Security

You may be inviting a large number of guests into your house and garden.  Some of them you may not know personally, and in this situation it is easy for a passer-by to join the crowd.  it can be useful to have a member of the family ‘meeting and greeting’ at the gate or door. This is often a role that the younger or older members enjoy.

If you are having a garden party then it is good practice to keep your house locked and alarmed.

Toilets

Toilets are a necessity, and queues can easily build up. Have you though of hiring a mobile toilet that can be parked in the drive, or in a corner of the garden?

Tents

Statistically it only rains on 15% of days in England. However a short shower can play havoc at the wrong time. Have you considered hiring a marquee? Modern tents, with double walls and hot air heating, can be used in all seasons. A purpose built party tent can be purchased on eBay, however you will have to erect and dismantle it yourself. If budget is tight then borrowed builders’ scaffolding and tarpaulins can be a very effective rain shield.

Tables and chairs

It is unlikely that you will have sufficient seating for all of your guests.  Many local churches and village halls will be willing to lend tables and chairs at very modest rates. They may also have stacks of crockery and cutlery.

Plates and Cutlery

Have you tried local church and village halls?

Paper plates are less attractive to eat from, but they avoid the washing up.

Glasses

Most supermarkets will lend glasses free of charge when you purchase beer and wine.  Keep it simple, and use two sizes: a wine glass and a 1/2 pint “highball” glass.  Avoiding pint glasses reduces the risk of spillage, and can constrain the drinking of younger guests.  Rigid plastic is far safer than glass, but thin plastic water-glasses are an accident waiting to happen.

Drink

Keep it simple:

• One choice of red wine, and one of white.  When estimating allow six glasses per bottle, and half a bottle per person.
• One choice of beer, and one of lager.  The average person rarely drinks more than three pints, but you know your friends.
• Don’t forget a range of soft drinks. Here it is useful to provide a variety, for example apple and orange juice, lemonade, cola, and don’t forget plain water.
• Ice you can buy from some supermarkets.  Alternatively buy special ice cube making bags one or two weeks ahead and use your own freezer.

Food

Some people relish the idea of providing their own food. Some prefer not to, and will use a caterer. We can arrange food for you.  If you are preparing food yourself then plan well ahead.  Cold food is easier to serve. Friends are usually willing to assist with their favourite salads and desserts. Do coordinate them so that you don’t get six different versions of the same dish.

Electricity

A band takes surprisingly little electricity for its instruments and amplifiers - less than it need for its lighting. If you are holding a garden party then take a single electricity supply cable from one house. Don’t take several cables from different houses so that you avoid the risk of phase differences and earth loops.

Don’t forget that external cables need to be protected from stray feet.  Plugs and sockets need to be waterproof.

Lighting

You will need external lighting. Garden centres and DIY centres sell cheap halogen flood lamps. The 150 watt variety are often sufficient, and don’t get as hot as the more powerful ones.  Don’t forget to illuminate paths to gates and toilets. Rather than carry a spare tube, which can be difficult to replace in the dark, why not have a spare flood light which can be plugged in.

Car parking

There is enough parking space isn’t there? Do cars need to be monitored occasionally to deter break-ins?

Neighbours

Why not invite them, even for part of the event?