My Outdoor Oasis Summer Party!
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pier 1 Imports. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating. But we really had a lovely party! Good food, pretty decorations and great friends equals a fantastic time!
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Ahhh summer. Don’t you just love it? Summer weather, summer food & drinks, pretty decorations and time spent with friends and family…it’s my fave. Once even the hint of summer arrives I’m ready to welcome in the season with a party for my friends…a summer kick-off if you will. Complete with great food, pretty decorations and great company! So that’s exactly what we did. I gathered some friends together on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon and we welcomed in summer with an outdoor oasis party with a little help from Pier 1! I really wanted to keep our party fun and relaxed, because that is what getting together with friends is all about!
Come join us!
The perfect place to start is with a cheery party table! For me, summer is all about colour! Bright, cheery colour. With our winters being so long and dreary, I don’t waste a minute adding colour everywhere I can.
I found these gorgeous plates and chargers at Pier 1 as part of their outdoor summer line. I love that they are melamine so I can use them over and over all throughout the summer, for fancy shindigs and everyday eating! I can even take them out on picnics!
Oh, and see that gorgeous flower pattern in the lower right corner? Those are my most favourite part of the table…my new chair cushions (I found them at Pier 1 as well)! Love love them!
Once I had my place settings figured out, I had some fun adding extra decorations to the table. I really wanted everything to be fun and festive, so I had to have these fun drink umbrellas! The kids loved them!
I always like to make sure there are a lot of flowers around too! Flowers always take table decor to the next level. I just kept the flowers simple for this party and scattered some pretty carnations around the table in my collection of thrift store vases. They matched the plates perfectly and just really tied everything together.
I always like to add fresh fruit to the table too…the bright pops of colour just look so pretty! I often use cake plates to showcase fresh fruit as well as pretty desserts. This gorgeous cake plate is also from Pier 1.
Then I made sure to have a little extra lighting for when the sun went down. These glass candle lanterns cast a gorgeous light at night. So pretty!
Once the table was set, I finished off the decor with a few items I had around home. Hanging paper lanterns and decorations are the perfect finishing touch. Pier 1 has many paper lanterns for your outdoor parties!
But wait…you can’t have a party without food right?
For this party we went with a Greek theme and served up some Greek Salad, Greek Chicken and pita bread with tzatziki sauce. I also served up some fresh lemonade!
So delicious!
I loved how everything for this outdoor oasis party came together. All the colours and patterns just seem to work well together…it’s cheery and very fun! We had an amazing night with our friends!
If you’re thinking of throwing a summer party, I’ve got some simple tips for putting together a cheery party without a lot of stress:
- Keep the menu simple. There is no need to get to elaborate…we all just love simple and delicious food!
- Consider having a potluck. People love to contribute to get togethers. Ask someone to bring a salad, or dessert.
- Shop around your home for decor. Look for vases, pretty glasses, and linens.
- When you are shopping for decor for your party, buy items that you can use all year round if you wish. And keep in mind what you already have at home so you can mix and match what you buy.
- Ask for help to get your party ready! Have your kids put the flowers in vases, or set the table. Get you husband working the BBQ. Parties are a group effort.
- Try to have your party ready to go at least 20 minutes before the guests arrive. This time will give you a moment to get yourself ready and relaxed. Maybe even time to have a little glass of wine and enjoy your pretty decor before everyone gets there!
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Happy partying!
If you are looking for more ideas for an outdoor oasis party, be sure to stop by and check out these lovely parties by Fynes Designs, Brooklyn Berry Designs, Inspire Me Heather, Satori Design for Living, Suburble, Echoes of Laughter, AKA Design, Setting For Four, So Much Better With Age
Fabulous Jo, just fabulous!
Thank you! It was so fun to put together!
I love the lantern and those fabulous blue goblets! What a great spread, Jo-Anna! Of course, my favourite part of summer parties are the late night conversations when the sun is just getting low. I love how summer has such nice long days! 🙂
Thank you Tara! And I agree…late night convos on the patio with friends are truly the best!
