Planning a Festive Garden Party

When you think 4th of July you probably think of BBQs, swimsuits, and fireworks. We do too! Don’t get us wrong, we will be doing all the typical 4th of July celebrations this year. But, we thought it would be fun to host an afternoon garden party to celebrate the holiday with our girlfriends and children. Any excuse to set a beautiful table, eat some delicious food, and drink a glass of rosé {or two}.

Setting The Table

We wanted to create a beautiful tablescape using the classic 4th of July colors with a more elegant design. The antique blue and white pot filled with beautiful begonias balanced the large space and added drama to a small gathering table. Continuing the blue and white theme, we simply fell in love with these scalloped plates from William Sonoma with the touch of blue on the rim.

In an attempt to be less formal, we paired the more feminine plates and glassware with a more casual placemat and napkin from Serena and Lily. The St. Helena napkins were the perfect choice to add a more collected feel to the table. We love how you can dress these napkins up or down {just like a perfect pair of lace up wedges}. Combining these napkins with the round raffia placemats, also from Serena and Lily, brought a more formal tablescape down to a beautifully styled setting that was well suited for a garden party.

Curating the Perfect Menu

We teamed up with Chowgirls Catering to plan the perfect afternoon spread including delicious organic vegetables, an antipasto platter, delicious {and beautiful} deviled eggs, and refreshing “Rhubarbaritas” made with tequila, Chowgirl’s homegrown rhubarb syrup and lime juice. {so so good!} Chowgirls is known for their commitment to sustainability and their fresh, farm grown seasonal ingredients. One of the premiere catering companies in the Twin Cities, they do parties of all sizes and were the perfect partner for this afternoon garden party.

A Beautiful Display

The banquette table was set with the beautiful Carillo chambray table cloth from Serena and Lily. We love the soft warn color and the subtle hand knotted detail on the edge. It was the perfect backdrop to the colorful spread, and took a not so pretty table to a gorgeous well balanced display. Notice the tablecloth is oversized and therefore draping on the ground. This adds drama and a touch of elegance to the vignette.

We used books to add height, potted plants to make the table feel more playful, and added a cute themed frame to the table creating a not too kitschy set up.

Our Tips For Hosting An Afternoon Party

1. Consider the time of day. If its between the lunch and dinner hour, don’t go over board on food. People love food they can snack on, and not feel full. Kids attending, find food that everyone likes! Deviled eggs, vegetables with delicious dips, even the antipasto tray are all things that both adults and children can enjoy. {Our kids LOVED the deviled eggs}.
2. Think outside the box when it comes to decor. Just because its a summer holiday doesn’t mean you can’t use pretty linens, beautiful dishes, and vintage stemware.
3. When hosting an event outdoor, add some elements of coziness. A few pillows, a throw blanket, these pieces will create a more inviting space that encourages your guests to get comfortable and relax.
4. Consider your location. Want to host a stress free party for your girlfriends that includes the children? Find a place where the children can play without wandering! A fenced in backyard was the perfect place for us to let the children roam free while we had a moment to have grown up conversation {doesn’t happen all that often with these kids!}
5. Once you have the party set, have fun! As the host or hostess its important to enjoy all of your hard work, and your guests will have a great time enjoying your company in your beautiful space.

Shop The Post

Thanks to Serena & Lily and Chowgirls for collaborating on this post with us. This post was written by the team at BHI and of course all opinions are our own.