Shopping & Reviews

Spring Dinner Party Essentials

Because warm-weather dinner parties deserve beautiful, breezy tabletops

By Allie Wist


Published on May 19, 2015

There's nothing better than having friends over for a spring dinner party—light, fresh dishes paired with crisp, mineral-y wines; cocktails garnished with herbs from your garden; and eating outside, late into the evening sun, breaking open a special bottle of champagne for your guests.

Springtime is also a great excuse to indulge in a few new additions to your table. This spring, I'm loving whites and soft plush pinks, as well as minimalism in materials, which lets the beauty of in-season food and drink shine. Go for a look that pairs irregular, handmade materials, like ceramics, with simple, geometric elements. You'll craft a look that's both modern and familiar. I've rounded up some beautiful pieces to add to your table—now you just need to find the right people to invite.

Beautiful salmon pink vase from Iittala's Ruutu series, perfect for summer flowers for your next dinner party.
Ruutu Glass Vases

With summer comes a lighter, fresher tabletop aesthetic. Anchor it with these airy, beautiful glass vases, which make the perfect vessels for understated summer flowers. $95-$295, MoMA Store

Handmade, artisan mini wooden apricot bowls for appetizers, spices, and sauces at your next dinner party.
Mini Wooden Apricot Bowls

Use several of these little bowls—made from the dense wood of apricot trees—around your table for salted nuts, sauces, spices, or sea salt. $25, belayahvoya store on Etsy

Handmade artisan prosecco glasses from Malfatti glass
Prosecco Glasses

These delicate, yet informal, prosecco glasses are handmade by the artisan duo Daniel Spitzer (former Dale Chihuly crew member) and his partner Jill Reynolds. They create each piece in a flame, using only hand tools. The result is a beautifully irregular and elegant glass for sparkling wine. $66/pair, Malfatti Glass

Mu Metal Cultery Set by Alessi
Mu Cutlery Set

These ultra linear utensils are a lovely nod to the refined aesthetic of stainless steel chopsticks. They are a perfect complement to more organically-shaped dishware and glassware. $428/set of 4, Alessi

Handmade Italian white ceramic bowls from Il Buco Vita
Il Buco Vita Ceramic Bowl

These handmade Italian ceramic bowls are a rustic-yet-refined way to serve green summer salads, fresh berries, or chilled gazpacho soups. Il Buco Vita, the recently-opened decor shop above the beloved Il Buco restaurant, sources ceramics from friends and artisans of the owners in Umbria. $34, Il Buco Vita

Trendy glass beaker pitcher for serving summer cocktails, punch, and drinks.
Iittala Karito Clear Pitcher

When planning out your cocktails, keep in mind you’ll need a sleek pitcher if you’re serving them in batches. This quirky, beaker-esque pitcher from Iittala is the perfect size for spritzer bases or summer rum punch. $100, AlwaysMod.com

Handmade, Artisan Round Walnut Spoons for dinner parties, soups, stews, and salads.
Round Walnut Spoons

For outdoor dining, metal cutlery can sometimes feel too angular and heavy. Try setting the table with these walnut spoons for appetizers, soups, and grain salads. $25, belayahvoya on Etsy

Revolution glass martini and rocks glasses
Revolution Cocktail Glass

Sometimes an Old Fashioned can feel…old fashioned. These gravity-defying cocktail glasses make for stylish happy hours, regardless of how classic the drink. $79, fferronedesign.com

White Architectural Crushed Bowl
Crushed Bowl

If you love geometric designs, you have to love this bowl, designed by a European architecture firm. The piece is part of the firm’s vision to bring big scale architectural down to a more personal scale. $55, DanishDesignStore.com

Handmade organic-shaped natural ceramic pitcher
Skyline Pitcher

Artist Julia Paul creates a unique rust-colored band on these pitchers by leaving part of the surface unglazed. The landscape near her home in Virginia informs her fresh, natural ceramic designs. $38, Fine Life Company

New wine glass design from Crate & Barrel
Edge Wine Glasses

For a more modern approach to summer wines, get these sleek new flat-bottomed glasses from Crate & Barrel. They’re wide enough to be breathable, but still have that slim profile of traditional white and rosé wine glasses. $13, Crate & Barrel

Handmade, artisan white ceramic dessert plates with lace pattern
White Ceramic dessert plates

Christine Barbato makes each of these ceramic plates in her Scottsdale, Arizona, studio. She adds a charming lace imprint on the back, and allows each plate to have its own unique shape and irregularities—to bring a bit of whimsy to your summer pies and tarts. $107/set of 4, Blue Door Ceramics on Etsy

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