DIY Garden Party Inspo

Before

1. Your Event Space
Consider your event space carefully. Cater to your crowd. This event was for a bridal shower so I wanted
- Easy parking
- Undercover possible wind and rain
- Even ground for those wearing heels.
- Everyone to have a seat, a drink and food in their hands as soon as they walk in. This catered for all ages too.
- Seating - which ties in the next point

After

2. Food
A. Buffet
Consider the below on the station:
- Levels (can use gift boxes)
- Bamboo spoons, forks & knives in tea cups
- Enough plates for some people to come back twice
- Tongs, spoons & knives for serving
B. Seated
All of the below must be on the table - essentially your guest shouldn't have to get up
- Cups
- Water
- Wine
- Side plate (and main plate if not moving to buffet style for the main event)
- Fork, spoon, knife and napkin per person, with spares on the buffet if mains are served there. Must have enough on the table and enough on the buffet for everyone


C. Stations
The possibilities are endless - more blogs to come!
All of the above in B. should be available on the stations, if your food is not pre-portioned in grab & go sizes.

3. Drinks
A. Water 
One bottle of water per person and there were no leftovers! H2o should be stocked up and easy to access, if not pre-set on each setting.
B. The Good Stuff - Make it easy. Don't bother having a make your own cocktail section - it's not going to happen. Think pre-made and / or portioned. See first blog for Mimosa Bar.
C. Tea & Coffee Station. It's so easy to get creative!
Set out everything you need and use the fool proof method of making your own coffee to see if you have everything.
- Teaspoons
- Scrap bowl
- Coffee cups
- Sugar
- Coffee
- Tea box (popular - english breakfast, peppermint, earl grey, green)
- Boiling water
- Soy, skim & full cream milk (I labelled cute clear jugs and put them in a bucket)

4. More Drinks.. Just Kidding!
   
Signage & Props
A. Think Welcome Sign (I used a posted from Vista Print)
B. Party favours - I got chocolates wrapped in the same design from Barilliant
C. Labels
D. Menus
E. Place cards (can match with B)
F. Have them all match your invitations, envelope & seal

Props - I used teapots, astro-turf and fresh floral in vases!

5. Cake Table
The most foolproof way is to pick a nice table! You can hire or buy a wine barrel, timber table, use pallets or a white garden table.
Make sure it's sitting in front of a blank wall or something nice with clean lines. Take a test photo and you will be the best judge of where it should go. Cake it up and you're good to go!

Suppliers:
- Party favours - www.barilliant.com.au
- Signage - www.vistaprint.com
- Floral - Bunches Wollongong
- White labels on chalkboards - ebay - stickersite
- Cake stands, gift boxes, watering can, - Kmart
- Cake table - Luxe Event Decor Wollongong
- Individual chocolate mousse & cheesecake - New York Cakes
- Astroturf - www.bunnings.com.au
- Naked cake - creative_cake_designs