Summer is one of my favorite times to host because most of the hard work is already done. The garden is in bloom, the weather is perfect for outdoor dining, and the easy feel of a summer day does most of the work for me. I pull together decor I already have, keep the menu simple enough that I can still enjoy the night, and let the backyard be the star.
In this guide, I'm sharing how I like to host at home, including simple recipe ideas, table pieces I love, lighting tips, and practical hosting details that help the evening run smoothly and make guests feel comfortable the moment they arrive.
1. The Guest List & Invites
A great dinner party starts with the right guest list. I like keeping my dinner parties limited to 8 guests. It's enough people to make the night feel lively, but still small enough for one conversation at the table. Before sending the invite, make sure everyone's available, then send the details with the date, time, address, dress code, and anything helpful for the evening.
If dinner will be outside, say so. If guests should bring a jacket or let you know about allergies, include that too.
2. The Setting & Mood
I host outside and let the backyard be part of the night. The setting doesn't need to be overdone if the landscape is already beautiful. Choose the area that feels most natural for dinner, near the garden, pool, trees, flowers, hedges, or whatever part of your yard feels best. I host next to a canopy of trees near my BBQ so I can hang little lanterns off the branches and have the BBQ serve as a convenient work station nearby.
Lighting is everything to me and matters more than extra decor. Use unscented candles in hurricane glass so they won't blow out and there's no scent competing with the food. Dripless candles are important too, they lead to easier cleanup and won't damage your linens if you don't have a hurricane on hand. Rechargeable lamps are great outside because they give the table a warm glow without dealing with wax, wind, or dry landscaping. I mix both since it looks beautiful and is especially helpful lighting up a bar or serving table. String lights add a nice touch and set a magical mood.
If guests will walk through your garden, light a little path so they can find their way.
Music should be on before guests arrive. Jazz is usually the easiest because it keeps the night lively but still soft enough for people to hear each other. Bossa nova and French café are also favorites.
Have a mosquito plan if that's something in your area. I've seen hosts cut lemons, add cloves, and place them around the table for natural repellent and functional decor.
My Tip: Have a backup plan if the weather changes. If it gets windy, too hot, or much cooler than expected, know where the night can move. A covered patio, dining room, kitchen table, or indoor bar setup can save the evening.
3. The Menu & the Market
Choose your menu early, then think through what can be washed, chopped, chilled, folded, printed, or set aside the night or week before. Some things need to be assembled fresh, but most can happen ahead of time.
Prep the week before: place cards and menus, fold napkins, set aside serving dishes, candles, lamps, and blankets.
Prep the night before: fruit, vegetables, dips, herbs, wine, and batch cocktail ingredients.
I use the farmers market as part of both the menu and the tablescape. Seasonal produce, flowers, bread, local honey, jam, citrus, herbs, and fruit bowls help shape what I serve while also becoming part of the decor.
My Tip for RSF Locals: For farmers market shopping in Rancho Santa Fe, plan around the day before you're hosting. If dinner is Saturday, shop Friday at The Vegetable Shop at Chino Farm or your local market. If dinner is Sunday, shop Saturday at Del Mar Farmers Market, Cardiff Farmers Market, or stop by The Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market on Sunday morning.
4. The Welcome Drink & Hors d'oeuvres
For drinks, keep it simple. You do not need a full bar. Water, one light premade cocktail, a bottle of red and white wine is enough. I serve my signature clericot (similar to white sangria) in the summer because it can be made ahead, served from a pitcher, and looks pretty on the table. You can find my clericot recipe here.
For hors d'oeuvres, have something ready as guests arrive. A charcuterie board with cheese, prosciutto or salami, berries, honeycomb, jam (fig or apricot is my favorite), Marcona almonds, fresh herbs, crackers, and sliced baguette is easy, generous, and looks beautiful on a serving table with linen.
I like adding a few other options, and these are easy to serve alongside it:
- Tomatoes with burrata, basil, olive oil, and sea salt
- Melon with prosciutto
- Whipped feta with cucumbers, tomatoes, and olive oil
My Tip: When guests arrive, greet them with something to drink, introduce them to someone, and get a conversation going between them. Even if they know each other, pull them into the group. It's a small thing, but it makes people feel comfortable right away.
5. The Entrée
Keep the entree simple so you can still enjoy the night. Grilling is great for summer because it keeps the cooking outside and makes the meal feel relaxed. If you'd rather not cook, hire a chef. If someone in the house loves to grill (like my Argentine husband), let them handle the food while you refill cocktails, get the conversations rolling, and set the mood.
Here are a few of my favorite summer entrée ideas:
- Lemon and Thyme Grilled Chicken Breasts
- Salmon With Lemon-Herb Marinade
- Grilled Skirt Steak With Smoky Cucumber Chimichurri
- Arugula Salad With Peaches, Goat Cheese and Basil
Keep the rest of dinner simple. One salad. Two to three seasonal vegetables. One bread or potato side.
My Tip: If you need help, hire an extra hand. Someone with experience can serve, clear plates, refill water, pour drinks, and handle the small things you cannot get to while hosting. You'll be glad you did the next morning.
6. The Table
The table should feel personal, collected, and used. Mix heirloom china with modern plates, brass, wood, ceramic, glass, floral patterns, woven trays, and older serving pieces. Nothing has to match exactly.
And yes, use the fine silverware. This is why you have it.
For the rest of the table, I choose a color direction based on the season. In summer, citrus, fruit bowls, tomatoes, garden flowers, herbs, and linen make the table feel fresh. Buy fresh and decorate fresh.
My rose garden is full in the summer, so I like to pull small bouquets from my own yard. We also have eucalyptus on our property, and I add that throughout the decor when it works. I print menus and place name cards on the table so guests know where to sit and get them excited about what they're about to enjoy.
7. After Dinner
Dessert doesn't need to be homemade. Order something from your favorite bakery and plate it at home. It keeps the night simple and still feels personal.
After dinner, move guests to the fire pit, outdoor lounge, or another part of the yard. Add blankets nearby so your guests stay comfortable as the evening cools down.
Take home gifts:
- Local honey
- Jam
- Fresh herbs for their home
- Small batch organic olive oil
- Aged balsamic vinegar
The best summer dinner parties are not about doing more. Use what you have, let the garden do its part, set the mood, and make sure your guests can settle in, relax, and enjoy the evening together.
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