Garden party ideas for adults
20 Best Garden Party Ideas
Cheetah Is the New Black
Flower lovers, listen up: If you want to throw a garden party everyone will be talking about for summers to come, you need next-level garden decor, amazing food, and unique cocktails. We've got tons of garden party ideas on this list to make your bash one that even Jay Gatsby would be jealous of.
Courtesy of Sugar & Cloth
1 of 20
Decorate With Flowers
A garden party should be literally overflowing with flowers. This easy DIY will teach you how to make a floating flowers table display.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
BUY NOW Sticky Putty, $4, amazon.com
Courtesy of Sugar and Charm
2 of 20
Mix & Match Cocktail Bar
Up your cocktail game by creating a mix & match garden bar. Add several citrus juices, make simple syrups out of different herbs, and have a variety of clear spirits. Garnish with sliced citrus, more fresh herbs, and flowers.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
BUY NOW Botanical Grapefruit & Rose Vodka, $18, drizly.com
Courtesy of Sugar and Charm
3 of 20
Dress Up Your Ice Bucket
Fill your ice bucket with flowers and fruits. It'll chill your bubbly, and double as a bright and colorful centerpiece.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
BUY NOW Ice Bucket, $58, amazon.com
Cheetah Is the New Black
4 of 20
Set Up a Picnic
Take note from Alicia Lund of Cheetah is the New Black's picnic set up if you want to throw a laidback but thoroughly stylish garden party. Pile on the throw blankets and pillows and don't forget the rose.
Courtesy of Sugar and Charm
5 of 20
Use Mini Bouquets
Assemble a small bouquet of flowers in a teacup. Then, tuck your name cards inside the blooms.
See more at Sugar and Charm.
BUY NOW Teacups, $24, amazon.com
Ethan Calabrese
6 of 20
Serve On-Theme Desserts
Impress your guests by turning peaches and puff pastry into a gorg dessert.
These edible blooms taste as good as they look.
Get the recipe from Delish.
BUY NOW Muffin Tin, $9, amazon.com
Courtesy of Sugar & Cloth
7 of 20
Make A Flower Wall Installation
It sounds complicated, but you can handle this. The end result will be Instagram gold for all your party guests.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
BUY NOW Foam Board, $9, amazon.com
Courtesy of Sugar and Charm
8 of 20
Put Lavender In Your Cocktails
Make sure your drinks are as pretty as your decor. This one might smell sweeter than your actual garden.
Get the recipe from Sugar and Charm.
BUY NOW Mason Jars, $9, amazon.com
Courtesy of Sugar & Cloth
9 of 20
Create A Sign Out Of Foliage
Steel wire, faux foliage, and a glue gun will create this garden magic. Now no one will have to ask you where the drinks are.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
BUY NOW Faux Foliage, $11, amazon.com
Cheetah Is the New Black
10 of 20
Hang String Lights
If you're having an al fresco dinner garden party in the evening, make it feel especially magical by hanging string lights. Add plush throws and colorful tabletop decor for a strong finish.
Ethan Calabrese
11 of 20
Make Big-Batch Cocktails
This light, Southern-inspired sweet tea sangria is perfect for an outdoor soirée. Bonus: It can make a big batch, because individual cocktail orders are the worst at parties.
Get the recipe from Delish.
BUY NOW Mason Jars, $9, amazon.com
Cheetah Is the New Black
12 of 20
Make a Dress Code
Tell all your guests to wear their favorite florals for an on-theme garden party.
Courtesy of Lark & Linen
13 of 20
Stir With Flowers
What do you stir your drinks with at a garden party? Flowers, obvs.
Get the tutorial at Lark & Linen.
BUY NOW Bamboo Skewers, $6, amazon.com
Cheetah Is the New Black
14 of 20
Set Up a Floral Arranging Statoion
Set up a station for guests to arrange their own bouquets. This will give them something to bring home and remember the party by.
Courtesy of
15 of 20
Set Up A Lemonade Bar
When life gives you lemons, make a DIY lemonade bar. This one is adults only, but if there's kiddos around, skip the spirits.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
BUY NOW Pitcher, $30, amazon.com
Cheetah Is the New Black
16 of 20
Deck Out Your Bar Cart
If you don't have a full outdoor bar, wheel out a bar cart. Once you've piled on all the necessary ingredients, deck it out with pretty barware and plants.
Ethan Calabrese
17 of 20
Soak Grapes In Prosecco
Prosecco is always a good idea. Set out a bowl of these and watch them disappear, almost instantly.
Get the recipe from Delish.
BUY NOW Prosecco, $10, drizly.com
Courtesy of Sugar and Charm
18 of 20
Turn It Into A Tea Party
A garden is the ultimate setting for a tea party. Serve mini pastries, scones, and plenty of finger sandwiches.
See more at Sugar and Charm.
BUY NOW Tea Serving Stand, $24, amazon.com
Cheetah Is the New Black
19 of 20
Fire Up the Grill
What garden party is complete without a little barbecuing? It's easy, quick, and delicious. If you want to keep things casual (or you just don't want to have to set a table), opt for skewers.
