A plain white tablecloth and colorful flower arrangements add sophistication to an outdoor party.
Your loved one enjoys being outdoors, which means a surprise party in the comfort of the backyard is a fitting idea. There are several decorations you can include in the party space to make the area especially festive in a way that showcases the guest of honor's interests and sense of style. Does this Spark an idea?
Centerpieces
Accent the tables for the outdoor celebration with floral centerpieces that coordinate with the guest of honor's sense of style. For instance, if your best friend loves the color yellow, clear glass vases or pitchers filled with yellow roses and tulips will give the tables a bright and refreshing feel, especially when paired with a classic white tablecloth. If your loved one prefers nonfloral decor, shallow dishes filled with colored stones and surrounded with synthetic moss or leaves add nature-inspired accents to the tablescape. A potpourri dish filled with items that are indicative of the season is appropriate for an outdoor party as well. For instance, dried apples, cinnamon oil and pine cones are ideal for a fall celebration. As you lead the blindfolded guest of honor to the table, she will be able to smell the decorations you've prepared for her surprise party before you remove the blindfold to reveal the adorned table and all her guests.
Chair Accents
If you're using metal or plastic folding chairs for the surprise party, accent the chair where the guest of honor will sit by spray-painting it with one of the party decor colors. Place a wide strip of tulle around the back of the chair and tie it into a large bow to make the main chair especially festive; lightly mist the tulle bow with spray glitter. Purchase seat cushions that match the party hues, and place them in the seats of the party chairs. Choose a pattern for the seat cushions that fits the party's theme, such as a tropical floral pattern for a surprise luau or gingham pillows for a country-style outdoor barbecue. Use a cloth that matches the seat cushions to cover the food and presents on the table so you can unveil the surprise after leading the guest of honor to the backyard.
Lighting
For a surprise outdoor party that takes place in the evening, choose simple candle arrangements that add attractive lighting to the table decor. Once you've gathered all the guests in the backyard to prepare to greet the guest of honor, light candles housed in mason jars on the table to accent the classic picnic party decor. Or place paper lantern floor lamps at each corner of the table to add dim lighting that will make the streamers and confetti on the party table more noticeable. For an elegant, tea party-style event, pastel-colored floating candles in shallow vases filled with water are fitting. The lighting will showcase some of the homemade treats you've prepared for your loved one, as well as small framed pictures of the person you are celebrating, such as baby pictures for a birthday party, or school photos from younger years for a graduation celebration.
Additional Accents
Choose serving dishes in vivid colors that further emphasize the party's theme. For instance, cherry-red and burnt orange ceramic bowls and casserole dishes are appropriate for a fiesta-style outdoor celebration, and will bring out the shades of yellow or green in the tablecloth, table runner and vases filled with bright red poppies or daisies. If you're using picnic tables for the outdoor surprise event, dress them up with tulle or cotton table skirts. Use a strip of the same fabric to cover the guest of honor's eyes as you lead her to the party space.
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