When Rob and I were building the house that we live in now, we both agreed that we wanted it to be a space where we could gather with our friends and family. We wanted it to be a space where we could meet people where they are at and love on them well. Little did I know, hosting and loving people in our home would be just as impactful on us as we hoped it would be for others.

This past weekend, Rob and I hosted a little get together at our home with two other couples and their kids. It was our first time hosting something like that since Layne passed away a couple months ago, and boy did it make my heart full to have great food (an even more amazing dessert!) and great conversation with friends as giggling kids ran around the living room.

Casual Summer Tablescape

I’m typically pretty extra when it comes to hosting in my home. I can’t help it – my career is centered around it. However, I’m definitely one to preach simplicity. You don’t need fancy china and glassware to host a dinner party for your friends and loved ones. So this weekend I took my own advice. I wanted to keep it simple and make it more about the people than the space we were gathering in. No fancy cake plates or serving trays with perfectly styled food. Instead, tin foil lined baking sheets and disposable containers lined the stove and countertops. I did use real dishes for the tablesettings. However, every ‘real’ dish I used was able to go in the dishwasher at the end of the night for minimal clean up, and the napkins were thrown in the washer.

The sage green chargers are from Hobby Lobby (last year), and I topped them with my absolute favorite ‘everyday’ china by Lenox. Everyday china is a great alternative to the fine china. You know, that super expensive stuff that you may be pressured to register for on your wedding registry. Not only is this Lenox set really nice quality stoneware, but it is microwave and dishwasher safe so you feel like you can actually use it. The napkin was an amazing clearance find at At Home a couple years ago, and I just did a simple tie on top of the salad plate. For a darling touch that tied in the chalkboard wall art, I took butterfly weed from the garden and tucked it into the knotted napkin.

READ ALSO: DIY Framed Chalkboard Wall Tutorial 

I finished off each tablesetting with these super cute pineapple drinking glasses and pineapple paper straws. The glasses are from Libbey. They were so sweet to send us them for free. Rob actually met one of the higher ups on a plane heading down to Orlando for work. (Isn’t it funny how you connect with people sometimes?) They were talking about my business and my brand. I had a pineapple on my old business cards, and they knew that these glasses were just what I needed!

Meanwhile, I kept these pineapple glasses in the box for a long time as I figured out the perfect time to bring them out. Now that I brought them out, I can’t wait to use them all summer! I absolutely love them and how summer-inspired they are. Fill them with sweet tea or lemonade for the most refreshing-looking beverages. Talk about the perfect touch for a casual summer cookout, right? They’d even be the perfect sidekick for a relaxing day at the pool. Add a paper straw, and you’re set! These pineapple paper straws are the perfect finishing touch.

P.S. My farmhouse floral curtains are one of the most purchased things from my blog. Get the details on them (as well as my super easy curtain hanging hacks), here!

READ ALSO: The Perfect Farmhouse Floral Curtains + My Curtain Hanging Hacks

Well there you have it, friends! I hope you found this simple and casual summer tablescape inspiring as you go on to plan your own dinner parties this summer. Remember, you don’t need fancy china and glassware to host a dinner party for your friends and loved ones. It’s all about the memories you’re making! Are you planning on hosting a dinner party at your home this summer? I’d love to hear your plans and ideas in a comment below!