Nicole Franzen
20 of 20
Light a Fire
If you want to keep the party going after the sun goes down and the air starts to get crisper, just move over to a fire pit. This warm conversation pit will keep the party going into the wee hours. Don't worry if you don't have one already—there are tones of affordable portable options out there.
10 lovely looks for outdoor celebrations |
(Image credit: Future)
Garden party ideas are the perfect way to celebrate the warm weather in style.
In the middle of summer, you’ll want to spend every moment possible outside. Whereas in the fall, sometimes nothing can be better than cozying up around a fire with friends to enjoy the crisp air. There are ways to make a garden party decor work for (nearly!) any time of year or space available.
So, from intimate moments to family extravaganzas, we’ve curated our favorite garden party decoration ideas for every type of party.
Garden party ideas
Whether you’re simply taking the family outside for dinner, or hosting a big group of friends, bringing things outside creates a new and fresh dynamic for your garden party ideas. And unlike garden decorating ideas, which will make your space feel unique year-round, these ideas will create a celebratory feel, whatever the occasion.
1. Narrow down your theme
(Image credit: Talking Tables)
Deciding on a theme or color scheme early on can be a good starting point when it comes to planning a garden party.
It can be as broad or as specific as you like - from roses and chintz to a Mad Hatter’s tea party - but having a theme can help to pull the party decor together visually and be a big help when picking out tableware, food and decorations.
‘Why not choose a seasonal color scheme based on the color combination of flowers in your garden,’ says Jo Jeffery, Head of Brand Development at Talking Tables . ‘For our shoots we also try to use in-season produce – so while you may only want a few blooms for a couple of bud vases, why not think about what’s currently flowering. And the same goes for food too.’
‘And try to make use of items you already have when it comes to tableware and party decorations, or consider a trip to a thrift shop which can give something once-loved a new life too. It might also create some talking points for the table.’
2. Organise a table plan
(Image credit: Sophie Allport)
Choose a sturdy outdoor table, positioned on a sound base so that it stays stable.
Avoid using the lawn if there has been a lot of wet weather, as chair legs might sink into soft ground. Or consider laying a temporary deck using a few wide timber planks laid lengthways.
If your garden table won’t stretch to a larger number of guests, then consider a temporary solution. Long trestle-style tables are easy to set up outdoors and several can be joined together if you need to seat a crowd. Cover up with extra-long white table cloths, prettied up with colorful runners along the center. Once the party is over, tables can be folded and stored away in a garage.
3. Sort the seating arrangements
(Image credit: Susie Watson Designs)
Make garden chairs comfier for guests by adding extra seat pads and cushions and a few knits and blankets to keep things cosy as the sun goes down. Having a stash of folding chairs on standby in the garden shed or garage is always useful too, should you need to seat extra numbers or any last-minute guests.
‘Create a magical setting for a summer’s evening with cushions, throws and candlelight,’ says Susie Watson .
‘It’s always a lovely idea when eating outside, to mix odd chairs from indoors. I love using our upholstered library chairs alongside a Gustavian chair or two. It will add color and interest, creating a jolly and welcoming look.’
‘The color palette for my fabric collection is inspired from the plants in the garden, never be afraid to mix the bright colors alongside the calming tones; they always look wonderful, almost like a flower bed in the middle of the lawn.’
4. Give the table a focal point
(Image credit: Pelargoniums for Europe)
Garden plants and flowers in rustic terracotta planters make a pretty table centrepiece, lined up along the length of a table. Using taller items like pot plants, pitchers filled with florals or cake stands piled high with fancies will give a table arrangement extra height and creates an eye-catching focal point. Or consider using the space above a table for decoration and stringing paper pom poms from the branches of a tree to bring an extra pop of color.
‘Just because the sun sets, doesn’t mean your party needs to,’ says Mary Claire Boyd, Fair Director at Spirit of Summer Fair . ‘Consider draping outdoor festoons or fairy lights amongst trees, shrubs or adorned on fences to create a pretty and effective way of keeping your party going long into the night.’
‘Alternatively, candles (real or battery operated) create a wonderful atmosphere and ambiance when dotted around in lanterns or hurricane jars and citronella candles not only provide a fresh aroma but are great for repelling pesky bugs and insects.’
5. Mix and match tableware
(Image credit: Future PLC / David Brittain)
Finding matching tableware to accommodate extra guests can be tricky, but opting for an informal mismatched scheme in jolly brights and clashing florals is an easy way of getting around the problem. Different sets of china can be put together to provide extra place settings, mixing plains and patterns in cheery colors that will bring a relaxed charm to any table.
Using vintage crockery is another easy way of stretching out tableware so that there is plenty to go round. Look out for pretty floral tea cups, saucers, plates and serving dishes at thrift shops or garage sales, building up a characterful collection of mismatched pieces that are perfect for bringing out for parties or special occasions.
6. Make easy table settings
(Image credit: Future PLC / Simon Scarboro)
Using in-season blooms is an inexpensive way of decorating a garden party table and breaking down a large arrangement into separate smaller posies will make your flowers go further.
