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Party theme

Garden Party Ideas & Invitations

A garden party moves the celebration outdoors among the flowers: tables on the lawn, blooms in jars, tea or brunch and a slow afternoon. It suits bridal and baby showers ("love in bloom", "baby in bloom"), brunches, Easter and Mother's Day, and candlelit summer evenings. Below are garden invitations where tulips open, butterflies drift and a ribbon unties as guests open them, and ideas for the decorations, food, activities and favors, with a plan for rain.

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The Diptych Spread invitation on a phone
Open this design as a guest

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Then a page effect

Diptych Spread

Open-magazine spread — left photo, right serif copy.

Use this design

Garden party at a glance

Best for
Bridal and baby showers, garden brunches and teas, Easter, Mother's Day, summer evening parties
Colors
Sage green, blush and cream, or lavender and soft yellow; deep green and burgundy after dark
What makes it
Flowers in jars, mismatched china, a long table on the lawn and string lights for evening
When
April to September

Garden party invitation templates

These 6 designs draw the theme and play it as guests open the link. Press a design to watch it live, or Use to open it in the editor with your own details.

Garden party animations

Intros play once as the page opens; effects keep moving behind it while guests read and reply. Put any of them on any design.

Garden party decoration ideas

  • Flowers in jars. Jars, teacups and bottles filled with grocery-store flowers look generous; two or three bunches split across a table go further than one arrangement.
  • Mismatched china. Thrifted plates and teacups, no two alike, are the look. Borrow from family to fill a long table.
  • Shade for every seat. Set tables in shade or under a canopy or umbrellas, and put water out from the start; a long afternoon in full sun wears guests out.
  • Light for an evening garden. String lights overhead, and candles in hurricane glasses so the wind can't reach the flame; use LED candles near linens and dry grass.
  • A rain plan. Rent a tent, book a covered porch, or pick an indoor room you can dress with the same flowers and linens. Make the call the morning before and tell every guest where to go.

Garden party food ideas

  • Tea sandwiches. Cucumber and cream cheese, egg salad and chicken salad on crustless bread, cut in fingers; plan four to six pieces per guest for an afternoon tea.
  • Scones and spreads. One or two scones per guest with jam, lemon curd and whipped or clotted cream.
  • Make-ahead brunch. For a garden brunch, a quiche or frittata, a fruit platter, pastries and yogurt parfaits can all be made the day before.
  • Edible flowers. Pansies, violas and nasturtiums dress a cake or cupcakes. Use only flowers grown for eating, never florist stems, which are often sprayed.
  • Keep it cool. Mayonnaise salads, cream and cut fruit sit in the shade on ice and go back in the fridge after two hours, or one hour above 90°F.
  • Lemonade and iced tea. Glass dispensers of lemonade and iced tea with mint and berries; add a sparkling punch or mimosas for grown-ups.

Garden party games and activities

  • Flower bar. Set out buckets of loose stems, ribbon and kraft paper so guests tie a small bouquet to take home; plan five to seven stems per guest.
  • Lawn games. Croquet, bocce or ring toss gives guests somewhere to drift between food and gifts.
  • Plant a wish. At a baby-in-bloom shower, guests plant a seed in a small pot and write a wish for the baby on its tag.
  • Garden hat parade. Ask guests to wear a garden hat and vote on the best one before tea is poured.
  • Egg hunt in two zones. For Easter, hide eggs in the open for under-fives and in harder spots for older kids, so the little ones get a fair share.

Garden party favor ideas

  • Seed packets. Wildflower or herb seeds tagged "Let love grow" for a bridal shower or "Watch me grow" for a baby shower.
  • Potted herbs. A small basil or succulent in a terracotta pot with the guest's name painted on doubles as the place card.
  • Tea to take home. Three or four tea sachets in a small envelope tied with ribbon.
  • A jar of jam. A small jar of jam or honey with a fabric top and a tag with the date.

Garden party invitation wording

Copy one and change the names, or get more wording ideas.

  • Bridal shower

    Love is in bloom. Please join us for a garden shower honoring Clara Bennett, Sunday, May 2 at 1 PM, in the Lees' backyard. Kindly RSVP by April 23.

  • Baby shower

    A baby is blooming. Join us in the garden for a shower honoring Sofia, Saturday, April 17 at 11 AM. Tea, brunch and blossoms.

  • Evening garden party

    Midsummer in the garden. Dinner under the lights at Paul and Ines's, Saturday, July 24 at 7:30 PM. If it rains, we move to the barn.

Occasions for a garden party

Each page has RSVP wording, timing and the questions to ask for that occasion.

How to make a garden party invitation

  1. 1Press Use this design on one of the garden party invitations above. It opens in the editor with its own intro and page effect already on.
  2. 2Type your title, date, time and place over the sample, and put your own photos where the design has them.
  3. 3To change the motion, tap Intro and try Gift ribbon, Moonlit bloom, Ring box or Diptych slide-together, or tap Effect and pick Butterflies, Tulip Bloom, Cherry Blossoms or Rising Petals. Every one is free.
  4. 4Create the event and share the link by text, email or QR code. Guests watch it play and RSVP on the same page, and you see every reply as it comes in.

Garden party questions

What do you need for a garden party?
Seating in shade, flowers, drinks on ice, food that holds up outdoors and a plan for rain. For an evening party, add string lights and something for bugs at dusk.
What do you wear to a garden party?
Light, breathable clothes: a sundress, linen or a light suit, flats or block heels that won't sink into grass, and a hat for the sun. Bring a wrap for the evening.
What happens if it rains at a garden party?
Plan for it from the start: a rented tent, a covered porch or barn, or an indoor room ready to dress the same way. Make the call the morning before and tell every guest where to go.
When is the best time to have a garden party?
Late spring to early fall, late morning to mid-afternoon for brunch or tea, or after six in high summer when the heat breaks. Check when your garden is in bloom and plan around it.
Is a garden party invitation free?
Yes. The 6 designs on this page and every intro and page effect are free on every event. A free event takes up to 20 RSVPs; a one-time upgrade per event raises the limit.
Can guests RSVP to a garden party invitation without an app?
Yes. Guests open your link on any phone or computer, watch the invitation play, and reply on the same page with no app or account. Every reply lands on your dashboard.

More party themes

Send your garden party invitation

Start from the Diptych Spread design, change the words and share one link. Guests reply on the page, with no app.

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