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More formal than a picnic but not as stringently formal as a ballroom dance, the Garden Party is an elegant occasion where both friendships and flowers are grown.
Some may argue that the very first ‘garden parties’ were enjoyed by Adam and Eve, in their mystical Garden of Eden. Yet these lovely outdoor festivities became truly popular much later on in Victorian England, where friends and associates gathered on formal estates—typified by rolling hills and all varieties of floral gems—to enjoy formal luncheons that included everything from breads and butter to cakes and fruits, seasoned meat dishes to champagnes and clarets. These meals, furthermore, were enjoyed at tables bedecked with china, silver and fine linens—with nary a picnic table or checkered cloth in sight!
The tradition of the Garden Party soon caught on in other parts of the world; in the 1920s, for example, Hollywood actress Alla Nazimova was known for hosting lavish parties at her Garden of Allah estate. This festivity also was referenced in the 1972 Rick Nelson hit “Garden Party.”
In today’s hurried, practical world, festivities such as garden parties are few and far between. Yet today’s parties in the garden are just as elegant as ever, and are celebrated regularly at places like Buckingham Palace. In the United States, a nonprofit group might host a Garden Party as a festive fund-raiser, or to commemorate a holiday or special occasion.
Rediscover the elegant magic of the Garden Party. Plan the ultimate Garden Party today!
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