Hosting an outdoor party inside

As we cross our fingers and pray for a great British summer, we all know that you cannot guarantee the weather. As any good host will tell you, on our little island the weather can provide all four seasons in just one day, so it always pays to have a back up plan. A good wet weather option can be anything from a marquee in your garden to your garage, that is if it doesn't contain your car, or the rest of your junk that you haven't manage to take to the tip yet! Having this wet weather option can be a life saver and take the stress out of your party planning, but it also means you don't have to make that last minute cancellation on the day.

So how can you have your party indoors but still create that outdoor feeling? Well in simple terms you need to opt for a rustic feel, nothing too uniform or perfectly matched. Relaxed seating can be a great starting point, rugs and floor cushions work really well and if you have the space hay bales can be a great seating option too. Wooden pallets can be used as low level tables and hurricane lanterns with candles will provide a gentle glow as day turns to night. 

Party decor can include glass jars of different sizes and shapes, filled with gypsophila and carnations and for a statement party piece, you could have a balloon garland with lots of foliage or a hula hoop trimmed with leaves and flowers, both look equally pretty. Party signs made using old crates or blackboards continue the theme and wooden ladders can be used as a display for sweet treats or glasses. Galvanised buckets or wheelbarrows are the perfect place to keep bottles of beers and wine cool when covered in ice and make self service super easy for your guests. Party food could include cheeses boards and thick wedges of farmhouse bread, olives, salad and a selection of cooked meats. For dessert, you cannot beat a donut bar, yum!

So with all these fab ideas and decorations to bring the outdoor feeling inside, it makes you wonder why we plan outdoor parties in this country to begin with at all!!!

Happy partying.