• About Coco
    • Meet Coco
    • Press
    • Contact
  • All Posts
  • Interiors
    • Kitchen
    • Bath
    • Bedroom
    • Living Room
    • Outdoor Living
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Best of
    • Travel
    • Design On Sale
    • Coco's Projects
  • Coco's Faves
    • Resources
    • Wishlist
  • Shop - Bring Style Home
  • About Coco
    • Meet Coco
    • Press
    • Contact
  • All Posts
  • Interiors
    • Kitchen
    • Bath
    • Bedroom
    • Living Room
    • Outdoor Living
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Best of
    • Travel
    • Design On Sale
    • Coco's Projects
  • Coco's Faves
    • Resources
    • Wishlist
  • Shop - Bring Style Home
Search
Contact Us
[email protected]
310.275.4189
Newsletter Sign-Up
Please join our mailing list
home
share
Outdoor Living

Dining Al Fresco – 5 Tips for Outdoor Dining

July 26, 2016
  • Share

dining al fresco place settingRestless for an outdoor dinner party these days…something about long summer nights that I’m craving. A glass or rosé or bubbly at a beautifully designed table surrounded by a village of friends whom I love and cherish, maybe more than even they know. To do life with people who know your heart through the highs and lows of life is a special thing I’m realizing. So in honor of my next dinner party, I’m sharing 5 tips for Dining Al Fresco…dining al fresco tablescape

  1. Venue. Venue. Venue. If you are going to host an ‘outdoor’ dinner party, make sure the outdoors look presentable : ) It doesn’t have to be fancy or grandiose, although that would be nice wouldn’t it..it can be at a local park, or on a hill overlooking the city, along the beach, or even in your own tree-lined backyard. Look around you and use the outdoor space right accessible to you.
  2. Be interactive. Set up a champagne station or a charcuterie spread, lawn games and good music. Let it be an environment your family and friends Want to be a part of.
  3. Choose a color palette. This doesn’t mean things have to be matchy-matchy. Those days are Long. Gone. Mix tablecloth patterns and napkin patterns, bring in etched glassware and hobnail serving platters, but make sure it all comes back to that color palette you started with…cohesive  is the key!
  4. The importance of place cards. At larger dinner parties especially, avoid the awkwardness for your guests and have place cards pre-set.
  5. There are never enough flowers. If you follow me at all on Snapchat @cococozyblog or on Instagram @cococozy you know my love for flowers…L O V E. So naturally, any outdoor dinner party needs flowers. Lots and Lots of flowers.

dining al fresco blue white gingham tablecloth

xo
Coco

previous
next

related posts

from the shop

Meet Coco - Bring Style Home

A Los Angeles native, Colette Shelton, also known as “Coco”, is an entrepreneur, design blogger and home furnishings designer.

Read More  

Looking for Something?

View All Posts

Perfect Outdoor Wicker

Use code COCOCOZY15 at check out for 15% off of outdoor furniture!

Shop Spring/Summer Outdoor
Join our mailing list
Sign Up Now

Recently Pinned

Gift a bouquet - Just do it :)

Shop my latest design!  
Use code: GIFTCARD for up to $500 giftcard at Veronica Beard through 4/20/21
write a comment
  • Share

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instagram

Keep it simple. No need for bells and whistles an Keep it simple.  No need for bells and whistles and fancy things to make your house a home.  In this picture, a plant, two chairs I found at the flea market, a layered rug situation and some modern art...de-cluttered space can be equally as inviting as one filled with memories and treasures.  If you are stuck with how to decorate, I say keep it simple.  Purge and start with the basics.  Full disclosure, this is a shot of my living room from a few years ago when I first moved in...I didn’t even have drapes up when this was taken.  I have since added pieces and changed out furniture and added a 2nd sofa...but it started super simple and it was lovely back then.  When the world is swirling around us and making no sense, how are you keeping things simple at home?  #socococozy #bringstylehome #cococozy
Pre-pandemic throw back photo to where I was last Pre-pandemic throw back photo to where I was last year.  Clueless as to what was to come.  Was in Paris, with my mom, enjoying her summer apartment in the middle of the 6th arrondissement.  I had just left the U.K. visiting friends for a few days in London and the Cotswolds.  None of us knew that this summer 2020 would be so different.  Today, I can only hope this time of tumult and great divides leads somehow to a future of calm and harmony.  Going backwards in time is not an option.  Pushing forward is.  Happy Sunday to you.  Where were you last summer?  Where do you imagine you’ll be next? Xoxo #socococozy #bringstylehome
Incredible living room before and after as designe Incredible living room before and after as designed by my good friend Steve Jones @bettershelter!  I went on a tour today.  I also went on a tour a year ago when he first got the house.  See my stories. Swipe to see what this room looked like before.  Life lesson from a room transformation:  When faced with the daunting and not so pretty, look to do the work, and you can make changes to bring  out what is good.  Right?  This home by the way is going on the market soon and is in one of my favorite parts of town, View Park.  What changes have you made lately that have turned bad into good? #socococozy #bringstylehome #remodeling #homerenovation #californiadreaming
“Be patient with yourself it has been a funky fe “Be patient with yourself it has been a funky few months in the world.” My friend Manon texted this advice to me today.  She is right.  A little patience and a lot of kindness to yourself and to others during these unusual times will go a long way.
***
Am in my living room right now looking at these pretty flowers in that white urn I found lying around.  The urn works (see Flower Power highlights for backstory). Thinking on who I might send one of these bouquets to today as a little act of kindness.  Still working on the patience piece of her advice! 🤪 Who might you send flowers to?  How can you be more patient with yourself? Happy Saturday!
*
*
*
“The Classic bouquet by COCOCOZY” is a limited edition design available at @ftdflowers and @proflowers. 🌸 (tap link in profile to see more) #socococozy #cococozy
Hi! Finally something to smile about! 😂 Exciti Hi!  Finally something to smile about! 😂 Exciting flower news today as I debut the first ever COCOCOZY designed bouquet in my latest partnership! Tada.  Here is The Classic by COCOCOZY exclusively on @ftdflowers + @proflowers as part of their #herestoher initiative!  Swipe left to see it up close.  I wanted to design a super lush classically beautiful bouquet that would look good in any home during the fall/winter.  Roses, eucalyptus and so much more in soft whites and greens.  I am so happy with the final product.  What’s great is that this hand tied bouquet comes in a box straight to your door and you can put it in any vase.  If you swipe left you can see it in my breakfast room.  Perfect for sending as a birthday gift, celebration, expression of love or friendship, a business gift, a thank you to someone or I recommend ordering for yourself every couple of weeks to cheer up your space as we stay at home more!  I plan on getting them weekly!  Anyhoooo...I’m linking to the bouquet in my profile.  Have you ever ordered flowers for yourself just because?  Who might you send these to?  #socococozy #bringstylehome #cococozy
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Interiors

  • Kitchen
  • Bath
  • Bedroom
  • Living Room
  • House Tours
  • Outdoor

Style

  • Fashion
  • Best of
  • Travel
  • Design on Sale
  • Coco's Projects

About

  • About Coco
  • Press
  • Contact
  • View All Posts

Join our mailing list

Sign Up Now
© 2021 Cococozy | Terms & Conditions