Summer entertaining provides endless opportunities to be creative-there’s a more laid-back vibe, and guests expect a hint of whimsy in everything from decor to tablesettings. Translation? IT’S TIME TO MAKE SOME CRAFTS! Below, a round up of some of our favourite elegant options for a summer dinner party: creative place settings, tablecloths, garlands, favours, bouquets, and more. 

Where better to begin than with the Grandmaman of crafting? Martha does it like no one else, as evidenced by strings of seashell lights, a rustic stamped tablecloth, or these ethereal tissue paper pom poms that were made to be caressed by a summer breeze. 

This garland from Home Life was published as a Christmas craft, but the blanched colours make it perfect for the summer season. 

This Seashell Garland by Southern Living proves seaside-inspired decor can be rustic and elegant. 

For a tabletop bouquet that is both scentless (won’t interfere with your palette!) and allergy-proof, try these paper flowers from Creative Jewish Mom. 

If you want the real deal, Refinery 29 has a how-to on making the perfect summer bouquet at home. 

To add a whimsical touch to summer entertaining spaces indoors and out, trying this easy embellishment of a cheap rug from Ikea. 

Style Me Pretty has a great DIY for wedding favours that we think would make a perfect take-home gift for a late summer dinner party. 

Country Living has lots of great summer table setting ideas. Our favourites are the lemon place cards, the fern table setting, the bandanna table runner (which we would also love to do with vintage scarves, ditto for the bandanna place setting), and the hay bale seating. Although, we’re not sure where we would get the hay bales. 

We love Thriftown’s idea of using unexpected objects in a table setting, like a straw hat for serving tortilla chips, or antique liquor glasses to serve desserts and dips.

Finally, we love the vintage birdcase centerpiece and crystal glasses tied with ribbons in Lisa Dawn’s round up of table decorations for a wedding or garden party.