How bright and cheerful! Everything looks so yummy, especially that lemonade! That blue glass lantern is lovely~
I love the colourful paper lanterns tied under your umbrella. I’m going to use this idea for a few of my BBQs this summer. Pier 1 has so many fabulous decor items, it’s one of my fave stores!
that is SO pretty! i have the lantern in green! best part about summer parties is getting together with a few friends & the kids, letting loose, enjoying the longer day, and decorating with fabulous finds & treasures.
Looks great! I love all your touches and really like that lantern. I think my fave part about summer parties is getting together with friends and family of course but also how decorating can be so bright and whimsical. I also like the breezy, casual feel of summer parties.
Love this table setting from Pier 1. Loving the lantern, may have to go and get me one of those. 🙂 I like the casual atmosphere of summer parties.
I love the refreshing summer drinks,
Summer parties are fun. Meals tend to be on the lighter side (summer salads and fruit dishes) and it’s fun to make fancier drinks (margaritas, pina coladas,dacquiris and slushees. Thanks for sponsoring this fun giveaway and the opportunity to participate.
I love the good company and great food.
The sun, flowers and lemonade
fun, sun and good company 🙂
Love how bright and cheery it looks! Summer entertaining is the best, isn’t it?
What a Beautiful Table! Love the outdoor BBQ, Bonfires Patio Drinks with Great Friends and Family! Nothing Better.
I love using the bbq and seasonal fruits!
great decor is fun!
I love the sun tea and using fresh herbs from my yard in my cooking.
What I like best about summer parties is the ability to relax, eat good food and visit with friends. I love the glass lantern candle holders as well as the blue mats under the plates. They work so well with everything. I think I’ll be visiting my local Pier One this week. Thanks for sharing.
I love eating outside! Don’t have to sweep up the floor when the kids are done eating!
I love summer parties for the long days, casual food and good friends !
Such a pretty table Jo-Anna; I can tell you had fun with this one. 🙂
Love love the blue lanterns
What do I love most about summer? Summer!!
And camping, and eating outside…and the warmth!! Hooray for summer.
No doubt about it summer is my favorite time of year. Love getting friends together and just chillin.
The candle light of course. But I also love feeling relaxed.summer and friends seem to just highlight that.
My husband I and I have regular happy hours on our lanai. My outdoor patio set is from Pier One and I just love it. Those placemats are the cutest!
Patios, patios and more patios!
I love outdoor summer parties because your only limitation is what you can create. The possibilities are endless and the fun is impressive.
Absolutely lovely! It is the kind of party I love to be invited too. Love your blog! You are a woman of many talents. Keep them coming!
Your party looks fantastic, I want to come to the next one.
My favourite part of a summer party is just being able to be outside with drinks and friends.
Those plates are beautiful.
I like visiting with friends and an excuse to make party food.
Gorgeous table setting! Great colours for the summer. I love that white ruffle dessert stand!
I love those blue goblets!! The best part of a summer party is food and fellowship with friends.
I love the bright colors of summer foods – the reddest tomatoes, the greenest asparagus, the bluest berries… and I love that most food can be eaten cold or at room temperature, so hosts can relax with their guests!
I love the colour scheme – so fun for summer!!!
I love being able to have parties outside.
Love pier one! Love your table setting! Those cushions are my favourite too!
Great job, love your party!
Hugs,
Jamie
Your table looks great Jo-Anna, so festive!! The menu looked so good too – yum!! I saw those blue glass candle lanterns in our Pier 1 Imports, I think I want to go back now and pick some up!
I love the activities, drinks ,food and being outside in the beautiful weather at summer parties
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
I am completely in love with those dishes – they’re so summery and cheerful!
Really amazing job Jo-Anna! The colour combo is really beautiful! Angie xo
I like the outdoor fun of summer parties.
I love Sun and Sangria!
I love the food and getting family and friends together
Oh my Jo those photos are gorgeous! So honoured to have been part of the festivities. And how about that salad? tee hee.
Hee hee! Such a yummy salad! What a great night it was! 🙂
Love how relaxed and laid back a summer party can be.
I love how relaxed summer parties are – there aren’t the social rules that exist the rest of the year.
love getting everyone together in a casual atmosphere
What a beautiful table – love the pops of color!
the party looks really cool and it matches too much with the summer time occasions 🙂 great job Jo Anna 🙂