Our favorite ways to enjoy an al fresco affair.
Signature Cocktail Station
Avoid playing bartender with a big-batch cocktail station.
Mix a simple signature cocktail that’s easy enough to recreate when the pitcher or decanter gets low.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Rachael Burrow
Pass the bowl family style or make individual plates for each guest.
This unique summer salad combines strawberries, chopped bacon, and feta cheese.
Elderflower Champagne Cocktail
Make this fun garden party cocktail partya fizzy Elderflower Champagne Cocktail.
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Substitute Prosecco if you don’t love rose, but don’t skip on the floral ice cubes.
This big-batch drink is ideal for entertaining a large crowd.
The recipe makes 44 finger sandwiches, which is plenty for your al fresco affair.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Customize this recipe to match your preferences.
Establish a theme for your garden party, or celebrate one of the several spring or summer events.
Spring Butter Bar
Bring out a loaf of crusty bread.
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These kinds of butter need no other companion.
Raspberry White Chocolate Meringue Cookies
Are you throwing a springtime garden party?
Airy meringue tops these delicious treats for a light and refreshing cookie.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Stock the Bar
When it comes to decorating, remember your bar.
A few color-coordinated serving pieces, garnishes, and bubbles can go a long way.
It’ll be an adorable memento for guests to take home.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs
Garlic Butter Shrimp Cocktail
Now this is a fancy pass-around appetizer that couldn’t be easier.
Mini Muffuletta Sandwiches
These mini sandwiches are excellent finger food.
With plenty of meat and cheese, these sandwiches will disappear quickly from the serving platter.
Credit: Jen Causey
Each sandwichhas capicola, deli ham, salami, provolone, mozzarella, and more.
Herb Centerpieces
Who said flowers must be the centerpiece of a garden party?
Try herbs insteadthey’ll lend a delicate perfume to the tablescape.
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Cherry Blossom Cocktail
Spring always announces its arrival with an explosion of cherry blossoms.
Make this your event’s signature cocktail, and have some cherry blossoms on hand as a garnish.
It’s fruity, tart, and slightly floral.
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Crunchy toasted bread, punchy red onions, and cream cheese make these super-simple sandwiches something special.
Dainty Place Cards
Don’t have your guests scrambling for a seat.
With a dainty place card, they’ll know exactly where to sit.
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Floating Arrangements
Garden party floral arrangements can be simple or elaborate.
It’s so pretty that it practically plates itself, and you might serve it in the baking dish.
Heirloom Linens
There’s nothing like a personal touch at a party.
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Heirloom linens are hard to beat.
The older, the better.
Bonus points if you have the family crest or monogram on the napkins.
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Be sure to choose top-notch tomatoes because even the Bacon Mayonnaise won’t save them if you don’t.
Alternate between red and yellow heirloom tomatoes for a visually appealing appetizer.
This drink is highly refreshing for those hot summer afternoons.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith
It’s an ideal balance of lime juice, tonic water, and sugar.
It features two types of summer squash, succulent shrimp, and plenty of fresh herbs.
These combined ingredients help to celebrate the start of the season.
Credit: Jennifer Davick
Double Duty Place Cards
Looking for a party favor?
Turn place cards into personalized paper weights.
This drink is the ideal summer sipper.
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Pre-made pasta ensures that everything’s a breeze: You only need 10 minutes of active cooking time.
Pitchers of brightly-colored drinks add to the overall party decor.
Combine pineapple juice, fresh lemon, and a splash of grenadine for the perfect pink beverage.
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Garnish with lemon slices.
An Egg-Cellent Touch
An Easter garden party wouldn’t be complete without the ubiquitous egg.
Honeysuckle Lemonade Cocktail
This summer sipper featuring honeysuckle vodka belongs at a garden party.
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It’s easy to make a double or triple batch to serve a crowd.
Garnish with lime slices, diced watermelon, or fresh mint leaves.
Sunflower Cupcakes
Few flowers elicit the same joy and reaction as the sunflower.
Credit: Photo: Erica George Dines
These cupcakes are guaranteed to light up the party.
Dye the icing for the flower petals to match your party’s aesthetic.
Lemon-Tarragon Potato Salad
Is it a Southern gathering without some form of potato salad?
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No, it’s not.
And this one is bright and zesty, perfect for warmer weather.
Leave extra chopped tarragon to use as a garnish.
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
Luscious Lemon Cake
Impress your guests with a seasonal cake that looks too pretty to eat.
The longest part of the recipe is the cool time, but the results are impressive.
This lemon cake is zesty, topped with aLuscious Lemon Frosting.
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick
Summer Orzo Salad
This summery pasta salad contains the season’s best tomatoes and crunchy pistachios.
Top the pasta with zesty basil pesto and creamy feta.
It feels fancy but will only take 20 minutes of active time to make.
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This delicious apple tart uses a store-bought pie crust.
Select a crisp variety for the apples, such as Honeycrisp or your preferred punch in.
Serve this dish warm or at room temperature.
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Grapefruit Rosemary Mimosas
This pretty pink drink sure is a beauty.
Make the simple rosemary syrup beforehand to have it on hand for the garden party.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig or a grapefruit wedge.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Sunflower Centerpieces
The great thing about sunflowers is that each bloom has charming features.
Create simple centerpieces by choosing cute, disposable paper cups and topping each with a sunflower head.
Strawberry Rose Snack Cake
Summer called, and it wants this cake.
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Substitute freeze-dried raspberries if you prefer.
Cucumber-Chickpea Salad with Feta-Mint Vinaigrette
Cool, light, refreshingmeet the ultimate garden party salad.
Garnish the salad with plenty of herbs, including fresh parsley, mint, and dill.
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Build a Charcuterie Board
Consider this the appetizer that will kindly everyone of all ages.
Monogramed Cocktail Bar
Celebrating a special someone at your garden party?
Give them a nod with a monogrammed cocktail bar.
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Light and spongey angel food cake pairs perfectly with the lemon-cream cheese frosting.
This cake will be the most beautiful on the dessert table.
They add a cheerful pop of color that endear them to all.
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The adults might also appreciate a nightcap.
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