Looking for ways to throw a summer dinner party? Here are 5 simple dinner party ideas for your next summer gathering.
I love a good summer dinner party don’t you?
It’s so fun to kick back, relax, spend time with friends and family.
And there’s just something about summer that fosters a more relaxed atmosphere.
Am I right?
This Month’s Virtual Dinner Party
Each month my friends and I from all over the country get together for a virtual supper club.
Have you ever done a supper club before?
If not, you can learn about how to do one HERE.
For this month’s virtual dinner group, my friends and I are celebrating a summer dinner party with a gorgeous summer tablescape.
And you can see the full menu HERE.
If you are stopping by from Michele’s at Vintage Home Designs, welcome!
Michele has a gorgeous home and I love how creative she is!
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Summer Dinner Party Ideas for the Table
I love a beautiful tablescape, don’t you?
To me a well-dressed table makes a home and gathering feel more cozy, welcoming, and inviting.
Now that beautiful weather, warm temps, and summer breezes are upon us here in NJ, we love to enjoy as many meals outside as we can.
For this summer dinner party, I’m throwing a garden party.
It’s super simple to create.
And the best part?
You can use what you have on hand to design it.
Keep Your Guests Cool
I love to enjoy outdoor dining in summer.
But I do not love sweltering in the heat and humidity.
If you are throwing a dinner party outside in summer, it is SO IMPORTANT to cool the area down and help guests feel more comfortable.
There’s nothing worse than getting all dolled up for a party and then soaking through your clothes with sweat.
If the outdoor dining space is not located under a covered area, consider adding a temporary solution to provide shade.
Like a market umbrella or a pop-up tent.
But I’m all about adding something a little more permanent for our outdoor dining spaces to keep the area cool for guests and for me!
Because let’s face it, if we make a space comfortable, we’ll use it so much more.
Adding a gazebo like this one was the perfect solution to our sweltering deck.
It made all the difference for us.
We went from rarely using our deck, to living out here all summer long.
Now that we are keeping the entertaining area cool for guests, let’s decorate the table for a summer party.
Decorating the Table for a Summer Dinner Party
With every tablescape, I love to start with a gorgeous centerpiece that inspires the whole table.
Since we are dining outside under the gazebo with lots of plants and flowers, I added this beautiful vintage crate with these real touch faux peonies and eucalyptus.
Why am I using faux outdoors?
Because I didn’t have much to cut from the garden just yet to make an arrangement.
I love the rustic wood of my farmhouse table so I like to keep it exposed when dressing up my tables.
In lieu of using a tablecloth, I used this beautiful jute table runner to add an organic textured layer to the table.
I then added some old watering cans and some terracotta pots with more faux flowers as part of the centerpiece.
For each table setting, I started with cedar branch placemats that I got from Pier 1.
As an aside, I don’t think they sell these anymore.
Sad I know because I use them in almost every tablescape I create!
I love the garden-style vibe they add.
For the next layer, I added these rustic rattan chargers.
I love how they look with the cedar branch placemats and my dinnerware. It’s such a pretty combination.
Then I topped each charger with dinnerware like these together with pretty green linen napkins.
As an added touch, I added a cute birds nest to each table setting.
And with a gorgeous table and beautiful outdoor setting, be sure to add some ambiance with string lights and lanterns.
I love the pretty glow of string lights like these and draped them under our gazebo.
There are lots of ways to hang them too.
If you don’t have electricity running to an outdoor living space in your yard, consider adding solar lights with this method.
After the Dinner
At the end of a fun summer dinner party, it’s nice to enjoy a cozy night in front of the fire pit.
Don’t you agree?
We have a gas fire pit conversation area on our lower deck.
And another fire pit area where we can burn real wood.
Depending on the evening, we may use one or the other, or both!
Do you have a fire pit area too?
Thanks for dropping by my garden party today.
Next up on the summer tablescape hop for our virtual dinner club is Jen from Midwest Life and Style.
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Welcome friends and family to a cozy dining table with this must-have list of table top decor that you’ll use over and over again.
Follow the Rest of the Summer Dinner Party Tour
Check out the rest of my virtual supper club’s summer dinner party ideas.
Click on the blog name below to see the posts.
Michele from Vintage Home Designs
Anne and Ann Marie from Simply 2 Moms
Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse
Jen from Midwest Life and Style
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Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xoxo
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