Hosting an elegant summer dinner party doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it can be a lot of fun! With a little bit of planning, you can create an event your guests will swoon over and you as hostess can actually enjoy. If that sounds good to you, read on for tips, inspiration, and shoppable links!
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Summer gatherings have a wide range of formality. On the causal end, there’s the super laid back bbq with kids running around and food served buffet style. On the stately end, there’s the sit down meal with proper place settings and plated meals served in courses.
Today, we’re talking about an event more on the stately end of the spectrum. The six insights I’m going to share with you that I’ve learned over years of entertaining can flex into any sit down meal served al freso. How far you take it on the fancy scale is up to you!
This post is all about summer dinner party.
1. Select an Elegant Menu
What you serve (and how you serve it) sets the tone for a dinner party. However, choosing an elegant menu does not mean you have to serve expensive cuts of meat. You can. But that’s not the point. Elegant does not always equal expensive! That’s great news for those of us on a budget, right!?
There are seemingly endless incredible, seasonal recipes that rework simple ingredients into gourmet magic. All available at the tap of a Google search.
How do you know if it’s elegant? Great question. Let’s equate it to fashion. It’s like when someone tells you that a dress code is dressy but not too dressy. Better than jeans, but not cocktail attire. Nice but not pretentious.
Examples? Glad you asked!
Summer Dinner Party Elegant Menu Ideas
menu 1
- Grilled peach salad
- Lobster rolls
- Corn on the cob with parmesan
- Oven roasted garlic potatoes
menu 2
- Tomato & mozzarella salad
- Penne pasta with in-season vegetables
- Rustic bread with herb butter
menu 3
- Watermelon & feta
- Flank steak salad
- Biscuits & lavender honey
You can take these summer dinner party menus as starting points for your recipe search!
2. Table Location
Where your table is located is an important detail to consider when you’re planning a summer meal for guests, especially if it’s outside. Consider the time of day and where the sun will be. Adjust the table location or add shade, if needed.
The goal is to mitigate someone being in direct sunlight, making it hard for them to see and possibly also uncomfortably hot!
On the flip side, if your table is in a shaded and potentially chilly area, think about having some throw blankets on the backs of a few of the chairs or in a nearby basket.
The day before the event, place your table and take note of any issues that may arise.
3. Set the Table
Arguably my favorite part about hosting dinner, setting the table! (I bet you couldn’t have guessed that! wink)
Summer tables call breezy linens in neutral colors, warm metallics, pretty botanicals, and natural woven accents. Think high-end tropical resort hotel. Who wouldn’t want to be there!?
Need some inspo? I am obsessed with everything on this board! Don’t forget to Pin it for later reference!
4. Seating Arrangement
Sometimes tricky, seating arrangements are a necessary evil when it comes to hosting. While you might cringe at making these decisions, your guests will appreciate having direction on where to sit.
For a sit-down summer meal, I suggest using place cards. They serve two purposes:
1) you as host can figure out where everyone is sitting, making sure to account for everyone expected, and
2) your guests know where to go and don’t feel awkward about choosing themselves.
Depending on your tablescape, there are so many pretty options for placards that don’t have to be the traditional folded over variety. Etsy is a seemingly endless treasure trove of options. Here are a few of my favorites trending in 2021.
Trending place card styles include arches or semi-circles, acrylic, torn or handmade paper, and watercolor. Depending on the vibe and color palette of your event, there is almost certainly a place card to fit!
Place card trends could be a blog post of their own. Please leave a comment if you agree and want to see more!
5. Summer Dinner Party Lighting
Especially for evening events, lighting sets the tone and mood of your event arguably more than nearly any other element.
Candles: No stranger to the dinner table, the natural glow candles cast is hard to beat. Don’t forget citronella for buggy evenings!
Lanterns: Whether on the table, nearby on the ground, or hanging above, lanterns add both candle light and decor to a tablescape.
Cafe String Lights: Thoughtfully hung cafe lights add a sophisticated, festive flare to outdoor meals and create a cozy atmosphere.
6. Music
Avoid that awkward silence by filling in the conversation gaps with a curated playlist. Even if you’re outside, you can fairly affordably and discretely set up a bluetooth speaker nearby. Mind the volume and make sure you have enough songs to keep running for several hours.
Amazon Music is a go-to for ready-made playlists. Here are a few of my dining favorite stations!
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This post was all about summer dinner party.
