Ditch the fancy and fussy in favor of laid-back entertaining that leaves you more time to enjoy the fun
Summertime calls for a distinctly unfussy approach to entertaining, and thankfully so —because who wants to sweat over planning a summer soiree? Make things easier on yourself by hosting outdoors instead of in, getting guests to pitch in and embracing low-key, budget-friendly decor. From DIY flowers and quick extra tables to a beachy outdoor bar, these 20 ideas will make your party planning easier.
1. Whip up an extra table with sawhorses. Short on outdoor dining space? Hunt down a few sawhorses and top them with a length of board as big as you want your table to be. You can paint the board, cover it with a cloth or butcher paper, or leave it as is.
2. Fashion a wooden crate into a drinks container. If you line it with plastic, any old crate can be a rustic-chic open-top cooler for keeping soda and beer on ice. It won’t keep it cold as long as a real cooler, but it should do the trick at a party.
3. No crate? Use whatever you’ve got. An old wheelbarrow, a garden cart, an enamel bucket or even a toy dump truck can be lined with trash bags and filled with ice to make an impromptu drinks cooler.
4. Give your outdoor bar a tiki makeover with a palapa roof. Search for “palm leaf thatch panels” to find a source and tack a few lengths of the grassy stuff to the roof of your outdoor bar or shed to give it some tiki bar style.
5. Dress up candles with woodsy details. Curl a wide green leaf and drop it into a glass jar — then fill the jar with water and float a tea light on top. Or use lengths of birch bark (available at craft stores) to wrap the outside of a jar or candleholder, and fasten them with twine.
6. Make beachy candles with mason jars and sand. Filled partway with sand, a mason jar of any size can easily become a chic candleholder. To make hanging lanterns, wrap the mouth of the jar with flexible wire and hang the jar from the branches of a tree. For safety, use battery-operated candles for hanging.
7. Use soda bottles as vases. A row of tall, slender soda bottles lined up in the middle of a table makes a pretty (and supereasy) centerpiece. Just plunk one bloom in each vase, and you’re done! Try gerbera daisies, cosmos or sunflowers.
8. Involve your guests. Have them help squeeze lemons for fresh lemonade, let them take a turn cranking an old-fashioned ice cream maker or send them into your garden with clippers to pick a bouquet for the table.
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9. Seat everyone at one big table. Who wouldn’t love coming into a backyard set up like this? Put two or three tables together if you have to — the dramatic effect will be worth the effort.
10. Use old crates as trays and servers. Vintage wooden soda crates make the perfect receptacle for toting glasses, vases, napkins and other essentials out to the garden. Or use one to dole out flatware, standing utensils upright in simple mason jars.
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11. Boost ambience with lanterns and signs. Flank the entrance to your party area with a pair of big lanterns and lean a sign nearby — it can announce the menu or simply say, “Welcome!”
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12. Greet visitors with a pretty porch for the Fourth. A great big galvanized tub of red geraniums and a waving flag make a cheerful entrance to this home. Keep the patriotic spirit going with Americana-style cushions on a classic porch swing.
13. Give guests a healthy option with fresh flavored waters. Fill a big drink dispenser with ice water, flavored with fresh ingredients for a healthy thirst quencher on hot days. Try lemon, lime or orange slices; fresh mint leaves; cucumber rounds; or berries.
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14. Place your table in the shade. There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a lovely meal al fresco when the sun is beating down on you! Keep your guests comfortable by pulling the tables under the shade of a tree or awning, or invest in some umbrellas.
15. Make a plan to keep bugs at bay. If you have a water feature, make sure you regularly treat it or skim it to keep mosquitoes from breeding there. If the bugs are bad in your area, plan your event for a less buggy time of day or hold it on a screened-in porch, where your guests can enjoy a fresh breeze withoutgetting bitten.
16. Create activity zones to keep large parties moving. Setting up several distinct areas can help a large gathering feel more manageable, as your guests will naturally be drawn into smaller groups. For instance, you could set up a dining table, a fire pit circle, a porch lounge and an outdoor bar.
