"Shabby chic" garden party - anyone done this?

[Surprise]

Quite interested in a sort of "Cath Kidston/shabby chic" look for our garden party in a few weeks' time. I am making some bunting, and am planning on scouring charity shops for floral tablecloths and odd china plates. What else can I do to help theme it? Don't want it to be too obvious, just kind of "thrown together" which I know isn't easy! Any tips on cheap things to help make it look fab? For example, flowers and things to put them in? Or lighting? TIA.

PS am also making cupcakes iced with pastel blue, green and pink.

Oh Good God.

Don't.

This, round here, is called "being normal". It's like having a "porky chic" party, where everyone dons a podge suit and eats chips, or a "shameless chic" party, where everyone turns up in an ill-fitting track suit and smokes.

There's lots of bollocks inverted snobbery on this thread. Just becuase its not how you'd decorate your party, doesn't mean you have to condemn the OP for wanting to do it this style.

tootired thanks for your support! Frankly, I don't give a toss if anyone thinks it's crass/rubbish/old hat/twee. I like it, and I'm going to do it. It's my party so ner ner na ner ner!! It's to celebrate our wedding, which was last week, but unfortunately DH will be away working until then, so it's down to me to do it all, and I just want it to be relaxed and cool and, above all, cheap! Have found some fantastic plates and cakes ttands and stuff in charity shops this week. Bring it on!

Have a fab time surpirse - it will look lovely I'm sure.

My friend did this for their wedding and went round charity shops asking for random cups and saucers. Then they used them as place cards tying our names round handles with luggage labels, and we all got to take ours home as party favours! Was lovely. A lot of the charity shops gave them for free knowing it was a wedding on a budget and said they'd never sell, not being part of a set.