Spring is here! Time to plan a garden party
As spring is officially here, you can start planning your first garden party of the year. Not sure where to start? Then you need these tips in your life. We ask Event Oracle, the party organisers behind Wilderness Festival for their unmissiable party tips.
1. How to start planning for a festival garden party?
The more time you have to think about organising your party the better, it will allow you a little more freedom to be creative, source decorations and space to think about everything you want to achieve. If it's a last minute thing, don't panic! The most important thing is to have fun.
2. What makes a festival garden party for you?
Friends, lots and lots of them, you can't have a good party without great people to share it with - it's what makes the party atmosphere!
3. How to you choose the perfect flowers?
For a festival inspired party you want to stay low key, simple and stylish. Festivals are outdoor affairs and its about complementing your surroundings. Use lots of little different coloured vases and pots to hold wild flowers - something simple, bright and fun. Try to use flowers a different way - flower head bands are a great accessory to hand out to your guests with a cocktail on arrival and little touches like ice cubes with tiny flowers frozen in them instantly make a cocktail summery.
4. How important are lights to the party atmosphere?
Lighting is the most effective way to transform a space, the most subtle and gentle way to do this is by candle light. Hanging electric tea light's from tree branches and plenty of church candles and tea lights on the tables add a magical feel. There are some fantastic electric candles available and by putting them in a small frosted holder, your guests wouldn't know the difference! And if anyone feels like dancing on the tables it means their dress won't get singed!
TIP: 'Food is very important to any party. Choose something that you feel comfortable cooking and maybe one dish that pushes your culinary skills. For me, I would cook something from my heritage, and go to the roots of Scandinavian cooking techniques', says, Swedish Chef, Niklas Peter Ekstedt
5. What type of music best suits a garden party?
Music is all about building up the atmosphere. If you're considering live music, try looking for something slightly different which people wouldn't necessarily of seen or heard before. Whatever you pick it must be something that will work just as well for background music if guests aren't yet ready to dance. As with any party, as the night goes on, so should the tempo and volume!
6. What easy-to-make dinner party games would you suggest?
Having something to-hand after dinner is great if the majority of your guests don't know each other, and it is a skilful way to encourage them to mingle. But if your friends all know each other, let the party evolve naturally.
7. What else would you use to decorate a festival garden party?
Food alone can be creative and beautiful - an art form within it's own right and it is always worth thinking how you can push the presentation further. At one of the long banquet dinners at Wilderness we simply placed a platter with Raymond Blanc's shoulder of lamb and summer risotto onto a larger platter which had been dressed with hay and bay leaves. It turned an already beautiful dish into a true feast for the eyes.
8. Tips for putting the table together
Keep things natural with occasional splashes of colour. Think wooden slatted tables with hessian runners, cutlery tied with raffia, eclectic vases and mishmash chairs. Throw in some beautiful cut glass wear for a luxurious touch, and you can't go wrong with linen napkins.
Secret tip:
The best bit of advice I can give to anyone organising their party is, do not forget to enjoy it. It can be far too easy to get caught up in the detail that you fail to remember to join in. If the host is happy and relaxed, the guests will follow suit.
To book an event visit the Event Oracle website. Book tickets for Wilderness Festival here
To find out more about Chef, Niklas Peter Ekstedt or to visit one of his wonderful resturants, click the link below: http://ekstedt.nu/english/
You may also like... How to grow wildflowers in your home | Jinny Blom's small city garden
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