How do you make a party unforgettable?

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

We love having friends over and regularly entertain. We want to have a party this summer to get all our friends and family together since we haven't really had a proper get together since Covid started, and want it to be truly special. We will have caterers, a face painter, a magician, and a DJ. The party will be in our garden and there will be 40 to 50 of us. Dress code will be cocktail dresses and equivalent for the men.

Can I ask what you'd recommend to make this party extra special? Yes of course the people are what matters most but, besides that, what would you say makes a party really fun and one everyone will think back fondly to? We are in the UK, so hopefully the weather will cooperate - thank you!

We threw a party this summer-

Fire pit with sofas and chairs, lots of cushions and blankets, chilled and not too loud music
Silent disco- that was FUN, we made a dance floor on the south patio with lights and a projector showing dj sets from Glasto
Bar with the usual spirits/mixers and a local lad to serve/clear up, a barrel of local IPA and lots of fizz. We served everyone a sidecar on arrival, then people could help themselves
Fairy lights, festoon lights and lots of uplighters in our trees
Glow sticks and disco lights at the disco bit
Table with simple buffet- olives, crisps, tempura prawns, crudities, etc
At 10ish I set out chilli/rice/ jacket pots, sour cream, guacamoles, tortilla chips etc

no kids
no dress code
invited and informed the neighbours

I would drop the dress code too and the magician. I recently went to a wedding with a magician and as someone else said it was awkward, we were in groups talking and it just felt he was interrupting and embarrassing. I’d try to make it as relaxed as possible.

Make sure that everyone knows someone. Making small talk with strangers all afternoon can be tiring.

No dress code for a garden party.

@Bunce1

We threw a party this summer-

Fire pit with sofas and chairs, lots of cushions and blankets, chilled and not too loud music
Silent disco- that was FUN, we made a dance floor on the south patio with lights and a projector showing dj sets from Glasto
Bar with the usual spirits/mixers and a local lad to serve/clear up, a barrel of local IPA and lots of fizz. We served everyone a sidecar on arrival, then people could help themselves
Fairy lights, festoon lights and lots of uplighters in our trees
Glow sticks and disco lights at the disco bit
Table with simple buffet- olives, crisps, tempura prawns, crudities, etc
At 10ish I set out chilli/rice/ jacket pots, sour cream, guacamoles, tortilla chips etc

no kids
no dress code
invited and informed the neighbours

That sounds ace!

Give everyone food poisoning...

@SandyPanda come to the next one!

Change your name to Boris :-)