How to Make Sure Your Garden Party is a Hit

One of the greatest benefits of living in Australia is having access to plenty of sunshine throughout the year. This means that parties aren't only confined to inside the home or in bar – you can also host incredible garden parties. But while garden parties can be a great success, there is also more opportunity for them to fall flat. It all hinges on how well prepared you are as a host, so here's what you need to know in order to throw the very best garden party.

• Prepare for the worst weather. Yes, it's true that the weather in Australia is beautiful for the most part, but weather patterns are changing all over the world, and Australia has seen its fair share of freak storms of late. If you do happen to find yourself in a spot of rain, this could shut down your party immediately. This means that your most essential piece of party equipment is a sheltering gazebo. Pick one with some kind of side panel so that you can protect from the wind as well as the rain. If you are hosting a one-time party for a special occasion, there are plenty of rental choices, but if you want to make garden parties a regular thing, buying could be more cost effective.
• Lighting is key. One of the best things about garden parties is how much more atmospheric they can be than indoor parties, but a lot of the atmosphere will be created by your lighting choices. With outdoor parties, you really want to layer the lighting to create the optimal effect. Candlelight is always beautiful in an outdoor setting, but don't rely on it completely, just in case the winds do pick up. You can put flickering tealights on tables, string fairy lights through the trees, and hang up lanterns (electric or gas) inside your gazebo.
• Turn the sound up. Of course, no party is complete without music, but you'll probably find that bringing your indoor speakers outside won't be enough to get your party started. Most speakers are designed for indoor use. For a start, indoor speakers won't be weatherproof, and they could end up getting destroyed in the rain. But also, you'll probably need to find speakers with an outdoor subwoofer, so that the bass actually has some resonance to it, and it doesn't get swallowed up in the ground.

Follow these tips, and your summer will be one long party!