ALFRESCO DINING FAVORITES

Since the weather has been so gorgeous and the pollen has finally cleared out, we’ve been eating as many meals as possible on the deck and it’s been glorious! The kids love it because they get to be outside and I love it because I get to use more of my favorite entertaining pieces! The trick to alfresco dining (for me, at least) is to have a few key pieces that make setup and cleanup super easy, but also super chic – a tray for carrying plates, a caddy for silverware, melamine drinkware and a covered tray. Here are a few pieces I’m loving lately, many of which I have and love, which happen to also work as well for indoor dining as out!

Sandbar tray / Faux bamboo flatware / Bumble bee juice glasses / Blue and white striped dinner napkins / Lanterns / Ginger jar salt and pepper shakers / Rattan flatware caddy / Rattan cloche and tray / White votive candles / Rattan ice bucket / Blue and white gingham cocktail napkins / Melamine wine glasses / Tortoiseshell folding chairs

SANDBAR TRAY – I love a beautiful tray, as much for corralling items as for carrying dinnerware out to the porch for dinner. This one is a beauty!

FAUX BAMBOO FLATWARE – I bought this set way back before I got my real stuff and still use it today for outdoor dinners and get-togethers! A great way to elevate plastic forks and spoons and you can just pop them in the dishwasher after!

BUMBLE BEE JUICE GLASSES – These are glass but I loved them so much and thought they were super cute for the kids!

BLUE AND WHITE DINNER NAPKINS – I always have extra napkins on hand; these are inexpensive and come in so many different colors!

LANTERNS – the best way to add a little ambience to an outdoor dinner table!

GINGER JAR SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS – OBSESSED with these!!!

RATTAN FLATWARE CADDY – the perfect way to carry your faux bamboo flatware outdoors!

RATTAN CLOCHE AND TRAY – a must-have for keeping bugs away from food when you’re eating or entertaining outside! I LOVE my cloche and use it all the time – indoors and out! This one comes in a bleached rattan, as well!

UNSCENTED VOTIVE CANDLES – I love to put a bunch of these down the middle of the table (fresh flowers wilt outside here in the summer). This is a great price for a set of 48!

RATTAN ICE BUCKET – because I can’t ever get enough rattan – and am obsessed with mine!

GINGHAM COCKTAIL NAPKINS – you can never have too much blue and white and gingham is just so summery! These also make a great hostess gift!

MELAMINE WINE GLASSES – These are so pretty in person, at first glance, you wouldn’t believe they’re not glass!

TORTOISESHELL FOLDING CHAIRS – a chic alternative when you need extra seating! Love this set!

What are some of your must-haves for alfresco dining?