4 entertaining must-haves for a spring soirée.
Let’s be real - nothing’s better than a charming outdoor spring soirée. Whether it’s a backyard BBQ, peppy brunch or birthday celebration in the sun, spring events just have an ultra chill energy about them. But - it can be a huge effort to pull one of these off. It seems like a big job (and it is), but the art of throwing an envy-inducing, at-home event in spring can be broken down into four simple elements - a curated table setting, festive food, bold beverages & unique touches. Once you’ve mastered these four domains, you’re golden!
As long as you cover the bases, prepare ahead of time and remember to put your own unique stamp on it, your soirée will be a stand-out of the season. And luckily for you, we have all the inspo you absolutely need to pull it all together.
Curated table setting
Nothing wows a crowd of friends (and their new warmer-weather fling) like a beautifully curated table setting. Whether you’re serving barbecued meats or high-tea sponge cakes, the table is the centrepiece of your event and totally sets the mood for the whole gathering. So, make sure you pick out pieces that play into your style and work with the mood of the occasion.
First stop: tableware. A great thing about investing in stylish, high quality tableware for an event is that you’ll get to use the pieces again and again for different occasions across the seasons. Versatility: tick! However, when it comes to table dressing and accessorising with lanterns, candlesticks and tablecloths, you have licence to have a bit more fun and play into particular themes. The warmer months call for fun twists on traditional patterns, so go for a linen tablecloth and napkins that bring you immediate joy whenever you showcase them for a spring event.
Hot tip: Vintage, one-of-a-kind glassware will always get you tons of compliments, plus - they’re a great investment piece!
Festive Food
When planning the menu for your spring soirée, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options and choices. Plus, there’s everybody’s dietary requirements you’ve got to contend with! But there are some tricks to getting it right and making sure that everyone enjoys a scrumptious spread.
Firstly, having some pre-prepared meals will go a long way to helping reduce that frazzled “why did I decide to invite everyone over??!?!!” feeling. Dishes you prep before and then chuck into the oven when everyone arrives means you actually have time to relax and enjoy your own party without being locked up in the kitchen. If you can’t find the time to do it all - because, let’s face it, sourcing, cooking and preparing nibbles, mains and desserts is a lot to ask - then you can look into having some pre-made treats delivered.
If you're throwing a BBQ, then a delivered mixed meat box will save you the hassle of having to think about which meats to purchase. And, you can cut down on even more planning with nibbles taken care of from the get-go as a customisable, luxury grazing platter arrives straight to your door. If you don’t want to deal with preparing two different desserts, you can satisfy your vegan guests with a seriously gorgeous and delicious vegan cake. (Way to show the vegans you didn’t forget about them!)
Hot tip: If you want to go all out and kick up your heels for the entire soirée, you can hire private catering to take care of everything. That means you only have the decor and decorations to worry about. Just lie and say the amuse-bouche was a little something you whipped up the night before. Winning!
Bold Beverages
You can’t throw a decent spring do without some sweet, seasonal cocktails for all to sip on.
Cocktail kits are your absolute saviours here; that way you don’t have to stress about sourcing every ingredient. The delightful Elderflower Spritz Cocktail kit, or the Bramble Fizz Gin Cocktail kit will have your guests experimenting with the drinks at home, wanting to recreate the feeling of your event.
Or, if you’re hosting several events this spring, a monthly drink subscription kit will help inspire your drink menus, and offer up different tastes and selections at each occasion.
However, if you’re a cocktail connoisseur and know exactly what you’re doing thank-you very much - then all you need is a sleek cocktail utensils kit to show off as you shake up your tasty concoctions.
Hot tip: Ask your guests about their favourite cocktail ingredients and spirits ahead of time so you can make sure you have everyone’s favourite at the home bar.
Unique touches
To really make your own mark on your spring soirée, unique and thoughtful touches here and there can really help your event stand out. Our advice? Play into the spring vibes with a stunning seasonal flower arrangement and little floral accents around the gathering. You could even give away parts of the bouquets to your guests as party favours.
What else? Fairy lights have a knack for bringing a delightful vibe to any spring event, so why not go big with it? An understated, draped look over your courtyard or backyard will bring that relaxed spring energy, while a full display with hundreds of little lights will inspire and excite everyone at the gathering. Pro-tip, hang these the day before to avoid any last minute sweaty work while you’re already in the picnic outfit.
Want something a little extra for a special celebration? A themed balloon garland that complements the colour scheme of the occasion will be show-stopping and memorable for your guests.
Hot tip: For an extra thoughtful touch for a sit down feast, why not get some personalised table place settings done up? Way to make your guests feel pretty special.
