As the warmer weather rolls in, we look forward to spending time with friends and family enjoying the lush summer days and warm nights. If you’re a home cook, foodie, or excited hostess with the mostest, then you know that warmer weather is peak time for dinner parties and gatherings during these long summer nights.
But how can you plan a dinner party that is relaxing, fun, and responsible? Take a look at these five tips to make your next summer shindig a sustainable success.
Send digital invitations
If you love crafting up special invitations for your event, then digital invitations are a great alternative to traditional paper. Rather than settling for a group text that can seem careless or impersonal, let your creativity fly with an online e-vite option.
There are tons of companies to choose from, and both free and paid options are available. These digital invitations allow you to customise each design thoroughly, add details to your party, and even track RSVPs and messages all online.
Skip the wasteful piles of cardstock and paper that will only end up in the trash and create a design that’s refreshing and new and can be sent straight to your guests in seconds.
Keep venues green and simple
One of the perks of summer parties is that you’re not stuck inside for every activity or event. If you’re looking for a greener venue, consider hosting your party in an outdoor space.
Whether it’s a local park, a venue’s gazebo, or your own back garden, you’ll save plenty on electricity, energy, and water by keeping the events outside.
Biodegradable tablescapes
The big wow factor of any dinner party aside from the food is the tablescape. These can often use large amounts of candles, flowers, or plastic decorations to set the theme and vibe of your gathering.
To make a tablescape less wasteful and use resourceful materials and place settings, try adding biodegradable options for your spread.
Consider dried flowers, plant confetti, or potted plants from home or your own garden. Add simple foliage and compostable napkins, cups and plates.
If you’re serving a rich meal that requires sturdier tableware, consider thrifting old mismatched plates from a local charity shop and use them as your designated dinner party set.
The contrasts of antique styles, rich botanicals, and colours can really make an elegant space for hosting your meal.
Set a sustainable menu
Eco-friendly food doesn’t have to make a menu complicated or limited. It simply means using the best of what’s local where you are.
Try creating a meal where courses showcase fruits and vegetables that are currently in season. Visit your local farmers market and pick up some local ingredients native to the area. Get creative with your menu and don’t be afraid to keep things simple.
There are plenty of companies that are supporting sustainable options for food and beverages, like Tennent’s Lager, who takes maintaining Scottish resources seriously while creating a delicious beer for their customers.
Sustainable food and drinks eliminate unnecessary travel costs for food, and save you time and money by using seasonal ingredients unique to where you live. You’ll support local farmers and small businesses too, which is a huge benefit to your local community.
Conclusion
Planning a sustainable summer dinner party can be a ton of fun and a great opportunity to get creative as a host.
By putting more thought into how you can plan, decorate, and provide a meal for your loved ones, you’ll be able to create the perfect event that’s both beautiful and responsible.
If you enjoyed this post, check out our other food blog posts here!
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