Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Decide on a theme for the garden party before you even begin to decorate. This will help keep items you choose complementary of one another. For example, if you choose a Victorian theme, you can use paper-lace doilies, white "wrought-iron" fencing and sophisticated flower arrangements.
2

Start at the ceiling when you decorate. This is important--starting from the bottom and working your way up may mean having to move or work around other decorations, raising the risk that you'll break something.
3

Put flowers on the food service table, as well as in and around the food. This helps make the food and the catering area just as festive as the rest of the garden party. In addition, use stands, decorative trays and other eye-catching additions to make the food table pop.
4

Buy very artistic decorations instead of making them from scratch, especially when you're pressed for time. Michaels, for example, has a huge selection of artistic, decorative items, and you can buy what you need online (see Resources below).
5

Decorate all of the tables and chairs, as well as the structure. Tie ribbons to the chairs, put flowers on the tables (as centerpieces) and you can even sprinkle leaves on the table cloth (for an autumn leaf effect).