How to throw a great party

Event planner Liz Taylor, chief executive of the Taylor Lynn Corporation (tlc-ltd.co.uk), shares her tips and trends for the perfect summer party…

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Book! It’s busy... The trickle of bookings has turned into a tidal wave of events, Taylor says. “It’s become non-stop! A mix of events: weddings that were delayed from 2020, people keen to celebrate Covid-hit birthdays and anniversaries with friends and families. And businesses who want staff recognition events to re-engage with their furloughed workforce.”

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Consider your theme Two trends dominate this year, according to Taylor. The first is the 1920s: think martinis at a speakeasy bar, flappers, jazz, black and silver art deco design schemes – adorn rich table linens with feathers and drape pearls over vintage gramophones. The second is the Tuscan retreat: mismatched wooden chairs and rustic benches, sharing plates of Mediterranean food and jugs of red wine, simple garden flowers in cans or enamel jugs and fairy lights in the trees.

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Keep music spinning “The 1920s is the year’s biggest influence, so curate a digital music list of contemporary jazz to big band classics,” Taylor says. “For a larger space, book a big band.”

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Think outside the glass Cocktails create an “unpredictable vibe: presentation is key”, according to Taylor. She recommends Moscow Mules in copper cups for a nod to European style, or pouring chilled prosecco from vintage teapots into China cups to “add a touch of excitement to a picnic or afternoon tea party”. •

Be brave with colour “For a curated, designer look, go with shades of one colour: rich ruby red to palest pink, or deep purple to pale lavender.”

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The ‘wow’ moment Consider “immersive entertainment, such as waiters who offer an opera performance”, says Taylor. “The element of surprise is important to a party, so keep a trick or two up your sleeve – especially if you know of a skilled magician or caricaturist.”