For an informal display idea, recycle old glass jam jars to display mini posies in. Wrap with brightly colored ribbon and stand one at each place setting. They also make lovely keepsakes for guests to take away afterwards.
7. Try a quick trick with cutlery
(Image credit: Future PLC / Simon Scarboro)
Give vintage cutlery and utensils a new lease of life with vibrant colors spray-painted on the handles.
An easy way of co-ordinating mis-matched sets, go for a color combination that complements your table theme and then hand-tie knife, fork and spoons together using lengths of colored bakers’ twine finished with a bow.
For quirky place setting markers, create personalized rosettes for guests using remnants of fabric and offcuts of colored ribbon. Glue a circle of stiff card on to the front of each rosette and inscribe with guests’ names in a fancy font.
(Image credit: Future PLC / Lizzie Orme)
Create a makeshift bar that can be stocked with bottles and glassware so that the main table doesn’t become too crowded. Use a sturdy table covered with a colorful cloth and set in an easy-to-access spot so that guests can help themselves.
‘Being an attentive host does not mean you have to do it all,’ says Mary Claire Boyd. ‘Having an area for guests to help themselves to drinks is an easy way to make sure you’re not spending all day topping up glasses or mixing cocktails.
‘A drinks station or table with spirits, glasses, ice and mixers means guests can get creative and make their own concoctions. You can even have a couple of drink dispensers filled with ready prepared cocktails.’
‘Similarly, if you have the time to prepare salads and food in advance, try to do so the night before and then let your friends and family serve themselves. By preparing a few dishes ahead of time, you won’t be hidden away in the kitchen missing the fun outside.’
9. Organize a breakaway area
(Image credit: Future PLC / Simon Scarboro)
Set up a few easy chairs away from the main table area where guests can go to sit and chat or enjoy some quiet time away from the hubbub of the party. Add a parasol or makeshift canopy that will provide shelter from the sun when it's at its hottest.
‘Plan for all weathers,’ advises Mary Claire Boyd. ‘It's always good to have a wet weather plan, should it decide to take a turn for the worst. Do you have space to continue the party inside? Alternatively, can you pitch up a gazebo or marquee in your garden? Think about the "what ifs" so you have a plan B if needed.
’
‘A basket of blankets or throws hung across the backs of chairs also makes it easy for people to grab and use if the evening turns cooler. And a few floor cushions situated on outdoor rugs provide an alternative and inviting place to rest if there are not enough chairs.’
10. Set the mood after dark
(Image credit: Lights4fun)
Plan garden party lighting ideas that will take your table from day to night and create a magical mood outside. Position pillar candles and lanterns along the length of your table, ready for lighting after dark, adding nightlights at each place setting to give extra sparkle.
‘For the perfect finishing touch, place connectable string lights overhead to create a magical atmosphere all around,’ says Claire Bassett, Senior Product Manager at Lights4fun . ‘From a singular power source, attach the string lights to overhead branches, shepherd hooks or the beams of a pergola and swag each string back and forth to light up your garden party.
’
‘The warm glow will radiate across your space and create an enchanting ambience so you can celebrate after dusk. Finally, add solar bulbs either to the string of fairy lights or surrounding tree branches, securing them in place with fishing wire. The flair of color will create a rich, vibrant display, perfect for hosting summer celebrations.’
11. Set up for a playful outdoor tea party
(Image credit: Future)
What could be more magical than an afternoon tea party surrounded by friends and the beauty of nature? For an outdoor dining idea with whimsy and wow-factor, position a portable table under a tree in a secluded part of the garden and use the branches overhead to suspend paper pompoms over the table – the perfect garden party idea for a playful festival feel.
Layer the table with patterned linens and top chairs with plenty of eye-catching seat-pads cushions. Bring the table to life with jugs of fresh flowers and arrange treats on tiered cake stands for a classic afternoon tea feel – these will also bring height to your spread, too.
12. Create a pretty place setting with vintage finds
(Image credit: Emma Bridgewater)
For a quirky, homespun look which is easy to create, why not use what you have and layer up a selection of vintage floral, block-printed and lace-edged tablecloths with mix and match crockery, glassware and cutlery? For a feminine flourish tie cutlery with ribbon and dot about plenty of freshly cut garden flowers.
13. Create a fabric awning
(Image credit: Susie Watson Designs)
A garden awning is a perfect shade garden idea against the midday sun during summer lunches – for a pretty country twist try making one using classic striped fabric as demonstrated here by Susie Watson Designs.
'I have always wanted to create an awning on the terrace to shade from the sunlight whilst we eat or read the newspaper,' says founder Susie Watson . 'Our Pale Rose Ivory Wide Stripe seemed like the perfect understated cotton; sophisticated and subtle, the stripes really do suit any outside space.
The towering hollyhocks echo the colours of the jolly tassels, the ideal tone to transition from early spring to high summer.'
