Casual Entertaining With a Beachy Vibe
Olive green, raffia, and everything you need for easy summer hosting…
We're headed to the beach in June and I've already started thinking about dinners and how I want to entertain while we’re there! The girls will be coming and going and we’ll have friends over as well. So many years, I fly by the seat of my pants, but this year, I want everything to be well thought out…from the tables to what I’m going to wear. I am bursting at the seams here at home with napkins, serving pieces and other things for entertaining so I’ll probably pack a bit of what I already have and add a few new pieces to keep there.
The older I get, the more I want things to feel intentional…I’m trying to create memories for everyone including myself and being organized helps so much. I’ll try to have a few menus planned and also take toys and books for the kids. I really don’t like for the television to be on at all while we’re there even though I do sometimes lose that battle. It just seems like there are better things to do than watch television at the beach. There are lizards to catch, walks to take and chairs on the porch for rocking. Even when it rains, there are puddles to jump and naps to take. I like slow mornings, long dinners, and a table that gets reset every night with whatever's around…sea oats, a delicious candle and sea shells everywhere!
But no worries if you’re staying home…you can bring the beach to your patio. You don't actually have to be on the coast for any of this. The vibe is a palette and a feeling more than a location, and you can absolutely build it in a backyard anywhere.
The Palette
Neutrals, raffia, and olive green…once you commit to a tight palette, everything you bring to the table works together without trying.
For me it started with the green and white seving bowl. It has a hand-painted, slightly imperfect feel that I love. From there, the Sabre flatware with the cream handles, a Flamingo Estate candle in olive glass, a stack of botanical printed napkins, and rattan everything. The fabulous footed rattan bowl is one of those pieces that works year-round but feels especially right in the summer.
I'm planning to buy a few things to leave at the beach for entertaining all summer... the plates, the candle, and the napkins are at the top of the list. They’re easy enough pack and inexpensive enough not to stress over, and they instantly transform my table.
What I'll Wear
I built a second collage around the same palette because casual hosting deserves an outfit too. This little olive striped two-piece set is the hero…long sleeves for cool evenings on the porch, easy enough to throw on after a day at the beach. I'll probably have the cream sweater tied over my shoulders or tied around my waist just in case I get cold. The raffia bucket hat for daytime, the Valentino raffia bucket bag (less expensive here) for going shopping around, flat leather sandals (less expensive here) that go with everything, and a gold shell pendant that feels like the right summer accessory.
This is the kind of outfit that takes you from setting the table to pouring the wine to walking down to the water after dinner. Nothing precious about it.
The Bigger Idea
Casual entertaining isn't about doing more, it's about choosing well. A few good plates, a candle that smells like something specific, napkins that make people want to take a picture, and an outfit you actually want to be in. The rest takes care of itself.
I'll be sharing more from our beach week in June... the menus, and the table moments. For now I'm pulling things together and getting excited for the summer season!
Keep scrolling because everything is linked below!
~XOXO Suzanne***Still working on my blog issue, but since it’s Monday, hopefully I’ll get it resolved!
