Host an Outdoor Dinner Party


Gorgeous Summer time outdoor dinner partyHost an Outdoor Dinner Party by Fashionable HostessSimon Pearce Wine Glasses

Ever since moving into our home and falling in love with our patio, I knew I wanted to throw the perfect outdoor party to host our first round of guests.  My vision was a rustic chic vibe with lots of greenery, classic stemware, and a few unique DIY details. The outcome was better than I imagined… a dreamy outdoor oasis. Read on to see how I brought it all together!

Host an Outdoor Dinner Party with a DIY succulent box centerpieceBabys Breath ArrangementsHost an Outdoor Dinner Party on your patio

Rather than a traditional centerpiece for my table I created a table runner of moss and placed brass lanterns and a wooden crate overflowing with succulents down the center of the table. My goal was that guests would continue to find new elements they hadn’t initially noticed throughout the dinner, like a hidden candle or a random flower.

To bring this to life I headed to World Market where I was on the hunt for rustic elements to incorporate into the table. There I found an amazing long and narrow wooden crate as well as the lanterns. For the crate, I created a box overflowing with succulents {in case you missed this fun DIY project from Monday’s post, see here!}. For the lanterns I bought two of each size and placed one on either side of the succulent box. On either side I also placed a few small floral arrangement of white Dahlias, Eucalyptus and Dianthus ‘Green Trick’ {the green puffs!}.

Ideas for Hosting Summer time outdoor dinner partyIndividual Wooden cutting board at each tablesettingSucculent CenterpiecesWorld market lanterns

I liked the idea of sending off my guests with a parting gift so that’s where my miniature olive oils came into play {how to make them here}. I found the cutest mini glass jars with swing tops and placed a sprig of rosemary inside, and then finished off with olive oil. To complete the look, I placed a small cutting board at each table setting equipped with two bread options, a small dish of sea salt and their own olive oil jar to enjoy. The swap of bread plates for these cutting boards was perfectly in line with the rustic vision I was aiming for! {Btw, I bought these Wood Cutting Boards at West Elm.}

Host an Outdoor Dinner PartyNapkin StylingEach guest has their own cutting board and golf flatwareWooden Cutting Board

For glassware and flatware I wanted a selection that would dress up the table a bit without being too formal {no melamine here!}. For stemware I chose the Simon Pearce hartland goblet and the white wine goblet for serving wine and water {I love this brand which is American-made and hand-crafted!}. Then my West Elm gold flatware has been a staple this summer, so of course I chose to use them yet again! Last but not least I mixed and match blue and white napkins which I secured with  a string of burlap! I am looking forward to using this table theme well into the Fall, and hope a few details have inspired you as well!

Tell Us What You Think

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Lovely setting…adore the little cutting board bread plates most of all! I do have a little bit of a bread-board addiction, I must say…

Back to Top