Celebrate the race that stops the nation and find inspiration for your Melbourne Cup event in our top 10 favourite garden party ideas! With a little elegance and extravagence, you can capture the flourish of Spring wherever you are; regardless of whether you’re in an office, a rooftop, an intimate courtyard or a leafy park.
1. Flower power
Spring is the season of bloom – your garden party should be a thriving space! Fill the area with flowers, ferns and foliage for a lush, lively atmosphere.
If you’re inside, you can buy or hire potted plants or green walls, or even buy large bouquets of flowers, to brighten up the day.
2. Fashions on the Field photo backdrop
No one can resist getting an Insta-worthy snap of themselves dressed to the nines and standing against one of the lush photo backdrops around the racecourse grounds.
With a little imagination, you too can create a stage out of an ordinary space! Easy ideas include flower frames, curtains, streamers, tissue paper or even DIY macrame, for the craftier folk!
3. Shake it like a…
Polaroid picture stations are a fun way for your guests to snap candid photos and create wonderful mementos of your event.
Use yarn and mini-pegs for a DIY display wall and supply a small collection of race-themed prop-sticks, such as extravagant fascinators or big wads of winnings, for extra laughs.
4. Keep it fresh
Stick to finger foods that are light, fun and social with appetisers and canapes that perfectly showcase the fresh flavours of spring. Here are some of our favourites:
Prawn pita bites (pictured above)
Individual crudité and dip bread cups (pictured above)
Mini bruchetta
Watermelon fetta salad cubes
Aranchini balls
Caprese salad bites
Plum & brie crostini
‘Moneybag’ meatballs
Bacon & blue cheese stuffed mushrooms
5. Graze away
If you’d rather something easier, the grazing table trend is a beautiful way to keep guests satisfied and add an atmosphere of decadence to the event.
They’re surprisingly easy to throw together, as well!
6. Who’s ready for a top up?
Create a DIY drink station with bubbles, juices and flavour toppers – such as berries, lemon & lime wedges or passionfruit pulp – so your guests can make their perfect beverage.
Drink carts are also making a big comeback – mimosas, white sangria or martinis will work perfectly.
7. Make way for the Beer-Barrow
Race day events embrace rustic decor, taking rural elements and adding an elegant twist.
Leave the trusty blue esky for beach days and camping adventures and get creative; keep your iced beers in tin buckets, wooden boxes, wheelbarrows, or even a feeding trough!
8. Branch out
If you have an outdoor event, decorate some trees early this year with garden party decorations!
If you’re working with an indoor space, hang tissue paper pom poms or light, artificial plants around doorways, window frames and columns.
9. Floating around
If your area includes a pool or water feature, add some floating decorations.
Candles, flower arrangements and balloons peacefully glide across the surface and are mirrored in the water’s reflection, adding a dreamy element to your space.
10. It’s about to start!
Last – but definitely not least – make sure you don’t miss the race!
Make sure there’s a screen nearby to join the rest of the nation in cheerfully backing that hopeful winner of yours…
