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6 Summer Entertaining Trends We're Loving Right Now

June 09, 2015

By: Katie Meyers

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Entertain in style this season by hosting stress-free, relaxing celebrations with these summer-inspired trends.

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Homemade Gelato

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Memorable + Delicious Desserts

Icy-cold gelato infused with unique ingredients, such as vegetables or sophisticated fruit combos, are the hit of the season. Wow guests with a trio of delicious flavors, like raspberry pomegranate, pistachio cream and mango.

Donut Dessert Tower

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Trend to Try: Memorable + Delicious Desserts

Display a heaping tower of decadent donuts dressed up with brightly colored frosting and sprinkles for a "hole" bunch of fun.

DIY S'more Party Favors

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Trend to Try: Memorable + Delicious Desserts

Encourage guests to continue having "s'more" fun at home long after the party ends. Gift everyone with homemade favors that are reminiscent of summer campfires, like these s'more take-home boxes. They're the perfect way for guests to end the night on a sweet note. Get the how-to >>

Summer Tablescape With Vibrant Floral Centerpiece

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Fresh, Vibrant Hues

Casual gatherings have made a major comeback. Set the scene with a centerpiece that takes less than 10 minutes to assemble. Simply place various colors of the same flower family in vases down the middle of the table. Use something full and lush, such as peonies, hydrangea, garden roses or tulips that have already opened.

Summer Tablescape With Colorful Floral Centerpiece

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Trend to Try: Fresh, Vibrant Hues

Decorate each place setting with a piece of whole fruit sliced in half, or display a single flower on top of a linen napkin for a striking splash of color.

Summer Tablescape With Yellow Tulips

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Trend to Try: Fresh, Vibrant Hues

Stems in a monochromatic color palette make a major impact when clustered together to create a show-stopping centerpiece. To ensure your flowers get the attention they deserve, use stems in a bold hue, like yellow or orange, on top of a neutral tablecloth.

Summer Tablescape With Floral Centerpiece

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Fresh, Vibrant Hues

Take advantage of the season's fresh produce by setting out mini bowls of berries as the perfect contrast to your bright centerpiece.

DIY Pizza Bar

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Interactive Bites

Invite guests over for an MYOP (Make Your Own Pizza) party. Specialty food stations create chatter among guests and serve as a great way to spark conversation for those who haven’t met.

Homemade Pizza Bar

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Interactive Bites

Set out a variety of fresh, seasonal ingredients and let guests get creative while building their own personalized pizza.

Pizza Bar Ingredients

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Trend to Try: Interactive Bites

Take your MYOP party one step further by giving guests recipe cards sharing your favorite pizza sauce recipe along with a bottle of your famous sauce.

Homemade Sparkling Sangria

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Signature Sips

Ditch the fully-stocked bar and opt for a signature cocktail, such as sparkling white wine sangria. This will prevent the host from playing bartender all night. Get the recipe >>

Homemade Sparkling Sangria

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Signature Sips

Pick up fresh ingredients from your local market or fruit stand to create a true summer-worthy cocktail.

Mini BLT Salads

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Trend to Try: Mini Food

Summer is all about casual, laid-back vibes, so set out a variety of mini foods for guests to nibble on instead of hosting a formal meal. Mini, layered BLT salads are the perfect excuse to use ingredients from your own backyard.

Bite-Sized Meatballs

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Trend to Try: Mini Food

Bite-sized meatballs placed on top of spaghetti noodles are the perfect way to encourage guests to Mangia! Mangia!

Garden-Inspired Tablescape

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Garden-Inspired Elements

As a nod to summer's most popular dining experience (eating alfresco!), create a fresh, crisp environment based around garden-to-table elements. For those with a green thumb, tap into your creative side by making oversized, unruly centerpieces that make it feel as though guests are sitting right in the middle of a garden.

DIY Seed Packet Place Settings

Photo: ALX Creatives. From: Katie Meyers

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Trend to Try: Garden-Inspired Elements

Tie bundles of fresh herbs onto a linen napkin, or create personalized seed packet place cards to incorporate the garden theme. Guests will be able to plant their new treasures in their own backyard. Get the how-to >>

Herb Plant Place Setting

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Trend to Try: Garden-Inspired Elements

Make guests feel special by displaying name tags tied onto mini herb plants that they can take home with them as a reminder of the day's event. Download these (free!) printable name cards >>

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