ENTERTAINING

rosé&croquet

OUR LAST SUMMER SOIREE

STORY & DESIGN BY GINNI JONES | PHOTOS BY ANNABELLA CHARLES

with school back in session, summer is sadly coming to an end! To see the season out on a high note, I always host my dearest friends for the annual Rosé & Croquet event. This year, I wanted to create a more intimate feel since we were truly celebrating the final days of summer. With a sitdown dinner and some evening croquet, cornhole and bocce ball under the market lights, it was the perfect way to close out an amazing summer!

the theme

This year I hosted the party at my new home. I am very lucky to have inherited a massive limelight hydrangea bush in the back that has been overflowing with the most beautiful blooms for the past few months. I love the blooms so much and I knew they had to be the backdrop for the dinner. Focusing on the limelights, I wanted to incorporate shades of green and natural elements into the table. Lots of texture, color and fun patterns all played together to create the perfect palette. And, of course, I used Estelle Colored Glasses for bright pops of color!

When I went the natural route for the table, I knew I had to call on my wonderful friends at Blue Pheasant to help complete the look. Their Amelia Natural Placemats were perfect. The scalloped edges provide a feminine flair while still having the natural elements I wanted. Paired with their Marcus Dinnerware collection, the table was almost set! The Marcus plates and platters have a pretty salt glaze and an interesting light blue/gray tone—they were the perfect addition. Set with the plates were dusty teal Betty Eyelet Napkins wrapped with a fun antique brass Titan Napkin Ring. The delicate eyelet detail on the napkins coordinated wonderfully with the heaviness of the napkin rings, which were a unique seahorse tail pattern. Roland Polished Gold Flatware, a classic yet updated pattern, provided just the right finishing touch.

Nothing adds as much flair to a table as a fun table linen. White Door Events has the perfect linens for any occasion. I chose Aruba patterned green linens to go with natural wishbone dining chairs. The mix of the green floral pattern with the woven and natural wood chairs blended perfectly to continue the ladylike-yet-natural vibe I hoped to create. Last but certainly not least from White Door, my favorite addition to any table: the Dina touch lamps. White Door has these great little lamps in a plethora of colors and sizes. I wanted them to stand out so I went with the classic white and sprinkled them down the table. They are such a great addition, supplying battery-powered light with a cool, sleek look.

And the final touch on the table? Estelle Colored Glasses in yellow, teal and forest green. Everyone knows how special Estelle glasses are. Stephanie Summerson Hall, the owner of the company, always describes them as the “gems of the table,” and how can you not agree? They brought the perfect pops of color to the green and natural tablescape.

No table is complete without flowers; a beautiful arrangement always makes the biggest impression. This year, I reached out to my friend Anna Katherine Colomb at TCB & Co. Florals and Design, a new shop in the High Point Terrace neighborhood. Her energy made me so excited for the party. She turned my vision into reality more perfectly than I could ever have imagined! Muted blush roses with yellow and bright green geranium leaves, chamomile flowers, stunning lisianthus, strawflowers and more covered the table. In small blush bud vases, she mixed pale blush garden roses and ranunculus with those stunning green geranium leaves. These vases were a perfect addition to the bar shelves and on platters, making every detail even more special!

the decor

When it comes to party rentals, there is no other source like White Door Events. Their unique and highly curated inventory can make any event truly one of a kind. Every party has tables and chairs, maybe even a simple bar, but this year I wanted to step it up a notch. I went for White Door’s brandnew Farrah bar. Covered in natural grasscloth with white paneling, Farrah was the perfect addition to the party—natural and feminine. Behind the bar, boxwood hedge walls held clear acrylic shelves, the perfect place to display all the French Blue wine, Navy Hill sodas and stunning Estelle Colored Glasses. On the other side of the party, a lounge section! I paired the Lawson Daybed in ivory with the green Fiona velvet chair. Behind the daybed, the Jinero Console held nickel ice buckets, also from White Door. Meanwhile, Jasper ottomans in kiwi cheetah provided light green fun in front of the daybed. I chose White Ruffle Trays from White Door’s extensive selection of partyware to hold the lobster rolls and tomato tart.

The bar was extra fun to prepare! As always, French Blue was our wine of choice, this year with delicious rosé and the newer sauvignon blanc. For the specialty cocktail I reached out to my friends at Navy Hill, a femalefounded, small-batch cocktail mixer brand. All bottled and packaged in the United States, Navy Hill’s large range of mixers includes everything from classic club soda and tonic to fun flavors like blood orange and juniper. For the party, we picked Classic Club Soda and Grapefruit Club Soda to make the “Sparkling Greyhound.” For a fun take on the classic greyhound cocktail, we mixed Navy Hill Grapefruit Club Soda with Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, and garnished it with grapefruit and lime wedges and a sprig of rosemary. What would a summer soiree be without a spritz? Our "French Blue Spritz” featured French Blue Rose, Navy Hill Classic Club Soda and berries of choice, served over ice. All cocktails were listed on a handmade bar menu sketched by the ever-sotalented Caroline Hughes.

the menu

Every year, the menu is inspired by the place where rosé and croquet are the most celebrated—Martha’s Vineyard. Lobster rolls on toasted brioche buns, blackened shrimp avocado cucumber bites, blueberry feta corn salad, heirloom tomato tart and mini fruit tarts were just a few of the items that graced the table.

the paper

As the soiree planning began, I stopped in RSVP Stationers to have them mock up my dream invitation. Working with Curry Blanton was so fun! In no time we came up with the cutest invitation using colors and logos from years past, but putting a new spin on it. Even the back of the invitation was so cute—a small detail can have a big impact. Custom cups and koozies completed the theme for the last shindig of summer.