How to Plan a Rustic Country Garden Party: Tablescapes & Hosting Tips
As we begin to dream of cooler days, it’s the perfect time to plan a rustic garden party. Hosting a country garden party is one of the most delightful ways to celebrate late summer and early fall with friends and family. To pull off a memorable gathering, you’ll need to consider everything from your location and seating to tablescapes and weather-friendly details.
From seasonal bloom centerpieces to earthy color palettes, here is your step-by-step guide to planning a charming country garden party from start to finish. See how we styled our latest outdoor Supper Club at a neighboring rustic farmhouse and how the setting brought it all together. Let’s get started!
Where Can You Set Up For A Garden Dinner Party
The fun part of planning a garden dinner party is choosing the location.
For this month’s Supper Club, I decided to host the dinner at an old farmhouse near our home. Cornfields surround the farmhouse, which has a beautifully maintained lawn. As a result, we only needed a little touch-up with the weed eater, and we were ready to set up the outdoor party decorations.
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There are so many ideas for locations to host an outdoor garden party, and here are some ideas and suggestions.
- Place a table in your own yard
- Outdoor Kitchen
- Porches or Patios
- Piers
- Next to a pool
- In an actual garden
- In a field or pasture area
Note: If planning to use a neighbor’s property, it’s always best to ask permission first.
Ideas for Outdoor Garden Party Decorations
Since the farmhouse isn’t occupied, it was necessary to transport all the outdoor party decorations to the location. This included tables, chairs, tablecloths, all tableware, and a centerpiece. Not to mention food and beverages.
However, we are only a mile away, and our trusty John Deere Gator made the job much easier.
In addition, we transported some plants and ferns from the greenhouse to give the farmhouse a more lived-in feel.
The old farmstead setting is beautiful as it is; however, a couple of ferns and potted flowers added warmth to the outdoor setting.
Rudy took his position as tablescape model very seriously, as you’ll see. LOL
Planning A Rustic Country Garden Party
The best thing about this garden party was the beautiful landscape. The old trees and multiple rustic structures made for a charming garden party idea.
The rustic front porch and old well are so charming and speak to my rustic, country-loving heart.
Country Tablescape Ideas
The inspiration for the country garden dinner party table setting came from the Crepe Myrtle trees in full bloom right now. The blooms provided a free centerpiece, and I used my pink thrifted dishes and a pink plaid tablecloth to complete the late summer tablescape.
Free Table Centerpiece
Who could resist all these free pink blooms? With just a few snips, my large ironstone vase overflowed, creating a stunning country centerpiece for the table.
In addition, the pink and white checkered tablecloth pairs well with the blooms and gives the table setting a country, romantic feel.
Vintage Place Settings
In addition, the table is set with vintage pink-and-white Cavalier Eggshell Dishes by Homer Laughlin. I found a full set while thrifting in Wilmington last spring and have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to set a table with them.
Woven placemats hold the thrifted vintage dishes, a white hobnail charger plate, and my favorite gold-and-acrylic cutlery.
Additional Thrifted Pieces To Complete Tablescape
To add more warmth to the table, a collection of vintage brass candlesticks with white candles was added. I will light the candles just before the guests are seated to begin the meal.
As the sun dropped behind the farmhouse, the other rustic structures provided great backdrops for the photo shoot.
Garden Party Centerpiece
Although the centerpiece is very simple, the crepe myrtles needed a little lift so guests can see each other. Therefore, a rustic wooden slice was added, which also serves as the perfect perch for the heirloom brass birds. They are actually salt and pepper shakers and are such a cute table accessory for an outdoor party.
Finally, rounding out the tablescape is a set of thrifted wine glasses and white vintage napkins.
I try to use as many existing and thrifted items on my tables as possible; however, I did purchase the tablecloth on Amazon Prime Day. Also, the charcuterie boards and the fun bread board are new. See more about both boards below.
Casual Garden Party Ideas
Given the casual nature of the Garden Party, I decided to add individual mini charcuterie boards and fill them with tasty appetizers for each guest. You can see how to make these cute charcuterie boards and learn more about charcuterie’s history in a post from earlier this week.
In addition, the outdoor garden party location allows for multiple tables and for guests to mill around and enjoy the country views.
Small Individual Charcuterie Boards
Therefore, the small charcuterie boards allow guests to enjoy their cocktails and appetizers while chatting with members of the supper club party.
