Tips For Outdoor Entertaining All Year Round

For most hosts, setting the perfect table for a gathering of friends and family is a joy; though doing so outdoors can make even the most seasoned hosts worry just a bit. Enter tastemaker and textile designer, Michael Devine, with his new book, An Invitation To The Garden: Seasonal Entertaining Outdoors, where he uses his upstate New York garden as the setting for elegant luncheons, lantern-lit cocktail parties and chic dinners all-year round. Sharing beautiful tablescapes and delicious menus from several of his get-togethers throughout the year, Devine offers guidance and inspiration for hosting outdoor events in every season.

Here, we look at some of Devine's most inspired tips for al fresco dining and hosting:

Create a space in your garden that can be transformed: "Whenever I can, I throw parties inside the cozy bagatelle, an old garden shed that has been transformed into a whimsical dining space. Using my printed fabrics, creative centerpieces, the dinnerware I've collected, and other accents to set the Mise-en-scène, I can tailor my outdoor entertaining to any occasion."

Keep it Simple: "When I entertain I lean on the classics," says Devine "Menus should not be too complicated; they should be delicious and presented with flair."

Have things done early. Earlier than you think: "Setting the table is always easier if it is pre-planned to the last detail the day before or the morning of a party." advises Devine.

Don't be afraid to call in help: "Renting chairs, tables, and dinnerware is a great option if you don't have what you need on hand. It's much more reasonable than buying numerous items and having to find storage for things you may only use once, if ever, again."

Be aware of how your space looks and feels at night: "When planning the garden I always make sure that there are enough white or light-colored flowers interspersed through the space," explains Devine. "They stand out better in the dark with only moonlight and the glow of the lanterns."

Reflect the time of year in your table setting: In the spring, freshly bloomed lilacs inspire a brunch filled with purple hues. In the fall, "Colorful kale makes a great centerpiece," says Devine. For a September lunch he created "a harvest dinner mood for the table by echoing the vegetables that were in the garden in either ceramic or topiary form."