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A Pretty Backyard Dinner Party
Before and After: See how unfussy, vintage style and a simple menu adds up to a beautiful L.A. winter dinner outdoors
I am addicted to making my home pretty!
Come visit me over at...
http://mycakies.blogspot.com
I am addicted to making my home pretty!
Come visit me over at...
http://mycakies.blogspot.com... More »
The holidays are quite busy already with all the hustle and bustle that goes on, that planning a party on top of that could be quite intimidating. The best way to get through a party during the holidays is go simple. Simplicity goes a long way during this time of year when everywhere you go is already decked out with Christmas decorations as soon as summer ends.
To help with simplicity, I used things already around my house, though I did go buy a few spools of glittery ribbon and yarn to hang, and I kept the menu simple. It was also important to keep the gathering area together, so that everyone could sit down near each other and just enjoy each other's company. Company is what makes a party a party after all! Plus, add some twinkle lights and candlelight and everyone is definitely in the mood to celebrate! Wouldn't you agree?
To help with simplicity, I used things already around my house, though I did go buy a few spools of glittery ribbon and yarn to hang, and I kept the menu simple. It was also important to keep the gathering area together, so that everyone could sit down near each other and just enjoy each other's company. Company is what makes a party a party after all! Plus, add some twinkle lights and candlelight and everyone is definitely in the mood to celebrate! Wouldn't you agree?
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| Before: Our backyard. Some vintage metal lawn chairs for seating and a vintage picnic table surrounded by vintage metal folding chairs. |
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| After: Taking a large space and creating and styling areas to make it feel more intimate and fancy enough for a dinner party. |
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| The space was broken up into three areas for the dinner party: the food station, dessert corner, and dining table. Each area had a bit of styling and decoration to add more charm and to differentiate each one. I used a vintage metal garden table and brought out a comfy chair for coziness. |
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| For seating, I brought out more vintage cafe chairs from inside the house as well as one long bench that would help provide ample seating for guests. It is good to have a bench around for purposes such as this. |
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| I brought out our dining table and lined it up with the outdoor to table to make one really long table. |
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One long table, mismatched chairs, pretty flowers, simple place settings are the perfect makings for a wonderful dinner party!
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Benches help provide more seating when it is needed. Mixing benches with chairs give it a nice eclectic mix.
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For the tablecloth, I used an extra large flat bed sheet. It covered both long sides of the table nicely to the floor. For the table runner, I just used some burlap.
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| Burlap was used for the table runner and mismatch plates found at the thrift store gave every thing a one of a kind feel. |
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| The party favors were petite pies I made and put on each plate, wrapped up in a little fabric scrap, and added a little tag cut from kraft paper. |
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| Mismatched plates and mason jars that can be found at thrift stores are so great for dinner parties! |
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| I wanted a wintry feel, so for flowers I just got a bunch of baby's breath and put them together in large mason jars. Also, I just collected the candles I had scattered around my house, put them on two plates and it added the extra pizzazz I needed on the dinner tables. Soft lighting adds such a nice ambiance. |
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With the holidays around the corner, I wanted some sparkle, so I found some gold and pink glittery type yarn and ribbons at the local craft store and cut strips. I had my husband take an 8' dowel, drill holes at each end, then string it up to the cables we had going across the top.
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Soft candles add such a sweet mood to the party.
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| The party favors were petite pies that I made and put on each plate, wrapped up in a little fabric scrap, and added a little tag cut from kraft paper. I used my recipe that I made for HGTV: http://www.hgtv.com/entertaining/petite-pie-party-favors/index.html |
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| Twinkle lights, a bit of sparkle, pretty flowers, and soft candlelight all make a dinner party a bit more fancy! |
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Twinkle lights, a bit of sparkle, pretty flowers, and soft candlelight all make a dinner party a bit more fancy!
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A little corner for desserts. Varied heights add more visual interest. Try stacking cake plates on books.
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Use books and cake stands to add some variety in height. This was how we displayed our dessert table.
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| Adding old shutters to cover up a boring outdoor wall adds more visual interest and a old long wooden table is the perfect thing to hold all the food.
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It was an Italian dinner featuring two types of pastas, chicken, and three different sauces. All were housed properly to keep the food fresh and had simple labels that were cut from kraft paper and I just wrote the name and put it in front of its corresponding dish.
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| The long table is where everyone dined. There was another little area that houses all the food and another little corner just for desserts. It was our own mini little restaurant. To hang the ribbon for decoration, I had my husband take an 8' dowel, drill holes at each end, then string it up to the cables we had going across the top. |
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The large space felt much cozier with the different areas and it made the whole dinner feel a bit more fancy rather than just your typical backyard party. And of course, it is a bit more chilly of a season, so an outdoor heat lamp kept all the guest warm and cozy despite the autumn chill!
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Twinkle lights are just absolutely necessary for pretty backyard dinners!
Ideabook published on Dec. 24, 2011.
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One of the things I love most is adding the golden velvet chair!!!!
I would love for you to do a blog post on your patio.....i.e. what is the flooring tile and I love those lights...from Target?
Everything is so detailed and wonderful.
You continue to tempt the readers into secretly sneaking in the party to take a peak!
jennyrosee89@gmail.com
This party feels so natural and comfy, and I will always love string lights... they are so nostalgic and romantic!
I wish I had a wonderful backyard like that...
It looks so airy and beautiful!
xx
If I'd been a guest at this dinner party I wouldn't have wanted to leave.
xoxo
J.
I love there's not too much colors. simple.
I love the ribbons.It's so beautiful.
jess.gustin@yahoo.com
Thank you for sharing!
Ruby you rock!
Thanks to you now I've got the decor and theme sorted - what a gorgeous layout, treatment and above all use of existing objects. This is MY style of party.
Well done you!