17. Collect thrifty party supplies. Avoid last-minute stress by keeping an entertaining cupboard well stocked with mason jars, florist’s buckets, table linens, candles and serving containers. Many times you don’t even need to buy these things — save pretty old jars to use as glasses, washed-out tin cans to use as flower containers and even old bedsheets to use as outdoor tablecloths.
18. Go wild with your arrangements. Plucking flowers and foliage from your own backyard is cheaper than buying them, and it can be more fun, too! Push yourself to look at your garden anew and clip a little something unexpected to tuck into your bouquet. Dandelions look charming in mason jars, flowering chives are utterly romantic, and an artichoke would make a dramatic centerpiece in a mixed floral bouquet.
19. Hang flowers from a tree. Use a drill to punch two holes in a washed-out tin can and thread wire through the holes to make a hanger. Fill your cans with cut flowers and hang them from a tree around your outdoor dining table. Leave the cans plain or dress them up by tying on strips of pretty fabric.
20. Consider the arc of your evening. Moving your guests from place to place is a great way to keep the evening moving along — and keep folks talking. Start with appetizers and drinks on the porch, move into the backyard for dinner, gather around the fire pit for dessert, and carry mugs of coffee on a postdessert walk to the water or somewhere equally pretty.
Thank you to my source- Houzz and Laura Gaskill
Laura Gaskill May 25, 2015
Houzz Contributor. I cover topics ranging from decorating ideas, product picks, Houzz…More
Trending: New Summer Entertaining Tablescapes
Posted by marthawolford in Entertaining, Floral, Interior Design
I recently received by first “Bouq”… 36 rainbow roses to celebrate Ron and my wedding anniversary….
DIY FARM FRESH
June 19, 2017
It’s officially here –– the first day of summer has arrived! As bright days laze their way into warm evenings, we’ve got our minds set on friends, family, food, and flowers. To start the season, we checked in with Eric Buterbaugh, The Bouqs Co.’s very own Chief Floral Designer, to talk dreamy summer tablescape trends. We styled the table with beautiful tableware and linen courtesy of our friends at Shabby Chic and Parachute Home. Happy dining!
Bud Vases
At your next gathering, forget the extra fork. Instead, try adding a bud vase at each table setting to round out your decor. Using a single stem in each vase gives you a lot of bang for your buck, and each flower type lends a unique feel to your tablescape. The diminutive yet ultra-elegant nature of miniature calla lilies makes them a great option.
Featured Bouq: Juliet // White miniature calla lilies
Summer Garland
Dread using the same runner for another year? Tap into the table garland trend by adding bright florals and cool greenery for a look that makes your summer table absolutely sing.
Start by layering the greenery together down the center of the table and steadying it with floral wire. Then toss in some focal flowers for a pop of color. The abundant spray roses and alstroemeria in our Bourdeaux Bouq are perfect for adding some season-friendly brightness to your garland. Just pull out a few stems and tuck them in, before featuring your Bouq front and center on the tablescape.
Featured Bouq: Bordeaux // Pink roses and alstroemeria
Floating Florals & Candles
In case you were wondering, Gerbera daisies are great swimmers! Before your next soiree, spare a few stems (our Cabana Bouq is a great option), add water to a bubble vase, and include the blooms for an easy, elegant centerpiece. Experiment with size, color, and texture by mixing and matching different flower types. For those day parties that flow into the evening hours, a tea light or two in the vase will give your centerpiece a cozy glow.
Featured Bouq: Santa Cruz’n // Multi-colored spray roses
Succulent Table Setting
Succulents are perhaps nature’s prettiest, most low-maintenance friend. And best of all, they’re an on-trend and easy way to complete your summer tablescape. You can pick up succulents from your local garden center or pull from our Showstopper Bouq to cap off each table setting. It’s a great way to hold down name cards on breezy evenings, and it also makes for a great take-home gift to offer your guests! They can bring their succulent home to plant for a gift that keeps on giving.
Featured Bouq: Showstopper // Pink roses and alstroemeria with succulents
We’d love to see what you come up with for your next summer party! As always, be sure to use #Bouqlove when you post photos of your outdoor tablescape. It’ll make us feel like we were there enjoying the evening with you.