By Gregory Fast, At-Home Entertaining Expert | Photos by Lisa Marie Photography
Summer is finally upon us, and with it, peak outdoor hosting season. As we embark on what is quite possibly the best time of the year for home hosting, I’m here to share a few ideas, inspiration and tricks of the trade to make your summer hosting a sensation.
First things first, let’s talk about time of day. Photographers call sunset the “golden hour” for good reason; it’s the time of day when everything is cast with a hue that just feels like magic, and that is why it’s my absolute favourite time of day to host. Plus, a beautiful sunset always makes for a good night to follow, right?
I like to take clever moments to level up my home hosting affairs, not only to delight and impress guests, but to have fun and try something new. I’m pleased to share ideas with you as we prepare to host a “Summer Sunset Soirée.”
Creating the Moment
The setting creates the magic. For this al fresco fête, I was inspired by a modern Tuscan dining experience, and really leaned into all the pleasures of entertaining on a beautiful European afternoon. For tabletop inspiration, I worked with natural, organic textures and colours like terracotta, greenery and for a complement of unexpected colour, beautiful oranges. To infuse a modern approach, I opted for sleek black place settings and neutral linens on a gorgeous modern dining table.
I love to add personalization to all of my events and never go without placecards. While functional, they also serve as a thoughtful decor moment. Here I’ve used dried orange wheels and pinned guest name cards for each place setting – a clever and beautiful moment for the setting and guest experience. We have elevated our settings and guest experience with rental furnishings and tablewares from Special Event Rentals – an easy addition to any event to simplify your hosting experience.
Hosting Must Have: Libation Station
I can’t say enough about the convenience of an outdoor bar area for home hosting. Whether this is a permanent fixture in your backyard, or simply a folding table dressed with a beautiful linen and florals set up for the occasion, you can save yourself a lot of stress by simply setting up your essentials for easy guest entertaining. For this Sunset Soirée, I’m serving a Floral Grapefruit Spritz cocktail and Pineapple Dream Margarita Mocktail. I’ve stocked my Hauser Cucina Outdoor Kitchen with all of the essentials I need. I love having a wet-bar component for clean-up and prep; it makes my life so much easier!
Making Magic
Of course background music plays an important role when creating any setting. To take it up a notch, consider hiring a live musician for the occasion. Live music can add to an event’s memorability and do wonders for the overall ambiance. Acoustic sets are easy for set-up and add an air of romance; they are a go-to favourite of mine.
If you’re feeling like you could do with some help with hosting, or want to ensure you get to enjoy your night too, hiring a bartender for larger parties is very helpful. This person takes all the work off of home hosts attending the bar, and lets you enjoy your company.
Lastly, since your guests are dressing up to join you for a special evening, consider a sunset photographer to capture picturesque moments. With a beautiful setting you’ve worked so hard to create, this is a wonderful opportunity to savour the moment and provide a nice keepsake for guests after the evening has ended.
With each of these elements incorporated into your evening, you’ll surely have a memorable event. And I’m positive that you’ll soon be planning more parties at your new favourite time of day.
For more info, visit GregoryFast.com