14. Choose a practical and stylish drinks trolley
(Image credit: The White Company)
The drinks trolley has made a huge comeback in recent years as more and more of us are discovering the delights of home entertaining. Rather than keep your drinks trolley indoors, why not bring some glamor to your garden party by wheeling it out of the dining room and onto the patio as a portable garden bar idea?
Make sure your trolley is fully equipped by loading it up with flutes, gin glasses, drinks, an ice bucket and coasters. Add in your favorite aromatic herbs in pots so that you can have a freshly picked supply for your summer cocktails and don't forget some candles to create that magical atmosphere after dark.
'Beautiful bar cart ideas make a perfect focal point when styled with wine glasses, flutes, goblets and tumblers all of different heights.
Buff your glassware so it sparkles and add your linens and some seasonal flowers. As the sun moves around the garden you can easily reposition the trolley wherever you wish,' says Mark Winstanley our chief creative officer at The White Company .
15. Decorate a chair with ribbons
(Image credit: Future)
Creating a beautiful effect when fluttering in the breeze, tying ribbons to a chair is an easy and inexpensive way to bring a playful touch to garden party decor.
French-style cafe chairs are an easy design to fasten them to and will also give a relaxed feel. Pick out ribbons to co-ordinate with the colors in your table linen and choose different widths for extra interest, you could also add in floral sprigs, too.
16. Add floral flourishes
(Image credit: Sarah Raven / Photography © Jonathan Buckley)
No garden party table would be complete without freshly cut flowers. There's no need for an extravagant bouquet, just a few stems are enough to add a floral flourish, in fact, sometimes less is more.
Set in a handy holder, these glasses from Sarah Raven make perfect mini bud vases – you could leave them grouped for a focal point or alternatively place one at each place setting.
For a mid-summer color pop try a combination of hot pink cacti dahlias and yellow fennel. If you're thinking of growing your own flowers for cutting then be sure to do your research on planning a cut flower garden.
17. Decorate with edible flowers
(Image credit: Emma Britton)
Decorating garden party food with edible flowers is a fitting finishing touch for a summer spread that is guaranteed to bring sparkle to an al fresco celebration. Try using them to decorate a show-stopping cake for an eye-catching centerpiece, or floating them in arrival drinks – they can also be used in salads, too. If you're thinking of using flowers to decorate food then it's important that they are certified as edible – be sure to do your research first and to buy them from trusted specialist suppliers.
18. Don't forget the party games
(Image credit: Future)
Outdoor living rooms are the perfect space for hosting games night. Outdoor games are a great garden party idea that all the family can enjoy. There are plenty of sets to buy online from classics such as croquet and French boules to oversized versions of indoor favorites like Jenga, chess and Connect Four. Alternatively, if you're feeling crafty, you could create your own garden party game idea such as this simple ring toss game made by filling a retro fruit crate with colored bottles ready for looping with ribbon-bound hoops.
19. Set the mood
(Image credit: Layered Lounge)
If you're planning on hosting an intimate gathering on the patio then factor in plenty of outdoor lighting ideas and cozy textiles to create a magical atmosphere after dark. 'When entertaining outdoors you want to ensure the set up is stylish and comfortable, almost like an extension of the home, says Suzy Humphreys, founder of Layered Lounge.
'Adding light throws and cushions in summer fabrics and colours adds texture and coziness on chillier evenings. I also like to dot lanterns and candles around the garden as the gentle glow of candlelight adds a real sense of occasion and will beautifully highlight your al fresco bar or dining table.'
20. Keep the kids entertained
(Image credit: Raj Tent Club)
When hosting a garden party for all the family it's important to keep the little ones entertained, so consider styling up a secret area especially for them. For a relaxed, playful look, why not choose a vibrant boho theme? Begin by laying down colorful patterned rag rugs (brilliant for disguising dirt and stains) and then add in miniature rattan furniture and a selection of Moroccan pouffes. Great indoors as well as outdoors, leather pouffes are easy to wipe clean if marked by little grubby hands. For a fun finishing touch tie colorful ribbons from branches overhead.
21. Choose a patriotic theme
(Image credit: Grandin Road)
Whether you're thinking Memorial Day decor, 4th July decorating ideas or even celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee party ideas, creating a red, white and blue color scheme can be a great way to make your garden party ideas suit not just patriotic occasions, but all occasions.
Adorn the front of your home, or just create red, white and blue table decor out in the backyard.
How can I decorate my backyard for a party?
The best way to decorate your garden for a party is to first think about what type of occasion you will be celebrating. Once you have that important element nailed, consider budget, color schemes and whether your garden party decorations will need to be waterproof or child-friendly.
How do I throw a garden party?
Throw a garden party in any style you desire, but one of the most special things about taking things outside is the joy of al fresco dining.
Take a traditional dinner party and move the fun outdoors. Menu-wise, why not choose summer recipes that can be cooked on the fire or in the oven, depending on how the mood takes you. Plus, this outdoor dining idea is a lovely, family-style way of entertaining.
For decorating your table outside, complement the season with your color choices. Dress the table with simple linens, terracottas and recycled glassware for an earthy, eco-moment.
If you have kids running around, swap in hardy melamine platters and plastic glassware that look like the real deal.
