40th birthday garden party

[Peoniesandcats]

Am hosting a party in the garden for my husband’s 40th. 35 people including kids.

I’ve got a bbq caterer serving up burgers, sausages etc he’s bringing the crockery/cutlery too

was thinking of buying drinks and putting them in a bucket for people to help themselves too. Maybe a spirits/mixers area - but this means glassware/plastics

garden has a trampoline, slide, swing ball, giant connect 4 for the kids - they are welcome to run around the house too

hoping for good weather, as marquees were too expensive to hire. Husband said we can keep an eye on weather and buy one last min if needed

cake from M&S, collecting bits of decoration that I come across

What else do I need to be thinking about? Wondering if I need entertainment at all?!

How big a marquee would you need for 35 people?

Is there somewhere for people to sit?
Is the caterer doing any side salad or nibbles as well as the BBQ food?
Do the caterers offer wine glasses or tumblers to hire, if you're having those sort of drinks? They might be able to suggest someone who does if they don't, and saves a load of plastic cups going to landfill if that's important to you.

I don't think you need any entertainment. Maybe ask your guests to send song requests so you can make a fabulous playlist. I don't think the adults will expect entertainment if it's a garden party.

Had a couple of site visits and the recommendation is 4.5m x 6m with quotes over 1k

Yes doing salads, coleslaw, potato’s, halloumi and other veg options. I’ve got no desserts/ sweet stuff. Thought cake might be enough. But do you think I need more nibbles like crisps?

he’s not bringing glasses/tumblers but we have a Majestic wine who can provide them.

thought I could get some transferable tattoos/glitter stuff for the kids as well

I’ve got enough seats for all adults outside but not for kids, will have a think

Nibbles always go down well, especially if there's booze. Even just some Pringles, nuts and such like.

Don't work about seats for the kids, if its dry they'll be happy on a picnic rug. Or they can hop on a seat if some adults are standing about chatting.

i did this a few years ago for my husbands 40th , it was a great night , do you have patio doors that you could put a gazebo next to with lights underneath ? That can look lovely. And yes to crisps and nuts . Depending on kids ages - bubbles , bowling set etc

Music? I don’t think you need full on entertainment but a playlist would be good. But if you’ve got the budget you could get one of those cornhole boards that you chuck beanbags through. Or a garden Connect Four/jenga/twister/limbo dancing pole. That could be fun if the adults got involved. If your garden is big enough, you could even do egg & spoon races, or those three legged races, or sack races, with little prizes, like a £2 Easter egg. Again, initially for the kids, but any tipsy adults would be straight in there. Not the cheapest, but you can even hire slushy machines. We had one of these for an event; adults had far, far more than the kids did and were doing slushy cocktails.

Decor? You could get some cheap bunting to go around the fence. Have you got any of those yellow candles that bugs don’t like? I’d have a few of those knocking about. Fairy lights around any umbrellas or doorways for when it gets a bit darker. A few balloons on the trampoline if you’ve got younger children. I might lay out a couple of cheap throws on the grass for children to sit on, as well.

Do you have any smokers? Will they need ashtrays?

Extra loo roll? 30 odd people doing a wee is going to make a dent in your supply.

Definitely Pringles or crisps or nuts. Something to nibble on while food is cooking. And I think I’d try and do some more sweet things as well. Fruit kebabs or cookies with a slice of ice cream in between them. Quick and easy to make but everyone will love them. Ice poles for the kids?

Re drinks, I’d borrow a paddling pool, fill it up with ice and cold water and put as many cans & bottles as you can in there. Or a large plastic storage tub, get as much in there as you can and put the rest in a bath filled with cold water so they’re already cold and ready to drink when there’s space to bring them down. More ice in the freezer ready for drinks.

What about parking? Have you got any kind neighbours with drives and without cars who’d be willing to lend you a parking space for the afternoon?

Craft table for the kids, either in or out depending upon weather. Nibbles for the kids too

Picnic rugs would work for the kids and they can sit together

You could get everyone a plastic cup and write their name on it? Lol

Or canned or bottled drinks?

As well as cake, maybe strawberries and cream or something or ice lollies for the kids