It’s true: There’s no place like home. While we love a trendy restaurant or hip gallery space, we can’t resist the lure of a beautiful green space. These days, backyard birthday parties go above and beyond a few streamers and a birthday cake. Some of our favorite at-home birthday party ideas promise to transform your everyday space into a wow-worthy backdrop. A design team can create an Instagramable balloon arch, while a top catering company can fashion a mouth-watering menu. Entertainment companies can elevate your party with a live band or interactive activities. These 5 backyard birthday party ideas are guaranteed to help you host an unforgettable celebration — all within a few feet of your front door.
1. Select an Original Theme
Fyre Festival Done Right
With relaxing pool rafts, boho-inspired tents, and chic desert décor, this backyard birthday party was everything people had in mind when they originally signed up for Frye Festival. Luckily for these guests, the party was a luxurious and fun-filled affair from start to finish.
Barbie’s Malibu Dream House
Guests entered this Barbie Dream House (aka, Malibu backyard) on a pink carpet. Other on-theme details from this backyard birthday party included a pink BMW for fun photo ops, vibrant pink uplighting, and a creative bar area with its backdrop crafted from individual Barbie dolls.
Fun Times With the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
This backyard birthday party for NBA player Rudy Gay wowed guests with colorful backdrops, old-school candies, and larger-than-life bounce houses. Guests also loved the fun outdoor activities like cornhole and water fights.
Tennis With a Score of Pure Love
This backyard birthday party was a Grand Slam with abstract tennis-ball centerpieces, bright yellow seating, and custom signage with nods to the world-famous sport. We also love how lemons (suggestive of tennis balls) added a unique twist to the bar area.
2. Set the Scene With Stunning Décor
Welcome Guests With a Colorful Balloon Arch
Guests entered this backyard birthday party in style. A stunning balloon arch offered endless photo ops, while a chic lounge area gave guests a chance to happily relax. We also love how the bar area was decorated with heartwarming photographs of the birthday girl.
Beckon Guests to Their Seats With a Beautiful Tablescape
This beautiful backyard birthday party wowed with stunning tablescapes. Paisley-pattern linen, fresh garden blooms, and an overhead installation of twinkling lights created a feeling of endless enchantment — all within a few feet of home.
Add Illumination for Night-Time Optics
Saint-Tropez, France
With a roof of twinkling lights, this pergola looks like it’s made out of pure starlight. Suspended crimson lanterns, rustic wine barrels, and tables laden with simple greenery add to the picture-perfect scene.
Fill the Pool With Blossoms
Cocktails by the pool are always enjoyable — especially when bright and colorful blooms float tranquilly on the water. We also love how cocktail tables were wound with hydrangeas and calla lilies, while the tented space boasted an abstract floral installation.
Sit Back & Relax With Chic Lounge Seating
Chadds Ford, PA
This backyard birthday party was filled with plenty of perfectly-curated details. Guests especially appreciated the picture-perfect seating area that paired boho-style throw pillows with elegant velvet sofas.
Use the Sky as a Blank Canvas
When it comes to incorporating décor, the sky’s the limit. We love how this boho-floral installation brings a sense of intimacy to the outdoor patio space. Additions of wicker, fringe, and balloons complement the lounge area — and create the perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon with friends and family.
3. Whet Appetites With Delicious Catering
Add to the Anticipation With Stylish Menus
From the moment guests sat down at this beautiful table decorated with gold cutlery and crimson linen, they began anticipating the delectable meal ahead. Other glamorous details from this intimate backyard birthday party included large white-paper lanterns and sleek crimson coffee tables.
Repurpose Your Cocktail Glasses
Make appetizers like chips and guacamole an individual treat for each guest. Other scrumptious details from this backyard birthday party included individually-served lo mein take-out boxes and artfully-packaged dessert gummies.
Quench Thirst With Colorful Cocktails
This surprise backyard birthday party wowed guests with mouthwatering whiskey sours, vodka lemonades, and (of course) pure refreshing water. With plenty of champagne and delicious cuisine on hand, guests relished an evening of good food and heartwarming conversations.
Keep the Tacos Coming
Eating tacos doesn’t have to be messy. These mini tacos served on individual wooden stands are both picture-perfect and delicious. This backyard birthday also wowed with a boho-inspired lounge area and sprawling rustic bar.
Cool Down With Fruit Paletas
With a little imagination, along with a talented event planner and catering team, it’s easy to transform your backyard into a tropical paradise. Mouth-watering fruit paletas, opalescent sea-shell plates, and tropical foliage made this backyard birthday party as dreamy as any destination vacation.
4. Keep Guests Engaged With Fun Entertainment
Cue the Band
Who needs an auditorium when you have a backyard garden? This glamorous backyard birthday party featured unforgettable live entertainment with a gorgeous stage to match. Guests also enjoyed luxe tablescapes and sumptuous cuisine.
Let Sparks Fly
Highland Park, TX
This DJ booth beckoned all guests to the dance floor. In addition to music, guests enjoyed a cold fireworks display — not to mention, gold-painted performers and gigantic bottles of champagne. Other unforgettable elements included a larger than life balloon installation featuring a giant gold chain and the lucky number 30.
Wow With Fantastical Costumes
Make it a costume party and guests instantly become part of the entertainment. This masquerade-themed backyard birthday party was filled with glamorous costumes, unending photo ops, and gorgeous live décor. Even the birthday cake was glamorous with a gold mask and lavish feathers.
Let the Good Times Roll With a Cigar-Rolling Station
This backyard birthday party captured the spirit of Havana with lush tropical foliage, wicker décor, and a cigar-rolling station. Other memorable details included Cuban-inspired appetizers and party favors of fedoras and blooms to wear throughout the evening.
Checkmate
Millbrook, NY
A larger-than-life checker board gives kids and adults a new and unique way to enjoy the outdoors. Guests also appreciated the stunning tablescapes laden with candlelight and colorful blooms, as well as the rustic barbecue stations.
5. Keep the Memories Alive With Party Favors
Think Outside the Box
Menus are nice; but take-home sweets are even nicer. This backyard birthday party wowed with menus imprinted on chic gold boxes (and delicious sweets, of course). Other magical details included opulent purple orchids and lavish gold details.
Get Comfortable With Luxe Loungewear
This dazzling backyard birthday party impressed guests with a metallic balloon installation, sophisticated tablescapes, and a marbled cake with delicate frosted blooms. Best of all, guests got to enjoy the party in comfort with personalized loungewear.
Take a Seat, Keep a Favor
This backyard birthday party, inspired by the Amalfi Coast, ushered guests to their seats with beautiful blue-tile place cards. Other Mediterranean-inspired details included citrus-infused florals, lavish greenery, and a ‘cantina’ station offering fresh seafood.
Party Hard Without Regrets
Scarsdale, NY
With hangover kits on the way, there’s no reason to stop the party early. This backyard birthday party dazzled with chic décor, engaging entertainment, fabulous cuisine — and of course, creative party favors like these emergency hangover kits.
Turn Up the Heat
This backyard birthday was on fire with a vibrant fiesta theme. Creative details included a margarita-making station, a mariachi band, and on-theme cuisine. Mini bottles of hot sauce made for fun take-home gifts (and the perfect addition to that scrumptious taco).
featured caterer
BARTLEBY & SAGE
Bartleby & Sage is a quintessential New York caterer that stays true to their mission to seek out local, family-owned farms and businesses. photographer: Maggie Marguerite Studio