How I Host a Summer Soiree

If you’re anything like me and get swept away by over-the-top Pinterest boards and whimsical Instagram bloggers, you might think hosting a dinner party is out of reach.

But what if it’s not as hard as you think?

Like all things, practice makes perfect… but can I let you in on a secret? You’re the only one who cares if it’s perfect! As a (recovering) perfectionist, I know hosting can feel daunting, but having a few tips and tricks to get started will take off a lot of pressure.

How to Get Started

The easiest way to dip your toes into hosting is to think about it seasonally.

The start of a new season is the perfect reason to throw a soirée—four times a year—and the season itself gives you a built-in theme.

What do you picture with each season? Go there in your mind!

In spring and summer, I picture full blooms, pastels, patterns, fresh fruit, and finger foods.

In autumn and winter, I’m drawn to comfort foods like soup and homemade pie, cozy lighting, and festive cider or cocoa.

One thing to keep in mind when hosting is time of day and sunset. Personally, my favorite type of party is a dinner party, or a soirée. Soirée just means “evening” in French, but doesn’t that add a little elegance?

It elevates the feel and ambiance with just a few small touches… lit candles, background music, and even a dress code.

And once you start envisioning your evening, the planning begins!

But my best advice before spending any money is to head to websites like Canva and Pinterest. Over the years, I’ve noticed that when it comes to things like home decor, for example, I tend to buy whatever catches my eye in the moment. But those “in-the-moment” purchases don’t always flow well together, and I usually end up making a lot of returns.

So now, I window shop online first and create a mood board on Canva instead. That way, everything flows together visually, and I can also budget more effectively.

Planning the Soiree Theme

I use the same method when planning a themed gathering.

For my Sonoma-inspired spring soirée, I began by grabbing images that reflected the feeling I wanted to create–like flowers standing tall in halved lemons as bases, brass candlesticks with delicate bows, and flowers that looked like they were floating. 

For summertime, my mood board might lean toward coastal or tropical themes, vibrant colors, and fruit-forward decor. Or maybe I’d go in a more nostalgic direction with a slightly elevated Fourth of July vibe…think grilling out, but with intentional lighting, ambiance, and a curated menu.

The Menu

The menu plays a big role in hosting. Arguably not as big as the decor (I know, hot take, even though it’s a dinner party!), but still important.

You might love the idea of cooking for others. Me? I dread it! If you’re in the same “not kitchen-savvy” boat as me, Pinterest is your best friend here to find recipes.

I always make sure to choose dishes that can be prepped ahead of time so I can focus on pouring drinks and enjoying the company.

I wish I were the kind of person who could cook while holding a conversation, but I know my limits! That said, if you’re capable of doing both, then go for it.

But personally, I prefer to prep the day before or morning of, and then just toss into the oven at dinner time. In March, I made a sage and butternut squash pasta bake which was a hit, and I had it prepped the night before.

Also, I start my menu planning with the main course, and then build the appetizers, sides, desserts, and drinks around that.

Another easy (and always crowd-pleasing) place to start is with a charcuterie board. For this menu, along with charcuterie, I also made citrus caprese and prosciutto skewers for appetizers, and served a simple side salad with dinner.

Dessert is where I feel I have more freedom to explore…I couldn’t choose between two options, so I served both: tiramisu and limoncello sorbet.

I wanted something fun, a little unexpected, and easy to serve individually. I served the tiramisu in coupe (wide champagne) glasses, and the sorbet was served in scooped-out and frozen lemon shells. These made for such a fun after-dinner surprise and I was able to get them prepped the day before as well.

The key theme here?

Make-ahead everything and plan, plan, plan!

I usually start by brain-dumping meal ideas and listing every ingredient involved, which helps me build a shopping list (Pro tip: add fresh flowers for your tables to that list!). And if needed, I’ll pare it down based on budget.

Once the menu is finalized, you can go the extra mile and create individual dinner menus on Canva to place at each setting. It’s a lovely little touch.

Day-of Hosting Tips

If you’ve planned things well, most of your work will already be done by the day of your soirée.

Past you deserves a big high-five! Now it’s time to focus on final details…place settings, decor, and food setup.

Set out your flowers and centerpieces, signage (menus or welcome signs), and prep any day-of items like salad or appetizers.

One of my favorite tricks is laying butcher paper on your kitchen island or counters before setting out food, it makes cleanup so easy. And when the night’s over, just roll it up and toss it!

Set the vibe with light background music, extra points if it matches your theme! If you don’t have a speaker, your TV works fine. I also love finding ambient videos on YouTube to help set the mood.

Finally, don’t forget to dress up yourself, and most importantly, enjoy the evening.

Remember, we’re not aiming for perfection, we’re aiming to create memories. What truly makes a night beautiful are good friends and great conversation.

Now light your candles, chill your wine, and enjoy the evening… It’s time!

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Find more beautiful ideas from Caroline on her Instagram and Tiktok!

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