Celebrate the end of summer with a garden party—throw a small get-together or invite everyone and make sure you have a blast.

Pre-planning

Set the date, decide on the number of guests (and don’t forget the size of your garden/balcony when you do so), pick a theme (this will affect your decoration and menu), and decide on your budget.

Invitations

Although not necessary, send out an invitation just for the fun of it. A lot of people use Facebook nowadays. But if you’re feeling slightly old-school, send a card. You can get cool and funky ones from Kağıthane.  

The Menu

Go for some easy, no-fuss recipes so that you can spend your time enjoying the company of your guests instead of rushing back and forth to the kitchen. Have a look at our sample menu below, and adjust it to your liking. Alternatively, use a caterer, or cook the main dishes yourself and order appetizers from Şütte, Antre Gourmet or Carlotta. For dessert, serve cupcakes, Devil’s Food Cake from Backyard, or ice-cream.

Here is our sample menu:

Panzanella Salad

Souvlaki

Moussaka

Setting

Go for a buffet-style dining if hosting a large number of people. If possible, set the dining table under a large tree for some shade and a romantic feel.

Decoration Ideas

First, decide on a theme (romantic or preppy, rustic or nautical) and color palette (pastel or earth tones). Then, decide on a centerpiece—get creative with something leafy, sandy, or flowery.

To add a festive feeling to your party, hang paper lanterns. Think about the lighting in advance. Use lanterns or candles to lighten up the table. If you go with candles, use jam jars to protect from the summer breeze. Speaking of breeze, to avoid running after flying napkins, use pretty rocks as napkin holders.

Place a big bowl of fresh fruit juice within a bucket of ice to keep things cool without watering down the taste. Place condiments and sauces in small dishes and cups instead of keeping them in their original yet not-so-presentable bottles.   

For all your decorating needs, head to Paşabahçe, Habitat, Mudo City, and Dört Mevsim, Zara Home.

Music

Hook up your iPod to your speakers and let the dancing begin. Here is a playlist of our favorite summery songs that you could add to your iPod.