A summer garden party needs outdoor furniture, shade, patio heaters for the evening, and the right glassware. This guide covers the full equipment picture for parties of 30 to 150 guests.
A summer garden party needs outdoor furniture, shade, patio heaters for the evening, and the right glassware. This guide covers the full equipment picture for parties of 30 to 150 guests.
A garden party in summer requires furniture and equipment that looks the part outdoors while handling the unpredictability of English weather. This guide covers what you need for a private garden party of 30 to 150 guests, from outdoor furniture through to evening catering.
\n\nThe centrepiece of a garden party is comfortable outdoor seating. Rattan furniture sets comprising a sofa, two armchairs, and a low table work well in relaxed areas where guests can sit and talk. For a party of 60 guests, 4 to 6 rattan clusters provide good coverage around the garden.
\nFor a sit-down lunch or dinner element, round tables seating 8 to 10 allow conversation to flow across the table. Add white linen for a smarter finish outdoors.
\n\nShade matters as much as rain cover for summer events. Garden parasols in 2.7m or 3m sizes pair well with outdoor dining tables and give guests respite from direct sun during the afternoon. For larger areas, a gazebo provides more substantial cover and anchors the layout of the space.
\nA 3m x 6m gazebo covers a dining area for 20 to 30 guests or a drinks station with room to spare. It also doubles as a weather contingency if the forecast changes.
\n\nEnglish summer evenings cool quickly after sunset, from mid-June onward. Patio heaters extend the usable outdoor period by 2 to 3 hours. For a garden party running from 2pm to midnight, 4 to 6 patio heaters positioned around the main socialising areas makes the difference between guests retreating indoors and staying outside through the evening.
\nLPG patio heaters are the most common hire option and work on grass, paving, and decking.
\n\nGarden parties tend to centre on prosecco, Pimm's, or cocktails rather than a full bar service. The glassware requirements are simpler than for a formal dinner. For 60 guests:
\nExpo Hire's glassware range covers all standard formats in hire quantities suited to garden parties of this size.
\n\nEven simple outdoor tables look considerably better with linen. White polyester tablecloths are practical for outdoor settings as they resist wind better than cotton and wipe clean. For trestle tables used as a catering or drinks run, a fitted tablecloth with a floor-length drop hides boxes and equipment stored underneath.
\nExpo Hire's linen range includes tablecloths for standard trestle, round, and folding table sizes.
\n\nFor parties with on-site catering, whether a hired caterer or the host cooking, you need serving equipment even if the main cooking happens in the kitchen. For an outdoor buffet serving 60 guests: 2 to 4 chafing dishes to keep food warm during service, 2 to 3 trestle tables for the buffet run, and crockery and cutlery at your guest count plus 10% surplus.
\nFor a garden party BBQ, Expo Hire stocks commercial BBQs suited to cooking for 50 to 200 guests.
\n\nMost garden parties fall on summer weekends, and availability fills up quickly from May through August. Book 4 to 6 weeks in advance for a summer Saturday event. Confirm delivery charges based on your postcode when placing your order.
See also: spring event hire guide and outdoor wedding catering equipment guide.
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