2022 marks a very important celebration for the British monarchy, the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She is the first British monarch to have reached the incredible milestone of 70 years on the throne and to celebrate, many of us will have an extra-long weekend with the Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June official bank holidays. It is anticipated that approximately 10 million Brits will get getting together with friends and neighbours, for garden and street parties in honour of her Majesty. With this in mind, if you’re planning on celebrating over the Jubilee weekend, here are some top garden party ideas to help your festivities get the royal seal of approval.
Decorating your space
In terms of a colour scheme for your decorations, it has to be red, white and blue. Bunting, streamers and union jack flags make a great starting point. If you prefer something a little different then think floral; blue delphiniums, white peonies and red roses, there are plenty of different flowers in these hues that you could opt for. Floral arrangements in small vases would look particularly attractive on a teak garden table.
Don’t forget to decorate your rattan outdoor furniture as well – cover your rattan garden set or garden armchair with throws and cushions in Jubilee colours. You can also scatter picnic blankets and floor cushions on the lawn to bring some patriotic colour to the garden, not to mention extra seating for guests.
Ideas for decorating tables
Before you can begin to decorate it is important to take a look at what you have to work with. If your outside table and chairs are not up to scratch, then there are a couple of alternatives. You can use a trestle table and cover it with a tablecloth to complement your colour scheme, alternatively why not bring your rustic dining table outside and use that instead. Add touches of colour to your table with some vibrant coloured crockery that matches your colour scheme – you don’t need everything to match, think about using white for your plates with touches of red and blue to make your table really “pop.”
Lighting and Heating
Whilst everyone will be hoping for some glorious summer weather, there is a good chance we might be in for chillier climes – we are talking about the great British weather, after all – so be prepared. If you don’t have a patio heater or a chiminea then see if you can borrow one from a friend. Make sure you also have plenty of blankets and throws to offer guests if it gets cooler, especially at night. Bring a wooden blanket box outside and fill it with blankets and jumpers to have in the garden, ready for if the temperature drops.
Solar lighting is an excellent way of illuminating your garden if you want to carry your party on into the evening or stock up on candles, lanterns and fairy lights to give your garden a magical glow at night.
Food and drink ideas
When it comes to the type of food you want to serve this will depend on they type of party you are planning. An afternoon tea get together serving quintessential cucumber sandwiches, scones and jam and a royal Victoria Sponge is a lovely way to celebrate – don’t forget to use your finest china from your dresser and a crisp white tablecloth. For a more casual gathering, a picnic, BBQ or even a buffet is fun. How more British can you get having a BBQ in the rain! With any luck, it won’t rain, but if you are catering for a crowd, it’s a good idea to pre-cook some of your meats and vegetables before and then finish them on the barbecue to get the lovely chargrilled taste. The key to successfully catering for any type of event is to plan everything well in advance and keep things simple so that you can enjoy yourself.
For drinks, Pimms and Gin and Tonic spring to mind as a typically royal tipple to serve – it is believed the Queen’s favourite drink is Dubonnet and Gin. You can also make non-alcoholic punches for children and designated drivers. Pop them on an outdoor drinks trolley and let guests help themselves.
Ideas for games
Don’t forget to organise some games for the kids, and the big kids. Sack races, pin the crown on the Queen and games like a tug of war are great outdoor activities that will work well at a garden party. You don’t need much in the way of equipment, just some sacks, a rope and plenty of willing volunteers.
Ultimately, the day is all about having fun with friends and family, so make sure there’s plenty of food, drinks and somewhere for everyone to sit, and you’re sure to have a wonderful time.
For more outdoor inspiration see our garden blogs or for furniture ideas, visit our luxury outdoor furniture collection.