SUMMER TABLES: INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT DINNER PARTY

A summer garden party for the girls, a bridal luncheon for your BFF or Saturday night in with your bestie couple? Let's just say "we're in"! We're all about throwing backyard dinner parties and spending the long lazy days of summer with friends and family. To go along with your favorite summer recipes and menus, here are a few table settings to inspire your next summer dinner or garden party.

COLORFUL GARDEN PARTY

Inspired by summer citrus, a palette of punchy pinks, yellow and orange, paired with pops of aqua and green, this table designed by Lindsey Brunk, photographed by Kristen Kilpatrick and featured by our girl crush, Lauren Kelp is fresh, feminine and has summer happy written all over it. You really can't go wrong mixing flowers and fruit any time of the year, but summer is just the best... #amiright?

See more at Lauren Kelp.

Photo: Winnie Au

BOHEMIAN BACKYARD DINNER UNDER THE STARS

We love a party with a bohemian vibe! This backyard dinner is probably one of my all time favorite 'summer on the lawn' parties and the kind I promised myself I would throw by the end of this summer. Low tables, Moroccan rugs scattered on the lawn, mismatched pillows and 'always romantic' string lights hanging from above create such a magical setting. Never fails. Simple flower arrangements and a summer menu including local farms and seasonal produce makes for a spectacular evening under the stars.

See more at EyeSwoon.

Photo: The Whisking Kitchen

SUMMER PINEAPPLE FIESTA

We've been all about pineapples this summer, so you can imagine how excited we were about this festive table. We fell instantly in love with the combo of bright blooms, DIY ombre napkins and place cards and THOSE gold pineapple tumblers. The mix of it all is so bright, cheery and just plain fun.

See more at The Whisking Kitchen. 

Photo: Deborah Shearer

Speaking of pineapples, here's a shot of a recent impromptu part business, part fun luncheon we hosted recently. Talk about spur of the moment. I had just finished unpacking my Lenox British Colonial dinner plates and pineapple accent plates the night before and happen to have a fresh pineapple on hand. BAM! I had a direction. In 30 minutes or less, we had a table set with pineapple and palm dinnerware, striped napkins, (which also doubled as place mats), gold flatware, lavender from the garden and a mini-Bellini bar and we. were. done.

Dinnerware: Lenox British Colonial | Flatware: Marchesa Gold Imperial Caviar | Coupes: Vintage | Napkins: Target

Photo: Ems Designblogg | ELLE Decoration

EVENING GARDEN PARTY

There's so much to be said about evening garden parties, especially one using rustic elements and monochromatic color on a hot summer night. Natural beauty just has a way of bringing on an enchanted evening vibe. The combination of greenery, candles, loaves wrapped with twine and tucked with herbs (love that!), and understated linens, dinnerware and glassware made this dinner party one to put on repeat.

See more at ELLE Decoration.

Photo: Fashionable Hostess

FARM TO TABLE

Traditional furnishings from the farmhouse, heirloom pieces on the table, a seasonal farm menu and flowers, and this table setting became a palette of modern colors almost all on its' own. We always say 'shop at home' and pull together what you have before buying and this table is a perfect example of why that works. Some of our best dinner parties have been accessorized with things from our 'entertaining library', inspiration from the garden at the moment or by building on a single trendy color. And, don't be afraid to mix and match hues and fabrics. A table is way more fun and interesting when things aren't 'matchy, matchy'.

See more at Fashionable Hostess

photography by PAULA BARTOSIEWICZ

BOHO CHIC

One of the things we love about summer is, it's an excuse to play with tie-dye and batik. Reason #1 why we've been eyeing this table since the first signs of spring. Nothing needs to be perfect, it just needs to be fun. Magenta, purple and turq linens mixed with colorful glass bottles, fruit, flowers and candles, and there you have it - Moroccan charm at the table!

SUNSET SEASIDE

When there's china, crystal and flatware on a beach table, you know it's serious. These people know how to party! Inspired by everything coastal and a magical summer, this dinner party was set on the beach where guests walked barefoot on the cool evening sand. Shells, layers of blue, silver and glass has us dreaming of summer nights in Newport Beach. We might just need to plan a trip soon, like for NEXT WEEKEND!

See more at What to Cook.

Photo: Casa de Perrin

GARDEN SOIREE

Whenever we need a dose of inspiration, we head over to Casa de Perrin's Instagram feed. If you've not been there, brace yourself, because you're about to feast your eyes on THE source for mix-and-match dinnerware, the glassware of your dreams and drop dead GORGEOUS just about everything for the table. What we love? With Casa de Perrin, it's all about the details and you never know what you're going to find. A black, white and gold table with a dramatic centerpiece runner of pink roses is just what we're talking about.

See more at Casa de Perrin - Pinterest

Photo: Ryan Lockhart

WHIMSICAL GARDEN WEDDING

It's no secret that we have a thing for pink. Double that if there's pink vintage glass involved. Inspired by cotton candy, this wedding dinner party table layered with white dinnerware, pink accent plates, gold-edged ramekins, pink coupes, gold flatware, and multiple shades of pink blooms, made for the sweetest table.

See more at Style Me Pretty.

Photo: Our Labor of Love

MOON FLOOR PARTY

Floor parties are just plain in, whether they're indoors or out. And, we can tell by the eclectic vibe of indigo that never goes out of style, there was some definite magic made at this little get together. So, go on. String up some lights, throw some blankets and pillows down, cut some flowers from the garden, have everyone bring a dish or a bottle of their favorite red, white or rosé and you've got yourself a party.

See more at: Design Love Fest

Here are a few things you might need a few of, for your next party and remember, you can never have enough bud vases, hobnail or cake stands for elevation and, stripes are the unofficial pattern of the summer.
Design Ideas 'Lil Buddy Bud Vases | Lexington Company Blue & White Striped Napkins | Hobnail Votive Holders | Lexington Company Wine Goblets | Lenox Entertain 365 Cake Stand; kate spade new york malmo gold flatware.

Tip from The Dish: Summer's in full swing and if your goals are anything like ours, you'll want to get some serious entertaining in. Our best advice to make it all happen? Choose a theme or color and stick with it. This helps to stay focused and keep party planning uncomplicated. You'll want to entertain more often and have time for some fun of your own.

We're hosting a family BBQ this weekend and by now you've probably figured out we're going with low tables, blankets on the lawn, pillows, a little of this, a little of that, good wine, music and dips in the pool. Can't wait! How about you?

xx/allie + deb