Date
May 08, 2025
Read Time
There’s a certain kind of alchemy that happens when you bring people together outdoors, with drinks in hand and the countryside as your backdrop. From milestone birthdays and anniversaries to ‘just because’ gatherings, outdoor garden parties are having a moment – and the Cotswolds is the place to do it!
At Henry Bonas, we don’t do one-size-fits-all. Every party we design is truly unique and bespoke to your occasion, and we’ve got a sharp eye for what’s going to surprise and delight your guests. Here’s some garden party inspiration with real examples from parties we’ve created.
The Cotswolds is spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful backdrops. You could host something luxurious and low-key in your own garden, or take over the grounds of a stately home or country manor house to create something much grander.
Or you could go even further afield with your garden party theme ideas. For this Egyptian-themed 60th, we brought the ancient land of the Pharaohs to a Cotswold garden with live opera, orchestras, pyramids, and even the Sphinx. Guests began their journey into Ancient Egypt with camels in the garden and a Roman trumpeter. Outdoors, it was England; but inside, it was another world…
A great party should feel like it couldn’t have happened anywhere else, or for anyone else. We begin, not with a formula, but with a feeling. Some of our clients want an intimate long-table lunch under the trees. Others are thinking bigger: a weekend festival-style gathering with bell tents, DJs, DIY cocktail bars, and late-night dancing.
Take our Lost City of Atlantis-themed luxury garden party, for example. The party took place in a reimagined ancient lost underwater city, with a custom-built tent, deep-sea inspired styling, and daring entertainment. This is a great example of what we can achieve when we’re given the freedom to be bold and creative.
From grand marquees to rustic tipis and chic bell tents, the structure you choose will shape your garden party. We’ll suggest a design that fits the tone of the evening, and then bring it to life with carefully considered lighting and decor. You won’t find anything off-the-shelf at one of our luxury garden parties.
A great example of this is the summer party we created at a private home in the Cotswolds. The evening began with signature cocktails and street food, before live music carried the party on into the night. Guests mingled and danced around the open sided tipi tents, with an atmosphere that felt laid-back but incredibly well put together.
Forget standard canapés and champagne. When it comes to garden party themes, food and drink is a central part of the experience. That means you can have fun with the catering to give guests an experience that will linger long after the music stops. Think open-fire cooking, oyster shucking, or Mediterranean feasting tables spilling with colour – whatever you decide, food and drink are central to a successful party.
At our black tie 50th party in the Cotswolds, guests were welcomed into a chic lined marquee by a live jazz band, before tucking into a formal sit-down dinner brimming with seasonal British produce. Many members of the guest list were from overseas, so stayed in local accommodation – to make the most of the beautiful garden party setting, we hosted a hearty brunch the following morning to send guests on their way with even more happy Cotswold memories.
The best garden parties have moments that shift gears; something unexpected that makes people look up from their Negronis and grin. A fire-breathing acrobat or a surprise saxophonist weaving through the crowd are just some of the surprise moments we have created for guests at our Cotswolds garden parties.
For the Gaucho-themed 40th luxury garden party that we hosted, this meant cooking over Asado fire pits with Argentinian chefs, a roaming Cumbai band, and a lethal bucking bronco. It was different, unexpected, and very much not your average garden party. The next day, sore heads and bronco bruises were the sign of a successful night!
