How to host the Queen of all celebrations

The countdown to the Jubilee weekend is officially on! And, with four days of celebrations and events planned from 2nd – 5th June, it’s the perfect chance to get all your friends and family together for a good old garden party! 

As many of you will be planning to play host over the Jubilee weekend, we thought we would put together a step-by-step guide of everything you need to know about hosting a Jubilee party. From Jubilee party ideas and food recipes to music and decoration suggestions, you will find everything you need in one place to host the ultimate garden party event. 

The food

When it comes to your Jubilee party food, the key is to be as British as possible! It’s all about those classic garden party treats that are simple to prepare, easy to share and that add to the spirit of the day. 

Here's a selection of both savoury and sweet recipes to get your creative juices flowing…

Mini sausage rolls

Mini quiche Lorraines

Lemonade scones

The drinks

Hopefully we are in for a warm, sunny weekend, which means that you will need a lot of refreshments to keep your guests hydrated. Try to arrange a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic alternatives to give everyone a choice and don’t forget to over-order on the ice, as there’s nothing worse than serving lukewarm drinks.  

Schweppes tonic is a great all-rounder and can be mixed with a combination of soft mixers such as elderflower cordial, orange juice, freshly-squeezed lime or strawberry syrup. You could fill some tall glass jugs with various flavours and let your guests help themselves when they need a top up. 

There’s no better way to raise a toast to the Queen than with a glass of bubbles, and Adeletto prosecco makes a great choice, and a cheaper alternative to champagne. There are also a number of non-alcoholic sparkling wine alternatives, including kombucha and sparkling elderflower. 

Gin is a quintessentially British spirit and can be mixed with a wide range of other mixers and ingredients to create a refreshing drink for your party. Why not give our passionfruit gin pitcher a try for something a little exotic and different…

The décor

No garden party is complete without great decorations, so how do you celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and create a memorable atmosphere?

Thankfully there is plenty of choice in the shops at the moment, so you can stock up on as much red, white and blue as you can stomach! From table cloths, to bunting, balloons and table confetti, you can go as overboard as you want with the Union Jack theme, and why not print out some pictures of the Queen from various points over her 70-year reign to hang around your garden in varying sized frames. If red, white and blue are not really your thing, then you could opt for classic gold and silver regal tones with splashes of purple and green to reflect the crown jewels.  

Paper plates and cups are good for serving out food and drinks at garden parties to avoid breakages and are also more sustainable than plastic alternatives.

The activities

The best family outdoor party games are those which are competitive, but most of all good fun! 

Quintessential British garden games include skittles, croquet and bean-bag toss, and are all pretty simple to set up on your lawn. Or, why not construct a coconut shy for something a little different, and you could even get your kids to decorate the faces of the coconuts to make them as much like the members of the royal family as they can.

You could also plan in a Jubilee quiz for later in the day. Think of as many questions as you can relating to the royal family and arrange your friends and family members into teams to find out who will be crowned the kings and queens of the competition. Be sure to get some fun prizes to hand out for all the winners of the day, such as boxes of chocolates, gift cards and bottles of wine.

The music

A good garden playlist is going to be essential for creating the right vibe, so get all your family involved and write down a long list of classic British songs. From Spice Girls’ Viva Forever to Dancing Queen by ABBA, there are so many great party songs to choose from, and which are guaranteed to get everyone in the mood for a great celebration. 

Don’t forget about all the old classics too. Rule Britannia is a must-play on the list, as well as Vera Lynne’s We’ll Meet Again, and Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory.  

The key will be to start with casual background music as your guests arrive, and then step up the pace when the evening comes, and people get in the mood for a dance. Just remember to be respectful of all your neighbours and ensure your volume remains at a sociable level and doesn’t go on too late. 

We hope you’ve found our Jubilee party ideas helpful and that you are now feeling confident about hosting the ultimate garden party. All that’s left is to wish you and your family a fabulous weekend full of laughter and cheer. 

Always drink responsibly. To find out more, visit Drinkaware.