Create a whimsical atmosphere at your wedding by embracing an English garden party vibe. Worried it will feel stuffy? Check out our quirky ideas that will keep your garden party elegant without being overly formal.

Find your garden

First of all, you’re going to need a garden. We happen to think ours is particularly delightful! It boasts neat lawns, mature trees and colourful flower beds. You can tie the knot in The Wed Shed, which is nestled at the heart of our gardens. In the warmer months keep the doors open to bring the garden party vibe inside. Afterwards you can mingle with your guests in the surrounding beautifully scented gardens. Bliss!

Lovely lawn games

It wouldn’t be an English garden party without a lawn game or two! You can’t go far wrong with either bowls or croquet: both classics that are sure to go down a treat. You could always DIY a ring toss game, which is sure to bring out the competitive streak in everyone. For a modern twist on a classic, try giant chess – not only will it entertain guests for hours, it will add a touch of whimsy to proceedings too.

A very vintage tea party

Here at Lower Barns, we throw a mean vintage party if we do say so ourselves! And while we don’t believe in set menus, we are full of ideas. We’re talking homemade scotch eggs, oodles of cold cuts, flavourful salads and, of course, the tea party must-have: quiche. If you’d prefer something more formal, we can serve champagne and canapés on the lawn before heading into The Party Shed for a feast of modern and romantic country food.

String up the bunting

Bunting is a must for any English garden party – so string up some in your favourite hue or with a meaningful motif. For a quirky twist you could opt for handmade pom-poms – a great (not to mention cost-effective) way to add a splash of colour and character. You could also try dried flowers, ribbons and garlands for extra garden party charm.

Let there be light

One of the most effective ways to create atmosphere is through lighting. Hopefully, during the day you’ll have boundless sunshine, but, as dusk begins to fall, it’s time to think about lighting things up. Candles keep things feeling romantic and intimate –and, what’s more, the glow is super-flattering! Add them to jam jars or hang lanterns in trees. Fairy lights are another great way to add some soft light and keep the garden party vibe going into the wee hours.

More ideas

We’ve hosted many wedding receptions in our garden, so check out our gallery which is full of fabulous and fun garden party wedding ideas.

Call us for more details or a chat on 01726 844881 whether you are planning to wed this year, next or the year after.

We have a special offer on our Cream Tea Wedding Package from 30th October 2016 until 2nd April 2017, which means that you will be upgraded to one of our luxury suites Nook or Cranny with breakfast delivered to your door, private courtyard garden and hot tub. Nook has a sauna and Cranny has a wood burner. This package starts at £799 for a 2 night stay for the wedding couple.

Love Janie x