The Perfect Citrus Themed Party to Host this Summer

If you’ve been dreaming of hosting your own citrus inspired summer party, consider this your sign.

A Spritz of Summer is the very first gathering in my new hosting series #OverAtMyPlace, and looking back, I can’t think of a better way to kick it off. It’s the kind of theme that feels like you’re bottling up everything you love about summer and then bringing it to life right in your own home. Think citrus overflowing across the table, spritzes in hand, fresh flowers, hues of pink, orange, and yellow, and an afternoon spent lingering around the table with your girlfriends. To me, it is the definition of whimsy.

I linked everything I used, from the tablescape to the décor and entertaining essentials, in this post, so you can recreate the look yourself. Everything below in pink text is a shoppable link!

Every party I host starts with a mood board and a color palette (Pinterest has truly become my best friend). Before I order a single plate or order any flowers, I spend way too much time collecting colors, textures, and little details that capture the overall aesthetic I’m trying to create. I wanted everything to feel very colorful and playful, but still feel elevated and timeless.

In my opinion, flowers are one of the most important parts of any tablescape because they instantly set the tone and they’re usually one of the first things people notice. I ordered my flowers in bulk from The Bouqs Co. and paired their 50 Farmer’s Choice Ranunculus with their Charming DIY Flower Box, which included a beautiful mix of peach and white roses, pink and white carnations, soft pink alstroemeria, purple pom poms, snapdragons, and lush greenery. This combo was the perfect mix of statement florals and delicate filler flowers which created an effortlessly summery and whimsical vibe that tied in perfectly with the citrus-inspired color palette.

Once all those details were squared away, I designed custom invitations to send to my friends that gave everyone a little preview of the afternoon. They introduced the citrus themed party aesthetic, the color palette, the mood board, and invited everyone to wear pink, yellow, or orange so they could coordinate. I always love sharing these details ahead of time because I want guests to feel like they’re stepping into the theme before they even walk through the door. Plus, there’s something so fun about looking around the table and seeing everyone unintentionally become part of the décor.

The tablescape is by far always my favorite part because it’s where the theme and all the little details come to life. I started with crisp white ruffle linens and layered in fun citrus tones through the napkins, glassware, candles, and florals. Fresh lemons, oranges, and grapefruit became part of the centerpiece, adding color, texture, and even the freshest citrus scent throughout the afternoon.

One of my favorite hosting tricks is decorating with ingredients that actually belong at the party. Fresh fruit instantly makes a table feel abundant, effortless, and alive. It’s one of the easiest ways to create a centerpiece that feels beautiful, smells amazing, and can even be enjoyed later.

I linked everything I used, from the table linens and serving pieces to the décor and entertaining essentials, over on my LTK so you can recreate the entire look for your own summer gathering.

I also love creating custom place cards that tie back to the theme. They’re one of those little details that don’t take a ton of effort but make the whole table feel so much more personal. For this party, I designed the place cards in Canva, printed them, mounted them onto textured cardstock, and finished each one with a slice of dehydrated citrus. They ended up being one of my favorite details on the table, and my guests loved them.

I shared a step-by-step video showing exactly how I made them here, and I’ve linked everything I used here if you’d like to recreate them for your own party.

One thing I’ve learned about hosting is that you don’t have to make everything from scratch for it to feel special.

Since this was my very first #OverAtMyPlace gathering, I wanted to spend more time with my guests than I did in the kitchen, so I catered lunch from one of my favorite local restaurants, No Mames. It ended up being one of the best hosting decisions I made. Everything arrived fresh, beautifully prepared, and all I had to do was transfer it to serving platters before everyone arrived.

The menu included chips with salsa and guacamole, steak tacos, and a delicious salad. It was colorful, easy to eat, and perfect for grazing throughout the afternoon. If you’re local to Connecticut I HIGHLY recommend.

Of course, no Spritz of Summer would be complete without spritzes. I kept the drinks just as easy by serving a variety of Talkouse canned spritz cocktails dressed up with coordinating citrus garnishes. It looked festive, gave everyone plenty of options, and took almost no prep. (I obviously still had Aperol on hand because what’s a spritz party without an Aperol Spritz?)

The one thing I did make from scratch was a homemade citrus-infused cake, and I’m so glad I did. It was light, fresh, and the perfect sweet ending to the afternoon. You can find the full recipe here if you’d like to recreate it yourself.

A Spritz of Summer will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the party that started it all. Truthfully, I created #OverAtMyPlace because I needed something to focus my mind on. At the time, I was (and still am) walking through a difficult season of life and I just needed something that I could look forward to. I poured every bit of creative energy I had into dreaming up this theme, designing table, and finding little details that would make it feel special.

I was reminded just how healing it can be to be around people, well… the right people, that is. Sometimes all you need is a fun theme, a table set with love, good food (whether you made it or ordered it), and a few hours with your favorite people.

That’s the heart behind #OverAtMyPlace, and I hope this inspires you to host your own version this summer.

I can’t wait to welcome you back for the next #OverAtMyPlace theme. Be sure to follow me along on social media for the next one!💛🍊