Effortless Summer Entertaining

A table of drinks and goodies await our guests as they meander the garden paths.

It feels wonderful to gather with friends and start entertaining more again! In the south, we’ve always loved entertaining outdoors. Recently, we were part of a very special gathering at the Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm. My husband hosted a client appreciation concert and party for MDVIP and I couldn’t resist decorating some vignettes in this picturesque place with some of our latest towne + beech arrivals. Here are some of my tried and true tips for creating a relaxed yet refined table for your next outdoor party.

Layered Linens & Textiles

A mix of coastal colors and textures creates an inviting space for cocktails and conversation.

We started with a crisp white tablecloth and added two of our Shibori Runners. Our Stitched Edge Tea Towels did double duty as napkins. While they might look expensive, our Persian inspired Anna Pillows and Rug are washable fabrics that add a relaxed elegance.

Grazing Boards and Bowls

Indoors at this event, we had farm tables laden with hearty Southern favorites. Since the music was outside, we wanted to create some unexpected surprises with pretty tables of drinks, small bites, and desserts woven throughout the enchanting garden paths & porches. Guests enjoyed discovering these flashes of delight while strolling the grounds.

A summer grazing board can be as elaborate or simple as you wish. There is a lot of inspiration out there for styling impressive boards or you can just keep it simple like we did here. Presenting delicious food on a beautiful board is a full proof way to elevate even the simplest of offerings. Our Painted Moroccan Bowls give the table some global flair. They are so fun to mix in different colors and patterns.

Fresh Flowers & Objets d’Art

Whenever we are entertaining, I love to add something vintage or unexpected to create a conversation starter among guests. We used one of our Goddess Garden Planters as an impromptu ice bucket to pair with vintage glassware.

Wineglass vases in varying sizes and heights are another effortless way to style a table. We clipped a few fresh flowers from a friend’s garden to complement the colored glassware.

African baskets are some of our most favorite things at towne + beech. We used an African bowl to hold extra linens and the woven fan is as beautiful as it is functional.

Lighting

Wire lanterns ready to light the garden path with candles after sunset.

At Blue Moon Farm there’s something magical about the twinkly lights that appear like fireflies at dusk. Solar powered lights are hidden in chandeliers hung from trees around the property. String lights adorn the stage and we brought some of our own towne + beech garden favorites of wire & glass lanterns and votives for the tables and the sweetest white lanterns tucked along the garden path.

Great Music

We were more than a little spoiled with the GREAT live music at this event all afternoon and into the evening. Franklin Walter started off the show with an incredible afternoon of music. Grayson Capps, the headliner, put on an unforgettable show - such a soulful performer. You can listen to his music here.

Cathe Steele, owner of the Frog Pond, which is also her private home, describes the venue as, “the core idea is to bring musicians and serious listeners together in an informal but respectful house concert setting on the farm where the focus is firmly on the music and community built through artists and listeners. It’s a magical place where music is brought back to its roots, in a true listening atmosphere where songwriters and musicians alike come together to network.”

Most of us are not able to have live music for our outdoor parties but chances are you have a portable speaker and a Spotify playlist. Music definitely sets the mood and we play music every day in the studio at towne + beech. This summer we’re listening to the Zac Brown Mix on Spotify for a laidback vibe.

This event was so much fun that we are thinking of making it an annual thing. In the meantime, you definitely want to get on the list to be notified for future Sunday Socials at the Frong Pond at Blue Moon Farm. They only happen a few times a year and seating is limited. You can read more here.

Special thanks to our dear friend and go-to caterer, Gina Gambino. Gina and her team are incredible and make events like this a breeze. You can sample her amazing food daily at Ravenite Pizzeria in downtown Fairhope. The meatballs are our fave!

All photography is by the amazing Stevye Photography who is as much fun as she is talented!

Thank you to our friends (Toodles) and family (our sweet son, Tripp) that always show up and work hard behind the scenes to pull off these events that we dream up. Until next time! ~ Suzanne