We see your Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties and your Fall Festivities and we raise you a Summer Solstice dinner party. Why not celebrate summer big? The days are longer, brighter, and warmer, and that seasonal depression is a thing of the past. At least for a few months. If a summer solstice dinner party sounds like just your thing, then we’ve created a quick and easy guide for you to follow to ensure you don’t leave any of the important things out! Let’s get started.
Decor
(image via: so much better with age)
The best thing about a summer solstice dinner party? They are best enjoyed outdoors so you don’t have to get too crazy with decor. We recommend having a long table or multiple small tables for guests to enjoy dinner and drinks at, and personally, we fancy an eclectic vibe with mismatched tables and chairs. From here, we like to pile on the vintage lace tablecloths, vintage books, and fresh cut flowers in antique store vases, then sprinkle in sun, moon, and star accents.
Another form of decor would be your choice of glasses, plates, bowls, flatware, etc. When it comes to this part of any party, it’s best to choose what works best for you, and if you’re having a lot of people over, disposable is probably your best bet. But if your gathering is small, we encourage you to scour your local thrift stores for some funky mismatched dishes and glassware.
No matter how you choose to decorate, candles and/or string lights are a must.
Food
(image via: half baked harvest)
When we’re celebrating the season of summer, we like to keep dishes fresh, and nobody does fresh, seasonal dishes quite like Half Baked Harvest. Consider their brown butter cherry tomato fettucine alfredo or Greek salmon with lemon feta and orzo salad, then for dessert grilled peaches or grilled fruit kabobs. If a bigger meal isn’t really your thing, know that you ccan always opt for charcuterie boards and people will love them just the same. If you’re needing a little inspo, you can check out all of Half Baked Harvest’s recipes here!
Cocktails
(image via: fork knife swoon)
Last, but certainly not least, the cocktail menu. Now again, it’s all about the seasonal flavors, so for a summer solstice party, we prefer to keep things light and refreshing like a rosemary grapefruit refresher or a strawberry basil crush. And when in doubt, everybody loves a pitcher of fresh fruit (and floral, if you’re feeling bold!) sangria.