Every summer we can tell in our workshop that party season is starting – orders for boards and bowls pick up weeks before the first barbecue even heats its coals. And every time someone asks us the same thing: how much to prepare, where to put everything and how to manage it all so that the host gets to enjoy it too. So we have written it down the way we do it ourselves. No magazine tricks, just a few things that have genuinely proved their worth.
In short, before you begin: a successful garden party does not rely on a heroic effort on the day, but on preparation spread over several days. Once you have thought through four things – a day-by-day plan, the number of guests, enough places to sit and serving that holds up – the rest is pure pleasure. In the Czech Republic the season plays into your hands too: from the end of May until Midsummer (St John's Eve), the weather is made for evenings under the open sky.
A plan that takes the stress away
The most common mistake is leaving everything until the last minute and then running around like a headless chicken on the day of the party. It is enough to divide it into three phases. A week before, send out the invitations and buy everything with a long shelf life – drinks, tinned food, dry goods. The day before, marinate the meat, mow the lawn, tidy the garden and get the decorations ready. On the day itself, you only buy fresh bread, fruit and ice – and above all you calmly enjoy being the host instead of sweating over a list.
Czech bonus: If your party falls at the end of June, combine it with St John's Eve (Midsummer night). A small bonfire, fairy lights and a wreath of meadow flowers have deep roots in Czech tradition and give the celebration something extra that money cannot buy.
Divide the garden so guests do not crowd around the barbecue
If you concentrate everything in one spot, a crowd forms around the barbecue while the rest of the garden stands empty. It helps to divide the space into three zones – guests will then spread out across the garden by themselves.
The dining zone belongs in pleasant shade near where you serve. Put the main buffet table here so that everyone has food within reach but is not standing in full sun. The quiet zone with blankets and cushions can be a little away from the bustle – after eating, people will drift over there and chat in peace. And reserve a games zone where you have a flat lawn: wooden skittles, croquet, pétanque or kubb will entertain children and adults alike and reliably break the ice between guests who do not know each other well.
Seating from what you already have at home
A larger group does not mean you have to rush out for new benches. Wooden pallets with cushions, sturdy logs, folding loungers and ordinary picnic blankets with a pile of cushions spread out right on the lawn all do the job. The result is a relaxed, slightly bohemian atmosphere that expensive garden furniture would never create anyway. A lower log also serves as a side table for glasses or a candle holder.
Serving: where an ordinary barbecue becomes an experience
This is the heart of the whole party. When working out quantities, allow roughly 400 grams of meat or main course per adult and add fresh salads, vegetables, bread and nibbles. In hot weather, drinks can easily reach one and a half litres of soft drinks per person, so always keep jugs of water and something refreshing to hand.
The biggest difference, however, is made by how you serve the food. A cold buffet frees you from standing at the barbecue all the time and gives guests freedom. Canapés, dips and fruit stand out in wooden bowls and plates, larger portions can be spread across trays, and cheeses and cured meats can be arranged on a serving board – wood suits them better than anything else, and it looks as if you made a real effort, even though it takes five minutes. Hand out coasters for chilled glasses so they do not leave wet rings on the furniture.
Tip for an honest Czech buffet: ham rolls, devilled eggs, potato salad, grilled sausages and grilled hermelín (a Czech camembert-style cheese). Add crusty bread from a local bakery and fruit from the garden. Simple, honest and loved by everyone.
Decorations, scents and evening light
There is beauty in simplicity, and decorations need cost almost nothing. Pick meadow flowers and put them in old preserving jars, place candles in wooden candle holders and casually hang a few paper lanterns above the table. Once the sun sets, strings of lights stretched between the trees and lanterns along the paths take over.
Against mosquitoes, citronella candles have worked well for us – and above all bunches of fresh lavender and herbs laid right on the table: they smell lovely and insects keep away. You can keep herbs handy in a planter on the terrace and label them nicely with wooden markers, so you know where the mint is and where the basil is.
And then the most important thing: how to care for the wood
This is probably closest to our hearts, because we see how often wood is needlessly ruined during a single party. Never put boards and bowls in the dishwasher. Hot water, intense heat and aggressive tablets dry out and warp the wood, and then it cracks. Simply wash by hand in warm water; lemon with salt or a little vinegar reliably removes grease and smells. Leave to dry standing upright so the wood can breathe on all sides, and treat it with wood oil every now and then. If you do this, your serveware will last for years and be ready again every summer.
The most common mistakes to avoid: do not leave preparations until the day itself; do not underestimate drinks – in the heat they disappear faster than you expect; do not put cream desserts in full sun, and be prepared for wasps. And once more, the main thing – wooden boards and bowls do not belong in the dishwasher.
🌳 Planning a party and missing serveware? We make boards, bowls, trays and candle holders by hand from Czech wood in our sheltered workshop in the Podkrkonoší region at the foot of the Giant Mountains. Your purchase supports honest work by people who would otherwise find it hard to get a job.
Browse Garden & BarbecueThree categories you will use most at a party
If you want to keep a few staples at home, this trio is worth it – boards for serving, bowls and trays for the buffet and candle holders for the evening. We make everything by hand from local woods, so every piece is a little different.
Frequently asked questions
How much food and drink should I prepare per person?
As a guide, around 400 g of meat or main course and roughly 1.5 litres of soft drinks per adult guest. Add salads, bread, vegetables and nibbles. Feel free to buy long-life drinks with a reserve – they will not go off and will wait for the next party.
How can I arrange enough seating if I have no garden furniture?
You do not need to buy new furniture. Wooden pallets with cushions, logs, folding loungers and picnic blankets spread on the lawn all work. The result is a relaxed atmosphere, and lower logs can be used as side tables.
What works against mosquitoes at an evening party?
Without chemicals, citronella candles help – and above all bunches of fresh lavender and aromatic herbs placed around the table. It is worth keeping herbs to hand in a planter on the terrace, so you can also use them to season the food.
Why should wooden boards never go in the dishwasher?
Hot water, intense heat and aggressive detergents dry out and warp the wood, and then it cracks. Wash them by hand in warm water, remove grease with lemon and salt or vinegar, leave them to dry upright and treat them with wood oil now and then. They will then last for years.
Which AMADEA wooden accessories are suitable for a garden party?
You will get the most use out of serving boards, bowls and trays for a cold buffet, coasters for chilled glasses and candle holders and lanterns for the evening. We make everything by hand from Czech wood in our sheltered workshop in the Podkrkonoší region.
🌳 May your party never end. Equip yourself for the whole summer season with honest accessories made of natural wood. And if you are looking for a gift for the host, go for a gift voucher.
Go to AMADEAAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
Editorial policy: Our content is based on the day-to-day practice of the AMADEA shop, the real needs of our customers and a commitment to clear, useful and trustworthy information.