Demarcating zones is a great way to add intrigue and intimacy to a garden party.
If, when designing your garden, you have entertaining in mind, then consider using flowers and shrubs to define various sections. Planting beds can add a sense of privacy to smaller seating areas. Add in some herb pots here, too, for a natural way to scent a cozy area.
Tasha Green, Director of Weaver Green, suggests to, ‘create hidden areas to escape the madding crowd. Create simple wooden brackets and attach them to walls and fences to use as hanging structures for textiles (large bull clips are perfect for a non-permanent attachment).’
Alternatively, invest in a tent or marquee for an opulent feel. This is an especially lovely idea at a birthday, to create a focal point for gathering.
How do I keep my guests comfortable at a garden party?
Comfort is everything for your guests, especially when you’re outside and will be lingering until the last rays of sun have faded away.
While seat and bench pads are of course useful, few of us will have the right number of chairs when throwing bigger garden parties. Instead, make use of your square footage and make the ground a new comfort zone, as in the outdoor living room idea shown above.
‘We use lots of lovely outdoor scatter cushions, floor cushions and outdoor rugs to take the hard edges off,’ says Tasha Green, Director of Weaver Green. ‘Make sure your textiles are outdoor-proof and quick drying. Then they can be left outdoors with no ill effect.’
Keep guests warm with outdoor fireplace ideas or fire pits. Add chic, modern country charm to your garden party by looking to unusual ways of displaying practical necessities.
A foraged branch strung up with rope, or perhaps across where a hammock would usually hang, is the perfect place to display blankets.
Attach stylish leather loops to throws in complementary colors. They’ll look pretty during the day, and when evening rolls around, your guests will know exactly where to head to for an extra layer.
Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.
Party for adults in the style of "kindergarten" (+ photo)
How nice it was there, where the biggest problem is a broken knee, and the biggest fear is a monster under the bed! Full of memories, a kindergarten-style party is a relaxing atmosphere, an opportunity to fool around and feel like a child again. Are we going to the past?
Contents:
- 1 Decorations
- 2 Costumes
- 3 Menus
- 4 Entertainment
Scenery
1.
Kindergarten morning starts with balloons - bright, multi-colored, hanging on the ceiling and walls, lying right on the floor. It is not difficult to build figures of animals, butterflies, etc. from balls.
2. From paper or candy wrappers we will make garlands - triangles or rings, just like then. Garlands in the form of nipples, girly bows or boats will add entourage.
3. Don't forget the heroes of our childhood (drawings, clippings or toys) - Leopold the cat, Cheburashka and Gena the crocodile, the hare and the wolf from the cartoon "Just you wait!" etc.
4. Tumbler, cubes, soap bubbles, dollhouses, soldiers and cars - any children's toys and their images can be used to decorate the hall, create separate compositions and as table setting elements.
5. Ask your friends - perhaps someone has a collection of inserts , chips or small things from chocolate eggs.
Get a real exhibition!
Suits
For girls - bright dresses and sundresses, short skirts, stockings, sandals. Drawings on clothes "a la" childhood, all sorts of hedgehogs, bears, nipples. For boys - shorts, sneakers, children's t-shirts. Prepare for the party guests accessories in the style of "kindergarten" - paper hats, bibs, headbands with horns, rings or necklaces with bright nipples, animal masks.
Alternatively, you can make or rent carnival costumes - bunnies, squirrels, cubs and chanterelles. For the presenters - Vasilisa the Beautiful and Baba Yaga, the hero and the Nightingale the Robber.
Menu
Of course, you can make fun of guests by offering them hodgepodge or semolina, casserole and jelly. But if you are planning a feast, opt for traditional Russian dishes - Olivier and Mimosa salads, potatoes with herring, baked fish or meat. Think about kindergarten-style serving - a bright tablecloth, multi-colored plates and paper or plastic glasses, dish decoration - palm trees, smiles, hedgehogs, mushrooms from vegetables and fruits, which should be a lot on the menu.
Arrange a candy bar on a children's low table, scattering sweets, cookies and cakes on multi-tiered vases. Order a large cake in the shape of a pacifier, cap or bib. Ice cream, lollipops, meringues, lemonades and alcohol in soda bottles.
Entertainment
Take care of the music for the party, always in a childish style - songs from movies and our cartoons are perfect. Lead a round dance, remind guests of the dance of little ducklings and run around chairs, which are always in short supply. Arrange a poetry competition: the guest stands on a chair and recites a quatrain, dreaming of a valuable prize!
Play forfeits, blind man's bluff, little ring and other games from childhood, the rules of which are remembered by all adults. Prepare childhood photos of friends and invite guests to guess who is in the picture.
Hand out pieces of paper to the guests and ask them to write some funny fact from childhood (I broke my grandmother's vase, glued it on gum and hoped that they would not notice).
Collect the papers, read them out one by one and invite the guests to guess which of the friends the voiced incident happened to.
