One of the best parts of being a grown-up (maybe one of the only good parts, if I’m keeping it real) is having the freedom to nurture your own space. When you create a home that’s a sanctuary (and are forced to fork over rent every month to keep it), it feels natural to be eager to welcome friends and lovers into your space. What better occasion to do so than hosting a spectacular summer dinner party that makes your inner circle feel like the main characters of a reality TV show? (A chic, demure reality show, like the Rachel Zoe Project, not a messy, horny one, like Love Island, obvs.)
Feeding your friends feels like a simple task, but there’s so much more to the plan than food. You need to consider the theme or aesthetic, the bevvys of all sorts, and the actual setup, to name just a few elements. If you’re looking for a guide of tips and tools to host a chic summer dinner party, look no further.
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Summer Dinner Party: Best Tips, Check List, Shopping List
Set The Mood
As the friend who spends hours digging through location tags on Instagram, let me overemphasize the importance of the vibe. From the obvious moves, like the music, to the smaller touches, like the seating arrangement, you’ll want to consider every aspect of the experience. How do you want people to feel: like they took a trip across the border? Ready to disco? Got a front seat to fine dining? Pick a vibe and run with it.
After curating your perfect playlist, you’ll want your guests to actually hear your music, and the Bluetooth speaker you use in the shower ain’t gonna cut it. This highly-rated Bose speaker also comes in adorable colors. Butter yellow, anyone?
JBL also has a powerful, price-efficient favorite.
The next order of business re: vibes is lighting. Candles are magic when it comes to setting the mood (like if you can’t book a flight to Greece, this candle does it for you). I’m a little obsessed with these raglan stripe taper candles. They’re giving preppy country club elegance.
I’m a lot obsessed with these berry candles that are a total midsummer night’s dream.
These candle holders are so charming, I could scream.
Another way to make your setting stunning is with florals! And loading up your place doesn’t have to cost a small loan of a million dollars. These super chic bud vases are a romantic way to make a few bouquets count.
Dinner Party Table Setting: Dinnerware That Won’t Break
Is there anything more summer than al fresco dining? Even if you’re not eating outside, bringing the nautical essence of summer in through your decor will make your event seasonal bliss.
If your meal is a little outdoorsy, finding plates that won’t shatter if someone has an oopsie makes the night a lot less stressful, like this chic coastal melamine set.
Sardines and lobsters are the It Girls of summer, and these wax-resistant serving platters double as functional decor.
Leveling up on the little things is what will make your dinner feel like a moment, not just another meal. Ditch the boring metal for these stunning resin utensils.
Dorit Kemsley, is that you? Limoncello, Italy, garden party energy! And it’s washable, hell yeah.
Yes, you’re becoming you’re mother, and you need tablecloths to complete the table setting. This rattan set of 12 is a steal.
Easy Dinner Party Menu Ideas That Are Crowd Pleasers
Making a spread that is not boring but provides something for everyone can feel intimidating, so here are a few hot tips to keep in mind: check everyone’s dietary restrictions before you start menu planning. Vegetarian guests don’t mean you can’t have burgers as your main; it just means you’ll want to start brainstorming a filling plant-based alt sooner rather than later (let mushrooms rest! Team Impossible!).
Similarly, the drink menu should have something special for everyone, even though I’m personally here for the wine and cocktails (BTW, if you’re not a low-key mixologist, On The Rocks has so many fun pre-made summer specials like their lemon drop martini or their red, white, and blue holiday fleet). Luckily, in 2025, providing NA options for those who don’t or won’t drink at your affair doesn’t have to mean juice. While I close my eyes when I look at the price tag of non-alcoholic spirits, the investment is worth it. Or, if your crowd is more gardening prone, THC bevvys can be so fun, like this one by Afterdream.
Just like getting dressed when it’s hot AF out, cooking in the summer is the time to prioritize fresh, bold flavors. One easy way to elevate your menu is to plan the food around a thematic palate and let the dishes come together from there. For example, citrusy fruits are an easy winner because there are so many savory dishes that favor lemon, lime, grapefruit, blood oranges, plums, and even strawberries. But also, it’s your damn party, so feel free to get a little freaky with it, too! If you’re obsessed with dill pickle like me right now (I even tried dill pickle cup of noodles, and let me tell you it was fantastic), sculpt the entire culinary experience around pickled treats. Even better, when your theme translates from the aesthetic to the food, the sit down becomes super memorable. (I recently hosted a cherry dinner for some of my oldest friends, and we got the cutest pics and friendship charms!)
Last tip: consider including at least one intermediary course so that the inevitable late guests don’t get left behind. Apps that your pals can pick over or more formal passed hors d’oeuvres provide an easy buffer period before dinner. On the back end, a full-on dessert or a sweet treat gives the early risers an easy exit cue.
Dinner Party Favors
Just like no guest should show up empty-handed, you don’t want to send them home with nothing, either! Granted, if you’ve done your job correctly, they’ve certainly got a full stomach. But a little take-home trinket to show your appreciation for their attendance goes a long way and doesn’t have to be expensive.
Ordering a bulk batch of things you’ll already need for the night, like unique matchbooks, coasters, or the bud vases, and allowing your guests to take some home, is killing two birds with one stone!
