WITH SUMMER IN full swing, this is the time of year to surround yourself with friends and loved ones for evenings of fun.

There are few better ways to spend an evening than by hosting a dinner party with good company. But hosting can be its own challenge, with plenty to consider when it comes to how to create the right vibe. 

This week, we’re giving you tips on how to decorate to give your guests the perfect summer ambience for an unforgettable dinner party. 

Gazebos and get-ups

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A stylish pop-up gazebo is one way to give your summer party a natural centre, somewhere for your guests to convene. Laying out a spread of finger foods, snacks, drinks – especially summery refreshments, such as pitchers of lemonade or infused water – will definitely delight your visitors. Other accoutrements to give your party an especially relaxed feel include hammocks, which your guests can laze around chatting in, or picnic blankets on the grass.

If your guest list is especially game, you could consider adding a theme or a dress code to your evening. Nautical is always easy to pull off, country and western is another. By encouraging your guests to buy into the theme, you create a sense of camaraderie and give everyone something to chat about as the party warms up. Not only that, but it will make for some great photos.

Set the table, set the scene

Whether eating indoors or al fresco, it’s nice to lean into the charming, rustic vibes of summer. Consider a white tablecloth with woven placemats and white china plates to create an airy and light feeling.

And when it comes to the food, presentation is key. You’re looking for a visually striking idea that blends culinary presentation with an artistic conceptual dining experience. One showstopper is to assemble a stack of books in the middle of the table and use that as a platter. Make sure to cover the books with a small plate or even a wooden board for a more rustic effect. 

For the centerpiece of the table, you could opt for something unintrusive such as stems of fresh lavender. This won’t obscure guests’ views of one another, and has the added advantage of providing a light, pleasant aroma to proceedings. 

Lighting the garden with tiki torches or fairy lights in glass jars is a smart move too, creating the kind of low light that will give the evening a warm feeling — and you won’t have to worry about lamps, extension cords and electrical outlets. 

Playing and playlists

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Being together for a dinner party isn’t so much about the food as it is about the company and the memories. For that reason, it’s nice to have a camera on hand for you and your friends or family to take snaps of each other as a memento of the evening. If you have a Polaroid camera give that a go, otherwise everyone loves a disposable camera – you can pick one up from a chemist. 

If you’re incorporating your garden in the evening, you can take the fun a step further. Having an outdoor game like Giant Jenga is a good way to keep people laughing while the food is being made and the drinks are being poured, and is sure to create the fun summer atmosphere that you’re looking for.

Lastly, a chill summer playlist is absolutely essential. Easy-listening is almost certainly the move, though you’re always going to want to include some crowd-pleasers. What summer dinner party playlist would be complete without some Summer Sunshine by The Corrs, for example? The way to go is to start the playlist with some nice, light ambient and maybe even instrumental music before getting into the bangers as the night wears on and your guests start to enter singsong mode.

With our tips above you’re sure to have a fabulous soiree with your friends. It doesn’t even have to be sunny to create the perfect summer vibe – just being together in a beautiful atmosphere will do the trick.

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This guidance is for general information purposes only. Allianz accepts no responsibility or liability for any losses that may arise from any reliance upon the information contained in this guidance.