Race with your feet tied, with an egg in a spoon, or with a glass full of water. Try to hit the bottle with a pencil (yes, yes, the pencil hangs on a rope, lower back). In the same place near which the pencil dangles, burst balloons at speed (who is more in a minute?). For a kindergarten-style party, an infinite number of games and competitions from a distant happy childhood are suitable.
fooling around fun and noisy! Season
In principle, most people know how a children's holiday differs from an adult's. A children's holiday is a funny elegant table, riddles and fabulous contests, and an adult is a traditional feast, karaoke or TV and, at best, a few near-erotic games. I do not propose to do the opposite - children are unlikely to appreciate TV and erotica, but serious uncles and aunts may well fall into childhood.
Children's holiday - for adults. How we celebrated daughter's birthday
For the first time, the idea of making a children's party for adults came to me when Stella Elizabeth was one year old. We have already understood that we will have to celebrate in two stages - for the child himself and for the guests, whom, by the way, the child did not tolerate very well at that time. There were a lot of guests - firstly, relatives (starting from grandmother and ending with a second cousin), secondly, friends (starting from classmates) and their spouses, and thirdly, friends whom they met on the site about kids during pregnancy. And, to be honest, they somehow accepted my strange idea without much enthusiasm - it’s good that I didn’t consult with everyone, otherwise I wouldn’t have decided.
Supported by my husband, a cheerful person and a child at heart, thank you very much.
First of all, we read all the possible scenarios for children's parties on the Internet and realized that we need to start with decorating the room and the table.
We didn’t suffer for a long time with the room - in mid-December, you can already safely dress up Christmas trees (and we had 5 of them - from the largest under the ceiling to a tiny desktop with backlight), hang garlands and traditional newspapers on the walls.
The idea of the table came from numerous American films - a bright tablecloth and napkins with bears, disposable elegant tableware with butterflies and hearts (boys and girls have different plates), multi-colored cocktail straws, and most importantly - caps, masks, tubes, squeakers and horns near each plates!
Most of all, I was worried about the guests - what if they did not perceive this colorful table at all (it was quite traditional in terms of dishes), but everything went surprisingly smoothly. The guests quickly put on masks of dogs, cats and bunnies, laughingly dismantled squeakers and horns and rushed enthusiastically to try their possibilities.
It was then that it turned out that, it turns out, many had been interested in how all these things work before, and one mother even quietly cleaned up the extra tweeters after her sons' birthday and tried it at her leisure.
Of course, adult celebration is champagne, wine and traditional toasts. I myself, perhaps, would be offended if my friends did not raise their glasses to the health of my daughter and my maternal patience. But as part of the children's holiday, we managed to beat this moment with a wig, so there was no extra pathos - it's hard to be pathos when you're wearing a clown's attire. The wig quickly went from hand to hand, and for the first time it was possible to avoid embarrassment, hustle under the table and some vague tension when people understand that they ought to “make a speech”, but are either embarrassed or simply do not know what else can be said new under the moon.
The fun quickly reached the stage where everyone wanted to dress up something else. First, the guests unanimously took up the Christmas trees, since they gave a wide scope for creativity, then they switched to cats. One of the cats was smarter and hid in advance, the other was caught and decorated by common efforts.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to foresee much for the first time. For example, it did not occur to me to buy children's gifts for all the guests - and large balls in the form of birds and animals were handed out only to those leaving, whom the kids were waiting for at home. The next year, I already guessed to buy key chains, figurines and plush toys to make a gift for everyone.
Games and competitions for adults at the children's party
By the way, traditional children's competitions are held among adults with a bang. It turns out that after 20 years people forget even the simplest riddles and fairy tales, I'm not talking about proverbs, sayings, so the most banal game "guess something" will be crowned with success. Of the outdoor games, the simplest ones were the best for us - "repeat after me", similar to exercises on TV, when the players repeat the movements of the leader, gradually accelerating the pace and ... "hide and seek".
By the way, ask someone not to participate, but to run after the players with a camera or a camera, you will get an unforgettable experience.
Have you ever seen a respectable mother of a family trying to get into a washing machine? Or how an adult man disguises himself in a closet with children's tights, squeezing into space several times narrower than his shoulders? If you haven’t seen it, then a game of hide and seek will give you such a chance. True, several guests at my place were very shy to play, but after a large bowl of mulled wine they decided.
"Great Artists" - another idea for a party
It turns out that those same traditional home wall newspapers are best drawn together. A few sheets of whatman paper, gouache, a set of brushes and a couple of old sheets - and within an hour your guests, wrapped in togas in the ancient Roman manner, enthusiastically create a masterpiece. Last year, I suggested doing this in the form of a competition - a team for a team. And since there were 2 nominations - "artistic value" and "warmth of the soul", friendship won, and everyone received prizes. The main thing is to make sure that the creators do not quarrel, because everyone has a different artistic vision.
My friend went even further in the issue of drawing - at her holiday, having painted a newspaper, the guests began to each other. But she has a great advantage over me - two bathrooms in the apartment, that is, two bathrooms, which significantly speeds up the process of laundering. And she also has plenty of space, so she could leave her painted friends at night and launder gradually.
More about birthday entertainment and more!
