5 Easy Summer Dinner Party Ideas

Summertime meals. Aren’t they just the best!? Dining al fresco is one of life’s joys, in my opinion. Dining al fresco with company? Well, that takes the cake (and the cold one!). If you’re having guests for a meal this season and are looking for summer dinner party ideas to wine and dine in style, this post is going to load you up with all kinds of inspiration on what to serve and how to serve it!

I recently hosted such a meal and am going to take you behind-the-scenes of our little soiree. On our tour, I’ll share with you 5 ideas you can easily implement into your own event without breaking a sweat. (Well, technically I guess that depends on exactly how hot it actually is where you live! But you know what I mean, right!?)

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Summer Dinner Party Ideas

1. Outdoor Dining Table Decor

First things first. Setting the dining table. We have a picnic table under a tree grove in our backyard. I love this space. Even though it’s not fancy, it’s cozy and casual. Plus, we can seat like 10 people at this table. We bought it a few years ago at World Market. Unlike traditional picnic tables, this one has clean and modern lines. While some of the finish has peeled away, I’m still happy with the purchase. Many happy memories of evenings spent on these benches with friends and family.

outdoor table set for summer dinner party

Sticking with the causal vibe of the table, I used a summer-weight throw blanket in lieu of a tablecloth. Placed diagonally, it did not matter that the throw didn’t cover the entire table. The tassels added a ton of texture, as did the crinkle-y material.

Next, the centerpiece.

Firstly, for the center of the centerpiece I used a white vase. While you can’t see it in this photo, it’s a textured ceramic vessel that I bought at a local boutique. A dramatically tall single magnolia branch from a bush in our yard was what I grabbed to fill the vase.

Secondly, two woven hurricane lanterns were placed on either side. These are new at Target in 2022 and such a great value. The extra touch of wooden feet are just so cute. Plus, there is a glass holder inside the lantern for candles. We used tea lights but you could also go with battery powered and get a similar effect.

Thirdly, slate blue bud vases with sprigs of magnolia from said bush and fluted glass tea lights finished off the centerpiece. To keep it symmetrical, I mirrored the vase and the lights on either side of the woven lanterns.

2. Indoor Buffet Table

Next, let’s go inside to see where we set up the buffet for our summer dinner party.

TIP: When we’re setting up a buffet, I like to pull out all of the dishes we’re going to use and pre-set the spread because then I can identify and solve any issues. For instance, we realized we’d need a much bigger platter for the main course than what I originally thought. Before guests arrived, I was able to dig around to find the larger platter. Much easier to do ahead of time than trying to troubleshoot serveware dilemmas while also entertaining guests!

For this buffet, we used our go-to white serveware and dishes from Crate & Barrel. Then, to add some texture, we used a woven utensil caddy, which is a favorite for summer meals around our house! (This exact version is sold out but here is a similar one, also from Target.)

Additionally, I found the cutest modern plaid napkins and paper liners at Target recently! I’m obsessed with these! They are the perfect summer picnic print. I bought the cloth napkins and the paper napkins – and thinking I need to go back for more before they sell out!

TIP: Use food-safe paper liners on large platters for an extra touch of visual interest on your buffet.

3. Simple Beverage Station

A help-yourself beverage station is always a good idea, especially for casual summer entertaining.

On our drink station, we placed beer and wine on ice. Then, we had sparkling and flat water in addition to iced tea in bottles & carafes. To chill those drinks, we set up an ice bucket with a rattan scoop. Additionally, we offered sliced lemon and beverage napkins.

For glassware, I pulled out our modern angular shaped wine glasses that I recently picked up from Amazon. The glasses were placed on another sheet of the plaid paper liner. I liked that we were able to subtly continue the plaid print in this area of the party. Lastly, a beer bottle opener and small ramekin (for bottle caps) were also on the drink station.

wine beer and iced tea set up for summer dinner party

4. Summer Buffet Menu Ideas

On to the main course – what we served at our summer get together. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on summer cookouts and included a menu. We used that menu as a starting point but made a few modifications.

chicken beef and vegetable kabobs grilled for summer dinner menu

Summer Dinner Party Menu

Steak, chicken, and vegetable kabobs
Watermelon with mint and feta
Roasted potatoes
Corn on the cob
Dilly Bars & Buster Bars from Dairy Queen

No really! I served Dairy Queen for dessert. And you know what? Everyone loved it! So easy and simple. No mess. No dishes. Win win win!

5. Casual Outfit

Last but not least, what should you wear when you’re hosting a summer soiree? If you’re like me, then you love sundress season too. Therefore, a casual cotton-linen sundress with sandals is the look to turn to when you’re hosting outdoor meals.

This dress is a recent Target find. The buttons don’t gape because of the way the dress is constructed. So no worries there. And the flutter sleeves are just so cute. Not to mention, it has pockets. I can take or leave pockets (as a girl with hips who does not need extra volume in that area! haha) – but I know many people love them and so am pointing that out that feature. 🙂

I paired it with long-time favorite brown sandals (sadly no longer available) and woven earrings. Yes, these earrings are large. However, they are light as a feather. Hardly any weight at all. I have fairly sensitive ears and had no trouble wearing them for the evening. Bonus: They’re from Amazon and reasonably priced. Score! Highly recommend adding these to your accessory collection for the summer season!