Celebrating outdoors – Six tips for the perfect garden party
Are you planning a garden party with friends and family? Whether it's for a garden viewing of the World Cup on a balmy summer evening, a birthday, or if the next dinner invitation suddenly needs to be moved outside, with our tips, nothing will stand in the way of a relaxed outdoor celebration.

Fruity drinks
A refreshing summer cocktail is a great way to welcome guests or to pass the time while waiting for the first barbecue. It's best to always have a non-alcoholic version on hand, as many guests initially suffer from thirst on hot days.
To make things a little easier, you can use zinc bowls or tubs for chilling bottles with ice cubes, and of course, drink dispensers for beautifully presenting lemonade or punch. This way, guests can serve themselves, and you don't have to constantly commute between the garden and the kitchen. It looks especially pretty if you use matching vintage glasses and colorful striped paper straws with a vintage look. Tip: Chill the drinks with frozen fruit instead of ice to prevent them from becoming watered down.
Provide relaxing lighting
At a party, you don't want to sit in the dark, but the light shouldn't be too bright either. Candles or tea lights are always a good idea; thanks to lanterns, they won't go out even in the wind. A special highlight can be a solar-powered glass, which stores sunlight during the day and glows at night. Just like pretty lanterns, the solar lights can be hung decoratively in trees or on a ledge on the house. Torches or open fires also provide cozy lighting.

Focus on naturalness…
Try to decorate your garden so that it looks as natural as possible and not completely dressed up. People should feel like they're outdoors, so stripes, polka dots, and floral patterns always create a cheerful mood. The natural look works especially well with bunting, pompoms, honeycomb balls, or pretty lanterns hung in the trees.
The zinc bowls used to cool drinks bottles also contribute to the natural look. Tables can be decorated with small bouquets from the garden – many small vases are best for this, so the view of the person sitting opposite isn't obstructed.
…and on sustainability
Try to avoid plastic dishes and cutlery. Choose either regular dishes or eco-friendly paper plates and cups, and use wooden cutlery. Straws don't always have to be plastic either; there are great paper versions with colorful stripes or pretty floral patterns that add a pop of color.
Plan B
A plan B is always crucial. Of course, you always hope for sunshine, but to ensure the party doesn't completely fall apart in bad weather, either make a room in the house suitable for guests or (this can often be done spontaneously) rent tents or gazebo tents and have plenty of umbrellas on hand. If it's cold, guests will always appreciate a warm blanket or a fire pit where they can warm up and chat.