How to Host a Casual and Elegant Dinner Party
Discover our easy decorating tips and favourite product picks to make your next get together a breeze.
1. Choose a Colour Scheme
Set the tone for a summer dinner party with a fresh colour palette. Think crisp blues, soft whites, and organic greens.
Here, an eclectic (but coordinated) mix of dinnerware creates an easygoing, cool look. For a cohesive display, keep one colour constant (such as blue) throughout the setup.
2. Create a Centerpiece
A centerpiece is the perfect way to give your tablescape stylish flair. For summer, we love pulling in greens from the garden.
Start with lantern candleholders in various sizes, which add height and sculptural appeal to the centerpiece. Then, layer leafy-greens around the lanterns. Small, delicate flowers are the perfect final touch.
3. Include Place Cards
Bring a sense of laid-back formality to your dinner with place cards. They're easy to DIY and make guests feel extra special.
At every place setting, two or three flowers have a name tag wrapped around the stems. We used leftover gift tags from the holidays! Other DIY ideas include painting on seashells, smooth stones, or driftwood for a beautiful accent.
Tip!
Serve bite-size hors d'oeuvres on a cake stand. Here, it adds height to the overall look.
4. Use a Bar Cart
Use a bar cart to keep large dishes (corn on the cob, pasta salad, pie) and beverages off the table but still close by. This clears up table space for a more enjoyable, less crowded dining experience.
Go a step further and create a signature drink before the party starts. We filled small mason jars with the drink and set them on ice so guests could help themselves.
Tip!
When you're not in hostess mode, use your bar cart as a cool plant display. It's ideal for city dwellers who don't have a tonne of surrounding greenery.
Watch this video by Wayfair's own Justin Henry and Ch'ien Chan to see these tips in action.
