season.

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Flower-Filled Cocktails

For a truly inspired sip, we love the idea of floating edible flower blossoms in your cocktails, like this blushing combination of gin-and-grapefruit. Lillet Rose, a fortified-wine blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscatel, has the aroma of flowers and ripe berries—perfect for a springtime aperitif.

How To: Lillet Rose Spring Cocktail

05 of 19

Spring Hoop Wreath

Take advantage of new greenery to craft a light and bright feathery green spring wreath. This one uses metal hoops from a craft store, covered with fresh greenery and flowers from the garden.

How To: Spring Hoop Wreath

06 of 19

Sugared-Flowered Doughnuts

Want something sweet and eye-catching to serve for dessert? Look no further than these sugared-flowered doughnuts. While this edible design can top any confection of your choosing, we think these individual glazed treats are adorable.

How To: Sugared-Flowered Doughnuts

07 of 19

Herb-Cheese Palmiers

A classic French pastry gets the savory treatment with Parmesan, cheddar, and your choice of fresh herbs. Form them by folding up a sheet of puff pastry and then cutting it into thin slices.

How To: Herb Cheese Palmiers

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Outdoor Cushions

tufted bench cushions — Credit: Lennart Weibull

Comfortable seating is important for a small and successful garden party, whether guests are lounging under the sun canopy poolside or under the stars at twilight. Learn how to clean outdoor cushions so that they are always inviting.

How To: Clean Outdoor Seat Cushions

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Herb Centerpiece

When herb gardens overflow with more than is needed in any kitchen, why not use the extra yield in a fragrant centerpiece? Mix shapes and textures, and add color with edible flowers and herb blossoms. This arrangement, which includes mint, spicy chives, lavender, and rosemary, sits in a high-sided vessel.

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Sunflower Cupcake Cake

Make any celebration more memorable with this mighty cake in the shape of a sunflower. A small round cake topped with berries sits at the center. Mini cupcakes, frosted in three sunny shades of yellow, make up the petals. Everyone can grab their own serving without touching the rest of the dessert. Or you can decorate individual cupcakes as mini sunflowers.

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Poppies Centerpiece

This bouquet of blooming poppies—cut from the garden and tucked into a vase alongside a rosy-colored treats and drinks—is lively and serene. With their regal reds and rose pinks, wispy whites and flushed creams, this backyard idea makes the perfect arrangement for a small soirée.

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Proper Toppers

The dishes in your backyard deserve prettier bug protection than plain old aluminum foil. Invest in some elegant mesh covers that allow guests to see the food and reach it easily. They keep bees and flies out while elevating any barbecue.

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Refreshing Sangria

Choose a crisp white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, and mix in orange liqueur, fresh ginger, lemon juice, basil, or mint leaves. Then, add your choice of summer fruits, such as pineapple, cantaloupe, and apricots. This refreshing white sangria can be prepared up to a day in advance.

How To: Easy White Wine Sangria

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Martha's Extra-Lemony Lemonade

glass pitcher of lemonade with mint leaves and sliced lemons — Credit: Mike Krautter

Lemon juice, fresh slices, and a syrup made by cooking the rinds provides the wonderful thirst-quenching flavor for this drink. Liven it up with sprigs of mint and add a spirit if you like, or enjoy it as a nonalcoholic refresher.

How To: Martha's Extra-Lemony Lemonade

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Flowerpot Food Covers

Flowerpots aren't only for flowers. With their sturdy impenetrable material, they're also cleverly used to protect dips and other dishes from party-crashing insects. Create a handle by cutting an 18-inch length of 1/4-inch cord and knotting the ends together. Thread the looped end through the drain hole in the flowerpot.

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Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Take it from Martha: Shrimp cocktail is an easy, elegant appetizer for entertaining. Serve yours alongside homemade cocktail sauce for a bite everyone—whether your kids or your best friends—will love. (Just make sure to keep it chilled.)

How To: Classic Shrimp Cocktail

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Hammock

Drop Cloth Decorating — Credit: SETH SMOOT

Our backyard party ideas are all meant to accent the beauty of mother nature. A hammock will allow you to do this and more at your garden party. Simply attach this lounging accessory to a pair of trees and let comfort commence.

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Gorgeous Grazing Board

An array of cured meats and cheeses can set the stage for an unforgettable backyard party with a few friends and family members. A grazing or charcuterie board also includes toasted breads and jams to suit any palate without making anyone too full before the main course.

How To: Beautiful Grazing Board Tutorial

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Canvas Umbrella

If you're hosting a small backyard get-together, odds are that the sun is out, and the weather is at its best. But if the heat is getting a little too intense, an umbrella can easily remedy this issue. Choose one made of sturdy canvas that'll last for seasons to come.