- If you think the stupid mummy game (that is, wrapping toilet paper around each other at speed) is only for preschoolers, you've just never tried it with adults.
- They say that most men are indifferent to sweets. Perhaps so - but this is the case when the sweets are stacked in a vase. Try hanging sweets and small chocolates in garlands from the ceiling and hang a poster on the wall "Sweet to pluck only with your teeth." You will be greatly entertained by your serious men, who for some reason will definitely need to get at least one candy each.
But God forbid, they will bet on something, as we had in the past - they tear and gobble up everything hung up, and then some will be covered with red spots, for which the wives will make big claims. - Don't give balloons to guests!!! Or think in advance how you can distract them later ... You can’t even imagine (if you didn’t see it yourself, you wouldn’t believe it) how long your friends are able to invent various things with balloons, how many things in the room they are able to drop and break during this time and, most importantly, how much noise it will make.
- Puppet theater - entertainment not only for small children. In just an hour, your guests are able to enthusiastically cut a scene out of a shoebox, attach a curtain to it from the remnants of an old sheet, fasten children's toys available in the house on fingers and strings and create a fairy tale.
- Everything that breaks and breaks, but is dear to you, remove in advance. Very far. Where guests can't even imagine hiding.
Better take it to the balcony.
My dream is an impromptu performance
For the second year now, I have been dreaming of making an impromptu performance out of my birthday. That is to say, dress up the guests in costumes, masks, and wigs, partly made in advance, partly made on the spot, paint each other with make-up, and compose and immediately act out a fairy tale on the go. Something like that, modern, but based on well-known material - for example, a teremok, where a mouse will be a call girl, a frog - a business woman, a wolf a bandit, and so on. The only thing missing so far is a place in the apartment… My friends are already aware and have also begun to dream with me.
Wish us good luck, because we will definitely do it ... may our apartment remain safe and sound ... well, at least almost whole ...
Stella Elena Chirkova
Gifts, cake and joint games of a crowd of friends is, of course, great. But it is much more interesting to be a real superhero, go in search of treasures.
Or maybe the whole tribe to hunt? Successfully choose the theme of a party for children - a chic gift for a child and his friends, because such a holiday gives a good mood, new emotions and pleasant memories!
Rainbow
Bright striped decorations + a real adventure = a chic children's party. looms by itself: a mischievous leprechaun stole the gifts and hid them at the other end of the rainbow. Children, passing tests, receive a piece of a certain color as a reward, make a rainbow out of them on a piece of drawing paper and find treasures.
Mafia
An interesting birthday theme is a mafia-style party. Children in the images of heavily armed mafiosi and their charming girlfriends simply cannot but evoke tenderness in adult guests!
We hide cards from the police, shoot accurately at the target and throw grenades into the bucket no less accurately, come up with funny gangster nicknames, decipher secret gangster messages.
And, at the end of the scenario, we commit a daring robbery of the presenter, taking well-deserved prizes!
Can't choose a party theme? For children, the script is more important than the design - start from the end! If there is little time for preparation, it is better to choose a well-known topic, ideas for which lie on the surface.
Pajama
"Clothing" parties such as hat and denim parties have not gained much popularity among children, but pajama parties are an exception. Although even adults love to have fun in this way, let alone active children with their craving for spacious comfortable clothes.
And how fun it is to invent scary stories with friends, build a tent out of sheets, pretend to sleep while being tickled, play shadow theater and blind man's blind, collect balloons around the room with your eyes closed or guess what you are going to treat "for the night" leading! Phew! And it’s not at all necessary to invite guests to a real sleepover - the guys can change into pajamas just for the atmosphere.
Fruity
“Delicious” party styles for kids are ideal if the birthday is in summer/early fall – watermelon, melon, strawberry, etc. Although there are winter options like apple, orange and banana party (minions?).
The preparation is simple: a lot of treats with the taste of the birthday person's favorite fruit/berry, paper "fruit" garlands, pictures, themed flower balls. Regarding the scenario program, there are no restrictions - any competitions, some of which are associated with delicious props. Stock up on napkins!
Any themed party for children, whether it's a birthday or a less important occasion, requires serious preparation. Of course, there is some discount for the young age of the guests. For example, many decorations can be made with your own hands from improvised materials - the main thing is bright and fun, and not artistically perfect.
However, obvious hack work "on the knee" should be avoided - regardless of the style chosen, start preparing at least two weeks in advance.
To make a theme party unforgettable, think in advance:
- venue
- decorations
- treats, birthday cake
- musical accompaniment
- script, contests, prizes.
The Internet today offers a lot of ideas for organizing a children's party at home. And I would like to tell you about a holiday when the birthday is for children, and all the guests are adults. That is, of the children, only the birthday girl is available. This was my daughter's first birthday.
On the one hand, I wanted to create the atmosphere of a children's holiday, on the other hand, to entertain the guests so that everything would not slide into a banal adult feast. Many ideas arose, but due to the limited time, not all of them were able to be implemented. And that's what happened.
Jewelry.
