Pretty Summer Garden Party Table for Two

Have a garden loving friend? Why not treat her to a cozy summer garden party for two amidst your blooms. These garden party ideas harken English cottage style with a mix and match of vintage nostalgic finds.

We have passed mid summer and gorgeous flowers are in full bloom! It’s a perfect time to invite over a garden-loving friend for a garden tour and chat over coffee or tea. Here are garden party ideas to let your friend know she’s special. Hope you’re inspired with this Pretty Summer Garden Party Table for Two!

Today’s post is part of our monthly Design Challenge, where a group of friends all design around an inspirational pic, chosen by Cindy at County Road 407. One picture, many ideas for you!

If you’re visiting from Sonata Home Design, I’m sure you loved Missy’s colorful floral on floral tablescape. She has such an amazing and bold eye for design:) All the rest of the inspiration will be linked at the end; hope you can enjoy the variety of styles and ideas!

Inspiration Pic

Our inspiration pic comes from Everyday Living blog. Pam set a beautiful floral inspired table amidst her gorgeous gardens. Definitely give her a visit to see the romantic setting!

Design Cues:

• floral tablecloth-color on white
• pink hydrangea centerpiece
• glass stemware
• floral plates
• woven placemats
• yellow cloth napkins
• green trees in background and twinkle lights
• scrolly iron chairs

Using these design cues, here’s how my summer garden party table setting turned out:

Pretty Summer Garden Party Table for Two

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Choosing a Setting for Your Summer Garden Party Table

The first decision is to choose the right setting for your cozy summer garden party table. Through the years I’ve styled many different places in my yard with pretty tablescapes from romantic to rustic. (see HERE for more creative Table Setting Ideas) But I don’t think I’ve ever decorated the table we have right out our back door.

This spot is a main thoroughfare from the driveway and garage into the house. It’s in the back, but it’s our main entrance. It’s where we plop when we’re needing a break from gardening or scrubbing junk. It’s often where the big kids will hang and chat if they swing by. Perfect with a cup of coffee or iced tea, it provides a great view of our property, looking towards the woods and our ravine.

This patio is surrounded by a garden you walk through. From the crabapple tree to peonies to daisies, the blooms change through the year. I’ve got shade loving container planters grouped on the deck steps. A table set amongst the blooms is extra special!

Vintage Linens Repurposed as Table Linens

For the easiest, prettiest table cloth, repurpose a vintage bedspread. It will give you a totally unique look with no ironing! If you find one secondhand, it will probably be cheaper than a store bought table cloth.

Can we just have a moment for this crocheted vintage bedspread I picked up at an estate sale? Perfect for a garden party! Oh the hours someone spent; every stitch is perfect.

Floral Centerpiece with Garden Flowers

Late summer is when garden hydrangeas take center stage. With a couple easy snips, you can create a stunning centerpiece. Big ball shaped Annabelle hydrangeas are easy to grow in my zone (4) in either sun or shade. We have a whole row of them on the north side of the garage. Their white blooms turn green in late summer, which is when they can be dried easily.

I paired a couple huge blooms with the pink version-“Invincible Spirit”. I bought a bush years ago when they were sold in support of breast cancer research. The combo of shades-pink, white and green create a simple centerpiece in a wicker vase.

Find inexpensive wicker vases HERE. (You will use them throughout the year; get a couple in different colors;)

Floral styling tip: Since I couldn’t find a vase skinny enough to tuck into the wicker vase, I used a plastic ziplock bag and just filled it with water.

Mix and Match Colorful Place Settings

For garden pretty color, pull out your floral dishes and colorful glassware. I’ve slowly been collecting classic Portmeirion botanical garden dishware whenever I can find it. I love the flowers, along with the bees, butterflies and bugs. There are so many different shapes available. Even a couple serving pieces will add classic garden style to your table.

Find Portmeirion Botanical Garden dishware HERE.

I layered in colorful vintage glassware for garden inspired style. Pink depression, blue glass and emerald green footed glasses and sherbets glimmer in the summer sunshine. It reminds me of my Happy Girl’s wedding, where each guest drank out of a colorful vintage goblet. (see her garden party wedding with vintage style HERE)

Yellow and white gingham fabric cut into squares make easy napkins. Thrifted Bakelite vintage silverware was a fun find. A simple knot of THIS handy ribbon adds a foliage touch; I love using it on gift packages, too. I should have tucked in a sprig of mint from the garden!

Vintage flower spoon rests are repurposed by both place settings, rather than by the stovetop.

More rustic textures balance out the fussy ones. The wicker vase, a woven serving tray, jute placemats and a vintage fruit basket for tea. A bark trimmed wood cake plate gets used throughout the year in my decor.

Find beautiful rustic wood serving pieces HERE.

Find vintage fruit serving baskets HERE.

Garden Books at the Ready

Have inspirational garden books at the ready for a no-technology chat. Vintage nature handbooks are a great resource and can be used in your seasonal decor. (Find a variety HERE) For a wonderful modern gardening resource, check out my friend Stacy Ling’s book HERE. It’s beautiful and so helpful; a great house warming or wedding gift.

Comfy Summer Garden Party Table for Two

This summer table for two may just become an annual occasion! It’s so fun to enjoy gardening talks and tours together with a friend. No ones got a perfect garden…especially when it’s so hot that watering is a full time job!

Make sure to have plenty of pillows and extra vintage quilts to settle in. My porch is filled with THESE colorful plaid pillow covers so we have comfy at the ready. And of course a stack of vintage quilts nearby:)

What’s on the menu? Besides coffee and tea, my favorite scones everyone loves (which I’ve been making with freshly milled flour for even better taste and nutrition), homemade granola and yogurt, and fresh farmer’s market summer fruit. Now if we can just keep the bees away!

Be sure to visit Christy at Our Southern Home as the next stop of our Summer Table Inspiration. She’s created a lovely layered tablescape at her classic southern home.

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