How to make a BBQ special?!?

[audley]

Hello, I wonder if any of you can help me with some inspired ideas for decorating my mum's garden for her 60th birthday BBQ? It needs to be done on a small budget but to feel special. I was thinking of garden candles, candles in the trees and some sort of bunting - but I'm not very creative so any ideas will be gratefully received.
Many thanks

what baout those chinese paper lanterns

christmas lights. pretty and wouldn't cost you if you already have them in the loft!

Start saving jars for tealights - put them in groups everywhere or put wire round to hang from trees.

day time or evening?? for daytime go over the top with decorating the table andsurround like it is a beautiful dining room table, use a real cloth real china and a couple of small very pretty poseys of flowers in low level vases.

If it is the evening, we have had a couple of gazebo thingies and put christmas lights in them and around the ceiling.

I recommend if it an evening event, some chinese stye hanging lanterns. They look beautiful hanging from tree branches and plants. Also you could put out some candle lanterns, on and around the table to create a 'special' feel. I once hosted an outdoor party and tried placing lots of tealights on the walls and around the table and it looked fantastic but they blow out too easily so I covered candles are more effective. Hope that helps and the party goes well. Liz

Jars, tealights and a handy person with wire and some pliers can be made into hanging lanterns to go into trees.

Do you know any useful people with sewing machines who could make you miles and miles and miles of bunting (white bunting would be pretty for evening)? If they are the sort of people (like me) who have tonnes of scrap material then it ends up costing pence per metre.