Who’s ready for summer out there?! We can’t wait for a whole season of long dinners, warm nights, and um, maybe a few hundred bottles of rosé. This month we partnered with our friends at Crate and Barrel to host a ladies only Oysters and Rosé party that we hope inspires both summer entertaining and your summer-ready Gift Registry picks, if you know what we mean! Might as well use that handy tool to build up your arsenal of party pieces for this season and all the summers ahead. And if you’re curious about the $1000 shop card sweepstakes, (which you totally should be!), read through to the bottom for all the info.
Step one: Secure cocktails and wine. Wait, you already know that part! We set up a cute bar in Kristina’s backyard so our friends could help themselves to drinks and snacks during our croquet game.
Can’t tell you how much a marble pastry slab comes in handy, for kitchen purposes of course, but also for general entertaining needs. Makes such a nice surface to lay out the bar, don’t you think? And pro tip from ladies who have thrown A LOT of parties… it’s essential to add a set of appetizer plates and small bowls to your Registry so that you’re ready for serving a range of snacks. A teeny tiny oyster feels awkward on a big salad plate. And these Mercer mini bowls have about 1 million uses around the kitchen and throughout your house.
Gotta make the floral ice cubes for a lady-like party. (Gentle reminder to use non-toxic/edible flowers if you’ll actually be drinking beverages chilled with these beauties!) These silicone trays make perfectly square cubes every time.
Love the Rati Vase for a bold flower arrangement. The texture is so good!
And a party isn’t *quite* as fun without an activity! Luckily something like croquet works well for drinking and socializing too. This classic croquet set would make an amazing wedding gift. (Ahem, add to Registry immediately.) Guaranteed to bring lots of laughs with friends in the backyard during warm months.
PSST. See that big pretty tub full of wine? Another item you’ll be so thrilled to have when you’re ready to throw your next big party. Keeping wine chilled and accessible to guests is essential to any successful summer soiree.
And of course the party wouldn’t be complete without a summery cherry dessert (thanks Whoa Nelly for intro-ing us to the spectacular world of buckles!).
But wait. Don’t you want to see our al fresco dinner? 1) It’s gorgeous and 2) Crate and Barrel is hosting a sweet summer sweepstakes for a $1000 shop card over there too!
To enter for a chance to win this amazing sweepstakes, and to see the gorgy photos from our dinner in the backyard, pop over to Crate and Barrel’s blog now!
[Products from this shoot: Croquet Set / Emlyn Basket / Vineyard Zinfandel Glasses / Tour Double Old-Fashioned Glasses / Beckett Natural Linen Tablecloth / Bash Beverage Tub / Rati Vase / Baird Appetizer Plates / Small and Large Crosby Teak Lanterns / Marble Pastry Slab / Mercer Mini Bowls]
Concept and styling: 100 Layer Cake / Photography: Mary Costa Photography / Catering: Whoa Nelly Catering / Flowers: Honey and Poppies / Calligraphy: Yours Truly Calligraphy
This post is sponsored by Crate and Barrel, who provided 100 Layer Cake with the products listed within this post. Big thanks to Crate and Barrel, and big thanks to you for supporting the brands that keep 100 Layer Cake sharing beautiful inspiration!
Contest fine print: No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents 18 or older. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Enter by June 30, 2016. Total ARV of all prizes $1,000. For complete rules, see Crate and Barrel’s blog. Void where prohibited.
