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Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we tend to keep things a bit more casual when it comes to hosting parties over the winter months. An easy yet elegant dinner party is kind of the way to go! (Or a rowdy game day party with lots of snacks. I’m flexible!) Today I’m walking you through my tips for setting the table for just such a dinner party. Think sweet and simple with a casual vibe that will make your friends feel right at home!

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

You can check out the video above to see all of my tips in action, walking through exactly how I set the table for this kind of entertaining. It’s meant to be really really easy to recreate, using basic white dinnerware, simple grocery store flowers tucked into a pretty vase and a remnant of ticking stripe fabric over the center of the table to anchor everything. In lieu of a fancy centerpiece? A mini cheeseboard with popcorn and dried fruit that doubles as an appetizer!

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Super simple white candles add a touch of elegance, along with with super budget-friendly flour sack towels tied with a little name card for each setting. At the same time, basic pint glasses trump fussy glassware in the name of keeping things casual and approachable. Here I used galvanized metal chargers that I picked up on clearance at a craft store, but you can easily skip those if you don’t have any handy. While I’m not a regular user of disposable tablewares, I love this disposable flatware from Sugar & Cloth! It allows you to switch up the look of your table without forking over a mortgage payment.

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

For more tips, check out the video above and subscribe to The Sweetest Occasion’s YouTube channel where I hope to be sharing many more videos this year! Oh, and do you have any specific video requests? Let me know in the comments below!

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

Setting the Table for a Casual Dinner Party | Dinner party ideas, party recipes, cocktail recipes and dinner party ideas from entertaining blog @cydconverse

[Photos by Cyd Converse for The Sweetest Occasion.]

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Nikki

Thursday 24th of January 2019

Love this!

Soulseeker Fotograf Nunta

Sunday 20th of January 2019

Absolutely fantastic tips. Thank you!

Elle

Thursday 17th of January 2019

A casual dinner part with wonderful textures and undertones. What a lovely table setting!

Cyd Converse

Thursday 24th of January 2019

Thank you! xoxo

Therapeutic Aesthetics

Thursday 17th of January 2019

Simply and elegant table setting setup. Thank you for the inspiration!

Kim

Wednesday 16th of January 2019

This is so helpful to someone like me (cannot visualize - need a guide!). Also wondering where your curtains might be from? They're so cute in this room!

Cyd Converse

Thursday 17th of January 2019

So glad you enjoyed it, Kim! I am trying to increase the number of videos I produce this year so I hope that proves helpful. And the curtains are from Target! https://www.target.com/p/pom-stripe-window-sheer-black--54-x108-----threshold--153-/-/A-51612557 Mine are the black in the 108" length since our ceilings are so tall. They're a semi-sheer for sure, but the texture and quality is great and I love them in this room!

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