Garden Party Rentals and Layout: Chairs, Tables and Shade on the Lawn

A garden party borrows the best of an outdoor wedding and a backyard barbecue: soft light, lots of flowers and a slower pace. It also carries a few risks that an indoor party does not, like soft ground, wasps near the dessert, and a guest in heels walking across a lawn. The right rentals make the lawn work for you.

Pick the right chair for grass

The most common garden party mistake is a chair with narrow legs. They sink into soft lawn and tip. Look for wider feet, a lighter frame or a chair with a flat base.

• Rattan garden chairs have a wide stance and a soft look.
• Garden folding chairs, estimated at $5 to $7, are practical and easy to move.
• Cross-back chairs, $8 to $11, are sturdier but can sink on very soft ground.
• Ghost chairs, $10 to $14, suit modern gardens and look airy against plants, but the thin legs need firm ground.

On soft ground, use plywood or ground mats beneath chairs. For details, read chairs on grass, sand and gravel.

Lay out the garden

Counts by party style

For 40 guests, a seated tea needs 40 chairs and 5 rounds of 8, while a mingling party needs about 24 chairs and 4 cocktail tables. Tea and dessert tables should be 6 feet long and covered to the floor; see the tablecloth size chart.

Shade, bugs and breeze

Chicago-area notes

Public gardens in the Chicago area, such as the Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden, have their own event policies, so contact them directly about private events and outside rentals instead of assuming. At a private garden, check with your village about tent size rules and neighbors about noise. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures, while July and August call for fans and extra shade. Our rattan chair guide shows more garden styling ideas. For evening light, use string light layouts.

Food and drink that suit the setting

Garden parties lean on light, grazing food: finger sandwiches, fruit, cheese, scones and a few warm dishes. Set the tea and dessert table within sight of the seating, with plates stacked on the near side and platters on the far side. Cake stands and risers add height without taking more table space.

Offer one non-alcoholic option that looks as special as the rest, such as a pitcher of lemonade or iced tea with fruit. A beverage dispenser holds more than a pitcher and keeps the table neat; see how many beverage dispensers you need. Put ice in a separate bin, not in the dispenser, so drinks do not get watered down.

Glassware matters outdoors. Glass looks better, but plastic is safer on hard surfaces, near pools and in parks. Pick one or the other for each zone and tell guests where to find them. Finally, consider restrooms: if guests will walk through the house, put down a runner and a sign so they find the way without wandering through bedrooms.

Plan your garden party

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we'll fit the plan to your yard, or request a quote with your guest count and date.