Spring and summer are my favorite seasons!  I love nothing more than enjoying the outdoors and hosting a party. Last week, during the rewardStyle conference, I hosted 30 wonderful bloggers who I have met over the past 4 1/2 years at Garden Party for dinner.  With the outdoor entertaining season upon us, I hope you will find a bit inspiration for any outdoor soiree you host in honor of a graduate, bride or just a beautiful night with friends.

SEVEN TIPS FOR HOSTING A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN PARTY

1. Use Fresh Greenery

Incorporating  fresh greenery into your tablescape provides a lush garden feel. With the garlands spilling over the ends of the table, it provides a little extra without feeling overdone. My friends at Gracious Garlands create the most gorgeous greenery.  You’ve seen it here and on my Easter tablescape.  All the greenery arrives farm fresh to your door on the day you request.  We also incorporated garlands into the bar and even my outdoor fireplace to enhance the garden feel.  Use code AWL10 for 10% off your orders.

2. Add Blooming Garden Plants

If you follow me, you know I love all things blue and white and this is no exception! Here I have used a mixture of my favorite blue and white containers with small white hydrangeas and hot pink kalanchoe to give it a lush floral look.  Adding an abundance of white votive candles helps create a beautiful ambience. I also used the new TIKI Brand table top torches to help keep mosquitos and bugs at bay.  And how fantastic are these crossback chairs I incorporated from Lawson Event Rentals? They were the perfect finish to provide a natural look.  Lawson has the best selection of event rentals in the Dallas area.

3. Create an Herbal Cocktail

A minty Mojito is one of my favorite summer cocktails. This “make your own” Mojito bar is one of my tips for easy outdoor entertaining I shared with you last year.  A cocktail with fresh herbs helps to complement and carry through your garden theme.  I mixed up the the Mojito base in large pitchers and let guests choose their flavor to muddle in their glass before topping with club soda and ice.  I’ll be sharing my BLK EYE Vodka Mojito on the blog next week!  You’ll love this non-GMO vodka and this fresh, minty recipe.

4. Serve Simple and Delicious Menu

My goal was to keep the evening casual and simple!  I looked to one of my favorite restaurants, bartaco, to come and serve a light menu of tacos, tuna tostadas, fresh salsas and a spicy cucumber salad. They also provided delicious Aquas Fresca garnished with mint.  The perfect garden mocktail!  If you have a bartaco near you, you must try!  To finish off the evening, I served the perfect pick up dessert, a variety of delicious tarts from Tartalicious. You’ll love to know they ship these tempting tarts throughout the United States.

5. Provide Acrylic Drinkware

Anytime you’re outdoors, and especially near a pool, you never want to use glass drinkware. These beautiful Isabella tumblers, Isabella large beverage and Isabella wine glasses from Juliska are perfect for any outdoor occasion.  They are great for every day use as well.  At the bar, I also served my friend Gela Gallardo’s new Les Calans Rose.  Crisp and delicious…perfect for a summer soiree. In Dallas you can find it at Central Market and City Cafe.

6. Wear the perfect Garden Party Dress

When I saw this blue and white striped maxi dress from Lilly Pulitzer, I knew this was the perfect dress for this party and all summer long.  Blue and white with a touch of hot pink…it was made for me!  Lilly is the queen of lively dresses perfect for a garden party or any spring and summer event.

7. End with a Garden Themed Favor

And of course, end with a great favor.  As one of my best friends says “every party needs a favor.”  Because this was a group of my influencer friends, I reached out to a few of my partners to put together the ultimate Garden Party Favor Bag.  Cabana Life provided these fantastic soft sided coolers and a gift card. I filled them with a bottle of BLK EYE Vodka, along with one of their signature recipe cards, fresh and colorful notecards from Sweet Caroline Designs, swizzle sticks from Acrylic Sticks that you see in my specialty cocktail above and my favorite facial mask trio from Colleen Rothchilds.

Because I love a party favor so much, I’m giving away 4 of these fun favor bags filled with all the goodies including a $100 Gift Card from Cabana Life!  Head on over to my Instagram and Facebook posts later today to find out how to enter.  You can also leave a comment below for an extra entry! Winners will be announced here Friday, April 19.

Entertaining is my love language.  Having friends and family in my home makes my heart sing!  I truly hope this inspires you to take a tip or two and host a Garden Party.  Please feel free to share your best tips on outdoor entertaining.  I’d love to hear!

xo

Alicia

Thank you to BLK EYE Vodka, Juliska, Gracious Garlands, TIKI Brand, Lawson Event Rentals, Cabana Life, Sweet Caroline Designs. Tartalicious, Acrylic Sticks, Colleen Rothschild, Lilly Pulitzer and BarTaco for their generous support of this party and Alicia Wood Lifestyle.

Photos by Audrie Dollins

PS – Meet my fabulous friends:  Tanya Foster, Lee of Do Say Give, Bree of Z Design at Home, Lyndsey Zorich of L Avenue, Randi Garrett Designs, CC Miller, Jennifer of Decor Gold, Kate from Lone Star Southern, Ashley of Curls and Cashmere, Erin of Busbee Style, Sara of Haute and Humid, Jess of Fashionably Jess, Veronika of Veronika’s Blushing, Natasha of Hello Happiness, Erin of My Texas House, Tiffany of Street Style Squad, Samantha of Style of Sam, Heather of So Heather, Cathy of The Middle Page, Anna of Fleurdille, Andrea of Loubies and Lulu, Marnie of Ms Goldgirl, Lisa J Make up, and Mysha of Remington Avenue. We got to visiting and didn’t get photos of everyone!

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