Of course, I spent a lot of time decorating. The room was decorated with balloons, garlands, posters. I put bows on all the guests - ladies on their heads, men on their necks.
Anticipating their objection, I motivated that the birthday was still for children, and this should be visible in the photo. The most interesting thing is that even after the photo shoot, no one took off the jewelry, everyone sat in bows until the end of the evening! In general, I wanted to make my own for everyone - a wig, ears, a pirate hat, well, you know, what they usually wear on city days, but I simply didn’t manage to buy or make anything on my own.
Competitions.
I wanted to offer guests something uncomplicated and unobtrusive and, at the same time, allowing them to fall into childhood for a while. The competitions are like this.
1. Who said “meow”.
I quoted phrases from cartoons and children's films, and the guests guessed who said it. For example, it seems that it is going to rain - said Piglet. For the answers, I gave colored stripes (I cut the postcard into pieces) and determined the winner by the number of stripes scored.
2. Fanta of two types.
Children's theme - tell a poem, counting rhyme, list ten children's toys, fold a boat out of a sheet of paper. The theme of the birthday girl is to name the weight and height at birth; guess how many teeth she has now; come up with five diminutive derivatives of her name; guess in the photo how many months she is here, etc. I wrote all the forfeits on colored sheets from a children's notebook - with drawings of toys and balloons, and put the forfeits themselves in a beautiful box.
3. Puzzles.
When the guests were already a little tipsy, I gave them the speed to complete a small six-piece puzzle taken from a children's book.
Another couple of contests that did not fit in time.
1. Changelings. I say, for example, four sad ducks died at my grandfather. And the guests guess what it is - two cheerful geese lived with the grandmother. That is, we take the names and quotes from children's poems and songs.
2. For each letter of the daughter's name, the guests had to come up with a compliment to the birthday girl in turn.
Prizes.
The prizes were kinder surprises, fridge magnets, fountain pens, rubik's cube, soap bubbles. The presentation of prizes was arranged in the spirit of a children's matinee: the prizes are hung on a string, the guest closes his eyes, he is spun, he goes to the rope and what prize he grabs, he will receive.
The main prize - a photo of the birthday girl in a beautiful frame would go to the one who had a sticker stuck on the bottom of the plate in advance. True, by the end of the evening I forgot about it, the plates were collected and taken away, replacing them with saucers for the cake. I had to improvise, put the frame in a circle to the music, on whom the music stopped, I kept that prize for myself.
For the birthday girl herself, I came up with a fortune-telling - what she would choose for her future life. She put velvet jewelry boxes on a tray, in which she put a coin (wealth), candy (dolce life), thread (road - to travel).
The daughter pulled out the garlic (health).
I also bought an empty letter of commendation, and during the evening each guest wrote in this beautiful piece of paper his wishes, congratulations to the birthday girl as a keepsake.
And, of course, I prepared a collage with my daughter's achievements for her first year and a photo album, which the guests looked at with pleasure.
I must say right away that everything was a lot of fun. At the word “forfeits”, the guests tensed up, but, seeing that there would be nothing offensive or difficult, they participated willingly. And when they realized that they would also receive prizes for this, they completely cheered up.
I didn't do any special entertainment for my daughter - she had enough impressions: a lot of people, balloons, gifts. In the end, everyone - both big and small - were satisfied. Birthday was a success!
What adult doesn't want to become at least a little child again? Running barefoot through puddles, blowing soap bubbles, laughing in the street with bursting laughter and not thinking at the same time what passers-by will say or think, pull Marinka by the pigtail and just mess around .
...
All adults were children at first,
only few of them remember it.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince.
Another birthday I decided to celebrate with a party in the style of "Childhood" . I gave the guests the task to come up with the image of some cartoon character, and she herself was engaged in table decoration, contests and decor.
I apologize in advance for the small number of photos. Unfortunately, the author's photos from this party were almost all lost, but the idea remained. I share this idea and mood with you.
What you need to arrange a party in the style of childhood ?
1. Consider decoration
- Balloons will create a festive atmosphere. It will be great if some of them are in the form of animals or flowers, as well as gel ones. You can then have fun with them.
“There is a suitable ball for every person in the world, if only he knows how to choose it!” Merry Poppins
- Various garlands (you can use store-bought ones, or you can make your own.
Like in childhood from colored paper and glue, remember?!) - Children's toys - they will help you create a special mood. It can be anything: cubes, a tumbler, soft toys, cars, soldiers, soap bubbles...
- You can also hang your baby photos with adults nearby
2. Consider costumes
At my party I had:
- Pippi Longstocking: twintails, freckles, long striped stockings
- Pirate: pirate hat and hook
- Basilio the cat: glasses and hat
- Cat Matroskin: striped sweatshirt, mustache and, of course, a guitar
- Mini Mouse - Mini lugs
- Carlson - jam, propeller, overalls
If you can't buy costumes, you can rent them.
If you can't rent it, you can always make it yourself. There would be a desire.
3. Plan the menu
- Be sure to cook something from childhood - a casserole, for example, or jelly
- Think about the design of dishes - mushrooms, smiles, a salad in the form of a fish .
