As friends and family come together for special occasions over the next few months, take a punt on the weather and move your celebratory lunch or dinner outdoors, as close to the house as possible for convenience (and quick dismantling in a downpour!) …
GLAMOROUS DINNER PLATES
The set-up can be as formal as you like: take your time setting the table, serve food on your favourite china plates, use your best cutlery and cloth napkins. Top tip for flowers? Arrange pretty posies or single blooms on repeat for maximum impact.
Green Lily of the Valley porcelain dinner plate, €130; www.dior.com.
Green Garden Vine earthenware dinner plate, €46; www.ralphlauren.ie.
THE MUSIC
A Bluetooth combination speaker and light is a great multi-tasking gadget for a garden party. Ikea’s Vappeby lamp has Spotify Tap playback function for one-touch access to the streaming music service.
Blue Vappeby Bluetooth speaker lamp, €65; www.ikea.ie
DRINKS TRAY
Set a glamorous scene using a very special drinks tray.
Like this one by Tom Dixon, €258; www.tomdixon.net.
Marzia brass-plated tray, Aerin, €229; www.aerin.com
BUCKETS OF STYLE
It’s peak wine-chilling season so opt for a vintage-inspired champagne bucket or bath, both looks fab and keep things cool. Tip: use half ice cubes, half water – plonking bottles on ice alone won’t have the desired effect.
Silver vintage-style champage bucket, €187.40; www.etsy.com.
BUBBLES ON TAP
A smart countertop water carbonator goes way beyond making fizzy water. Try recipes for carbonated alcohol-free aperitifs, with everything from exotic fruit juice to speciality tea. SodaStream makes classic soft drink syrups like Pepsi and 7UP: cost-effective and eco-friendly for a big party; €6.99, at DID Electrical.
Chrome Carbonator 3 sparkling water maker, Aarke, €209.95, (in several finishes) at Harvey Norman.
ELEVATED SOIRÉE
If you’re starting a good flatware collection from scratch, you can’t do better than Newbridge Silverware’s scratch-resistant, EPNS forever cutlery. It’s guaranteed for 55 years and can be engraved with a family coat of arms or monogram. At Newbridge Silverware, Cutlery Road, Newbridge, Co Kildare.
Baguette EPNS cutlery, from €10 a piece, at Newbridge Silverware.
WELCOMING GLOW
String up festoons overhead from nearby fence or tree for an atmospheric glow as the sun goes down.
Cox and Cox’ Fabulous Globe extendable festoon lights are perfect for parties, £60stg; www.coxandcox.co.uk
OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES
If your outdoor table is too small for the occasion, then put your indoor dining table and chairs to good use by taking them outside for the day. Add blankets on chair backs (or pile in a basket) to keep everyone toasty should the breeze pick up. Outdoor rugs are great for defining a “dining area” in the garden…
Russborough House cashmere merino throw, €129,95; www.russborough.ie.
Freda Frame jute outdoor rug, €281; www.rugvista.com.
