Summer entertaining is here, hooray! Friends dropping by after a day on the water, impromptu dinners outside during vacation, long afternoons that turn into evenings without much of a plan.
Unlike Winter and Spring holidays, I don't think summer tables need to feel overly polished. In fact, I prefer when they don't. Pull out the colorful linens you've been waiting to use, mix your favorite glassware, gather flowers from the garden (or the grocery store), light a few candles, call your friends, and enjoy. Some of my favorite summer tables are the ones that feel collected rather than perfectly coordinated.
When our friends at Over the Moon asked us to style their Fourth of July entertaining story, we leaned into exactly that feeling: relaxed, colorful, and unfussy, with layered patterns, hand-blown glass, and simple details that make guests feel welcomed without feeling overdone.
Sharing a look at how we brought it together in the Hamptons last weekend, along with a few ideas to inspire your own summer gatherings.
Florals
For summer entertaining, don’t feel like you need to be overly precious with your flowers. Between the heat and the humidity, arrangements simply don’t last as long.
If I were hosting at home, I'd head outside and cut whatever is blooming. Since we were styling this table at a charming rental cottage, I opted for the next best thing. I made a quick stop at Citarella and picked up bunches of red ranunculus, white chamomile, and blue eryngium. You could recreate this just as easily with flowers from Trader Joe's or your local market.
One of my favorite tricks is to keep arrangements monochromatic and mono-floral. Rather than creating elaborate mixed arrangements, place each variety in its own vessel. Here, I filled blue, pink, and clear bud vases with single varieties and scattered them down the length of the table.
It's one of the easiest ways to create a colorful floral moment with very little effort.
Linens
Summer is my favorite time to go bold with a tablecloth. A beautiful linen does so much of the heavy lifting. For this table, I pulled this Couleur Nature favorite. The soft ivory ground created an easy foundation for all of the color.
From there, I layered embroidered placemats and napkins from one of my favorite sources, Los Encajeros. I actually didn’t mind the crisp white embroidery against the warmer ivory linen. It wasn’t a perfect match, and I think that’s exactly why it worked.
Mix whites with ivories, patterns with solids, and don’t be afraid to pull from what you already own. The charm is in the layering.
Plates & Flatware
There are plenty of occasions throughout the year to pull out the fine china. A laid-back dinner by the pool isn’t one of them.
I always gravitate toward pieces that are both beautiful and practical. My husband designed these ruffle ceramic plates for his collection, E&S Imports, and they've quickly become one of my favorites. They're substantial enough to hold up outdoors while still feeling elevated.
Bamboo is my perennial summer go-to. I finally got my hands on this Juliska set, and I know it will be one of those pieces we reach for year after year.
Glassware
For this table, we had the opportunity to incorporate a few more of my favorite E&S pieces. I’m especially excited about the new footed star-etched glasses. They add just enough personality without overwhelming the table.
One of the biggest challenges with dining al fresco is keeping candlelight alive once the breeze picks up. These hurricanes create that warm, inviting glow while protecting the flame - something we were especially grateful for on this breezy afternoon.
The subtle star-etched pattern feels especially fitting for the Fourth of July, but it’s understated enough that we use these pieces throughout the year. I love investing in pieces that feel festive for a holiday but are versatile enough to use all year.
A Fun Touch
The cherry on top of this table was getting to incorporate the paper party crackers we designed exclusively for Over the Moon with our friend Laura Lines Calligraphy.
Designing the patterns, surprises, and little details tucked inside was such a fun creative process, and we were thrilled to see them fly off the shelves before the holiday.
Stay tuned…we already have more designs in the works for later this year!
Here’s to a happy hosting weekend! However you’re celebrating, I hope this inspires you to set a table that’s colorful, collected, and less precious. After all, the best summer gatherings are the ones where no one is worrying about the table once everyone sits down.
Shop the tablescape here!
Happy entertaining,
Xx, Augusta
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