As the summer season starts to come to a close, I’m gearing up for all of our fall events. But if you’re like me and trying to capture the last bit of summer, then your outdoor entertaining certainly doesn’t have to stop now! Last week I chatted with my friends at Vogue.com about dinner parties, entertaining at home and setting a summer celebration tabletop. If you’re still celebrating that endless summer then take a look at a few of my dinner party tabletop ideas. These rules apply to all seasons but the style of lemons is especially fitting in the spring and summer months.

Vogue asked a handful of event industry professionals to share a tabletop we each love. I opted to share a few photos from one of my most festive summer events…in Lake Como, Italy! The dinner took place on the beach, so I wanted the design to reflect the setting.

The goal was to create something that felt very light and whimsical.

I wanted the lemons to be the focal point so I had lemon-themed placemats custom made. Then I dropped plain white china on top so not to take away from the pattern. Then we wove the lemons into the menu and made place cards by writing each guest name on a paper leaf that was pinned to a real lemon at each seat. Even if you don’t assign seats, a menu is always a good idea. Let your guests know what their choices are. This is specially important if you’re somewhere new or the food is going to be a highlight of the experience.

For the centerpieces, I used baby daisies because they’re such a happy flower! Then I mixed them with boxwood in terra cotta pottery to bring in the feeling of a traditional Italian family meal. This table did use a lot of flowers, but the lemons were still the star. When considering dinner party tabletop ideas, be bold enough to look beyond flowers. Tables don’t actually need a lot of flowers. I love to fill a table with lots of candles and just a small amount of florals too.

Candles can create any mood at an event – romantic, festive, sexy or moody. They can transform a space into anything the party calls for.

And no matter how you style your table, a winning dinner party is one that is short (leaving them wanting more), fun and heartfelt. That doesn’t have to cost a lot, as long as the thought was put into it. Then, never let them see you sweat and your wonderful energy will trickle down to create a wonderful evening together.

To read the full article and get entertaining tips from other industry friends, visit Vogue.com here.

xoxo,

Mindy

Images by Ira Lippke Studios