In the eighth season of The Office, Andy and Dwight team up for the ultimate garden party. With Andy as the new Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, he figured a "Connecticut casual" garden party was the ultimate way to combine co-workers and family. And thanks to Dwight's beet farm (and his apparent desire to get into the event-planning industry), having the garden party at the farm was the perfect connection.
Knowing Dwight and Andy were planning a garden party, Jim created and wrote one copy of The Ultimate Guide to Throwing a Garden Party and sold it to Dwight. Jim was smart enough to use a pen name to mask his identity: James Trickington. He sold the book for $2.00 and it was the best two bucks he's ever made because the garden party was equal parts awkward, uncomfortable, and lovely.
CHAPTER ONE: VALET MUST TAKE YOUR CAR
As guests are arriving to Dwight's beet farm, we see his cousin Mose welcoming them and taking their cars. Toby is one of the first people to arrive and does not seem too thrilled about Mose parking his car for him, but alas, it's part of garden party decorum.
However, Mose doesn't follow the social norm. He takes his valet duty to the extreme and takes the cars deep into the cornfields where he parks them too close to each other (and eventually rides a motorcycle over them).
CHAPTER TWO: ANNOUNCING GUESTS AS THEY ENTER
One of the best parts of the episode is how Dwight announces each guest as they enter the party. According to the second chapter of the book, "the more volume displayed, the more honor is bestowed upon everyone present." Two of the best examples of this are when Dwight calls Stanley's date his "mistress" and when he calls Jim and Pam's daughter Pee-Pee instead of Cece.
Jim, of course, has fun with Dwight's dedication to the garden party and walks back and forth through the entrance so Dwight has no choice but to announce is name time and time again.
CHAPTER THREE: DRESS THE PART
Before the garden party takes place, Andy is prepping the entire office for this gathering as if it's the prom. He wants everyone to look and act the part and dress Connecticut casual. Both Phyllis and Kelly asked Andy what the real reason was for this party but he assures them it's just a garden party. As we later find out, the party is a way to impress his parents as he's the new regional manager.
According to the book Dwight is basing the party on, everyone must wear “Colonial tea party chic." We can see this in Kelly and Erin's outfits, with both women wearing British-inspired hats and tea dresses.
CHAPTER FOUR: DANCE MASTER
After all the guests are finally at the garden party, Dwight joins the staff in a strange welcome dance of sorts. There is vintage, classical music playing in the background with Dwight at the center of it all. As the person throwing the party, he is also dubbed Dance Master. Being the Dance Master "sets the tone" for the rest of the garden party. If the Dance Master does his part in entertaining guests, all will go well. More coordinated dances were performed throughout the afternoon.
CHAPTER FIVE: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW NAPKINS
When Dwight is talking to Robert California, Robert mentions he could spend a "considerate" amount of money at Dwight's beet farm for some of his events. Dwight mentions he can make a steak out of exotic animals, which grabs Robert's attention. However, exotic animals is not what this group ate at the garden party.
Finger foods and dainty sandwiches were on deck but napkins were nowhere to be found. According to the book, "mannerly people never spill." If someone does cause a mess, the host is supposed to insult them for being, well, ill-mannered.
CHAPTER SIX: MUSIC IS IMPORTANT
Live music is also imperative at a garden party. Looking back at the episode, though, we heard classical music being played but never saw someone actually performing. Unless you want to count Andy, his father, and younger brother... That live performance was probably the most uncomfortable thing ever shown on TV. It was the moment when Andy's father kicked him out of his duet with his brother that his co-workers realized the whole garden party was to impress his parents.
CHAPTER SEVEN: SPEAK THE TIME
Those hosting a garden party should speak in a British accent. It doesn't matter if you're not British or how long your guests have known you. Speaking in an accent is the perfect way to intrigue guests and keep them talking. However, in the episode, Dwight did not speak with an accent. Then again, Dwight loves himself the way he is.
CHAPTER EIGHT: DRAW THE GUESTS IN
In the eighth chapter of the book, Dwight is supposed to add a little pizzazz to the party. While food, drinks, and music are great, having an ice sculpture or a "pool filled with wine" is customary to making sure guests are having a good time. Above, we see Dwight creating an ice sculpture himself — no surprise there.
CHAPTER NINE: KNOW YOUR GUESTS
In the ninth chapter of the book, Dwight was supposed to invite people to attend his party who were merely fillers. Also known as tableau vivant, these guests would not speak but would rather entertain and fill space. No one really enjoys their company but they're good "entertainment" for the party you're throwing. And while we didn't notice any of those kinds of guests at the garden party, perhaps the wait staff could be included in that tally?
CHAPTER 10: A CLOSING CEREMONY
As the garden party is getting ready to end, Andy's parents and Robert California depart, leaving the Dunder Mifflin squad by themselves. They decide to grill real food and enjoy themselves outside. As they're grilling, we can see Dwight holding flames, surrounded by the waitstaff who are doing the same thing. They perform a coordinated dance as a closing ceremony for their guests. A "nice touch" added by Jim.