There’s no doubt about it: Summer is the perfect season for throwing parties. It’s warm outside, you can fire up the grill, and there’s a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
From sun up to sun down, the living is easy!
The Fourth of July, which is right around the corner, is an ideal occasion for entertaining friends and family. Your theme is already set, and your only job is to bring a little red, white, and blue to the celebration.
Carly Hill and Lauren Nelson love the holiday (and a good party) as much as we do and were totally on board with helping us plan our own Fourth of July party.
Below, the two lifestyle bloggers chat with us about throwing a party for the Fourth—while wearing two of our most patriotic pieces: the Sailor Knot Knit Dress and Stripe Sleeveless Ponte Dress.
Lauren wears the Sailor Knot Knit Dress, and Carly styled the Stripe Sleeveless Ponte Dress.
Tell us about your Fourth of July party.
Lauren: There’s nothing I love more than a patriotic red, white, blue tablescape for the Fourth! When brainstorming ideas, we knew we wanted to stick to the theme, given the collection is perfect with the blue and white floral design.
Then, we incorporated the color red through fresh fruit like cherries and strawberries! How cute are the little watermelon stars?!
Pictured here: Stripe Sleeveless Ponte Dress and Crate And Barrel X Draper James Magnolia Bowl
Carly: We loved the idea of creating a red, white, and blue breakfast spread to kick off the holiday. Before a day of BBQ and beach time, invite friends over for a morning of mimosas and a festive breakfast. It’s such a fun and relaxing way to start the Fourth!
Shop the entire Crate and Barrel X Draper James collection.
What’s your favorite part of celebrating on the Fourth of July?
Lauren: Friends, family, the beach, and delicious barbecues!!
Carly: Being back home on the water with my favorite people and great food!
Pictured here: Stripe Sleeveless Ponte Dress and Crate And Barrel X Draper James Magnolia Tray
How did you choose to style the Draper James pieces?
We kept our table casual by stacking the plates and making the utensils easy for friends to grab.
Whenever we entertain, we like a no-fuss setup! It’s the best when friends can easily serve themselves and have everything in one place.
Shop the entire Crate and Barrel X Draper James collection.
In your opinion, what’s the most important thing to remember when creating a tablescape?
Lauren: The most important thing to remember when creating a tablescape is to always incorporate fresh flowers. Whether you prefer creating a large centerpiece or a display of smaller bud vases, incorporating fresh flowers instantly elevates any tablescape.
Another little trick I’ve learned is to use fresh flowers with little to no scent, so it doesn’t throw off the aroma of the food. Hydrangeas are the perfect flower for this!
Carly: I love putting a special touch on simple things to make planning a breeze! An example of this was our red, white, and blue fruit salad.
By using a mini star cookie cutter to our watermelon, it added a fun festive touch that took no extra time at all!
Shop the entire Crate and Barrel X Draper James collection.
Describe the tablescape in 3 words.
Colorful, relaxed, and no-fuss!
Lauren wears the Sailor Knot Knit Dress, and Carly styled the Stripe Sleeveless Ponte Dress.
Photography by Carter Fish