Another table accessory is this lovely engraved bread board, which was a gift from the talented Katrina at PNW Farmhouse Design Co. I asked her to engrave the board with “Life Is Good” so I could use it for this month’s outdoor party. I love how it looks on the country table.
The talented Katrina can customize many of the wooden items she personally designs and creates in her shop.
As the sun begins to set, the candles are lit, and we let the sounds of nature entertain us at the Country Garden Dinner Party.
Click To See Video Tutorial Here
Supper Club
This month, we are all sharing a Garden Party-themed Table Setting.
If you are joining us for the first time, we are a group of friends who love to entertain. When in-person entertaining wasn’t recommended last year, we started a virtual supper club in January 2021.
Each month, we choose a theme for our dinner tables and post it on the 4th Thursday.
Next, we each share a recipe to complete the meal on the 4th Saturday. Be sure to check out the full menu and recipes here!
Be sure to click on each of the hostesses below for more Garden Party Inspiration.
Stacy – 6 Charming Outdoor Garden Party Ideas / Michele – Create A Fall Garden Party Tablescape
Jen – Rustic & Cozy Fall Garden Party Tablescape / Shannon – Simple Fall Garden Table Ideas
AnnMarie – 7 Ideas for Creating an Autumn Harvest Table / The Ponds Farmhouse
Thanks so much for joining us this month.
Pin It To Remember It
Love the table Rachel and those little charcuterie boards are such a great idea👏🏻👏🏻
Ann,
I’m so glad you liked this months table. Thanks for stopping by.
Your table looks so pretty with the rustic farmhouse in the background!!
Jennifer,
I’m so glad you liked this one. It was a lot of work but so worth it.
Oh my goodness! This is such a gorgeous tablescape. The setting is unbelievable. So pretty.
Hugs and blessings to you.
Renae,
You are so kind. I love that old farmhouse and knew it would be gorgeous.
Rachel I love the table! From the centerpiece to the pretty dinnerware it’s PERFECT!!!
Stacy,
I’m so glad you liked this.
Rachel, your tablescape and setting are so beautiful! And those crepe Murrow blooms are fabulous!
Great job!
Michele,
I really appreciate your encouragement and it was such a great theme. Thanks for thinking of it.
Just beautiful! The setting is cozy and elegant!
Suzanne
Suzanne,
I’m so glad you liked this idea. Thanks for stopping by.
Your table is so pretty, Rachel. I love the pops of pink! And those flowers in the pitcher totally steal the show. So gorgeous!
Jen,
Thanks so much for your kind words.
Rachel your garden party table in the country is my favorite! The setting is simply perfect and I just love how the pretty pink pops against the rustic old farmhouse stone & wood. From the crepe myrtles to the little charcuterie boards it’s all beautiful! And Rudy was the perfect guest!
AnnMarie,
He took his job so seriously. He stood there during the whole process. LOL
Oh my gosh, this has to be my favorite spot to host a party that you’ve shown! I cannot get over the natural beauty. Your table looks spectacular! Especially with the pink. I really wish I lived close to you so I could just walk the ponds farmhouse! Seriously stunning.
Cindy,
I appreciate you so much. Thanks for stopping by.
Such a pretty country setting! Love the pretty pink vintage dishes and the check tablecloth. Oh how I wish we had crepe myrtle; it’s so pretty. Every detail is lovely, Rachel.
Lora,
I’m so glad you liked this table setting.
A beautiful table and setting. The flowers are beautiful!
Pinned
You are so sweet. Thanks.
I love this beautiful fall table
I’m so glad.
Completely obsessed in the best possible way over this gorgeous tablescape, Rachel! You know I am crazy about those pink dishes, the beautiful blooms and the check tablecloth just puts it all over the top. It’s all totally fantastic! Hugs, CoCo PS: Super excited to share this on the From the Front Porch post today
Oh Thanks so much CoCo1. I’m so glad you liked this post because I had so much fun putting it together.
so gorgeous. I love a rustic setting and the pink is such a fresh surprise for late summer/early fall. Those fuchsia blooms and pink vintage dishes are so lovely. what a property!
Debra,
I really appreciate your kind compliments. Thanks for stopping by.
Popping back in to say I’m featuring this fantabulousness on Farmhouse Friday. I always appreciate you linking up and always love seeing your beautiful posts. pinned again!
Cindy,
I appreciate you so much
Thank you for sharing.
I have to agree with the others on how beautiful it looks and just love the salt and pepper birds.
Teresa,
Thank you. They are one of my most treasured pieces.