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Summer Garden Party with Peony Inspired Tablescape

May 20, 2019

Green table decorated for summer dining
Be inspired to throw an intimate summer garden party for friends or family this season.  This post has everything you need from a beautiful peony inspired tablescape to menu ideas and free printable invitations.


SUMMER   |   Published May 20, 2019



Peony inspired tablescape with white plates



One of my favorite parts of summer is being able to dine outdoors.  There is nothing like being able to enjoy dinner while looking out over the green grass and colorful flowers while being surrounded by the presence of fluttering butterflies and tweeting birds.


Maybe I'd have a different view on dining alfresco if I lived in the city, but having lived just outside of town my whole life has given me a very idealized vision of the summer dining experience.



Green table decorated for summer dining
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Green farmhouse table decorated outside with peony centerpiece


Being able to enjoy this time outside is even more pleasurable when you are able to include close friends or family members with you when you do it.


Inspired by the beautiful peonies that fill everyone's gardens and homes in the early summer, I decided to put together a summer garden party decorated with the pink and white flowers. At the end of last summer, I found these vibrant paper napkins on sale and knew they would be the perfect starting point to kick off my idea.



White dining plate with peony napkin and fork


I have the honor of sharing this garden party idea with some other very talented blogging friends who have also found ways to put together creative tablescapes for the summer.  The tour is hosted by Alicia of A Burst of Beautiful and her designs never fail to leave me inspired.   Links and tablescape pictures appear near the end of this post.





SOME MORE POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY


PLANT IN FAITH FREE SUMMER PRINTABLES with Peonies and Inspirational Quote

Simple Tip That Will Have You ARRANGING FLOWERS LIKE A PRO

12 USEFUL GADGETS FOR SUMMER FOOD PREP




Summer Garden Party Invitation and decorated envelope





INVITING YOUR GUESTS TO A SUMMER GARDEN PARTY





Every "party" begins with inviting guests, so I created some colorful invites to send out, complete with a summer flower print for pasting inside the envelope.


There are also floral sticker to coordinate.  If you'd like to download these printables for free, including the invite that you can customize with your own information, be sure to sign up for my email newsletter using the link below and I'll get them right out to you. The subscription costs nothing and you can unsubscribe at any time.







Centerpiece made of pink and white artificial peonies




FAUX PEONY CENTERPIECE





The floral design on the invitation includes hydrangeas and eucalyptus in addition to the peonies, so I decided to put together my floral centerpiece using the same three flowers.  While I used realistic looking artificial flowers from Pottery Barn (white and pink peonies, hydrangea, and eucalyptus), the same could be done with real blooms.  The flowers were displayed in a wood box with chippy white paint, which I think matched the feel of the old antique farm table we were eating on.


For the sake of space and comfort, the centerpiece can be removed from the table when everyone sits down to eat.


Check out this post here on the blog for details of how the entire centerpiece was created step by step!



Al fresco summer tablescape with peony flowers




SETTING THE TABLE FOR A SUMMER GARDEN PARTY





Things were kept pretty simple on the rest of my tablescape as I choose white plates I picked up for practically nothing at the thrift store and water glasses with a very unique shape from Dollar Tree.  Although you may not be inclined to use your best dishes and glassware when dining outdoors for fear of something getting broken, there are plenty of thrifty alternatives that will look very fancy.


Since the menu didn't require needing a spoon or knife, I set the table with just forks that doubled as a way to keep the paper napkins from floating away in the breeze.



White plate with peony napkin, fork, and peony centerpiece.



This summer garden party is a special way to enjoy a sunny afternoon with some of your best girlfriends.  For that reason, I kept the menu kind of girly with sandwiches, salads, and flavored water.  Everything can be laid out buffet style in the kitchen or on a bar cart so that the table can be left free and open.



Plate with sandwich, potato salad, and potato chips.




WHAT DO YOU SERVE TO EAT AT A SUMMER GARDEN PARTY?





  • For the salad, I prepared a Bacon and Ranch Potato Salad, which paired nicely with the club sandwich thanks to the green onions.  You could also serve an ordinary tossed salad, fruit salad, or pasta salad.

  • I also made some homemade potato chips, because I don't think any summer picnic or party is complete without them.  They can be fried earlier in the day to save time when your guests are there. It's a little extra work, but the flavor far outweighs anything you can buy in the store and your guests will appreciate the special touch.

  • To drink, I mixed up some water infused with fresh cucumbers and strawberries.  While I've had cucumber water in the past, it wasn't until just a few months ago I had the opportunity to try it with the addition of the strawberries.  Seriously the best flavor for a refreshing summer drink!





Simple tablescape for summer with peony flowers.



I hope you enjoyed your visit to my little party and that you've been inspired to do something similar this summer in your own backyard.


Now please take some time to visit the other awesome ladies sharing their talents today below.







18+ SUMMER TABLESCAPE IDEAS

Visit the talented ladies below for more inspiration for summer entertaining.





























Summer garden party peony tablescape
hosting a summer garden party
Hosting a summer garden party
Summer Garden Party Peony Tablescape
Printable Garden Party Invitation, Envelope insert and stickers


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anderson+grant is a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping you to create a slower, simpler home with contemporary style.

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