When I saw the latest collection of Lilly Pulitzer tabletop items, I immediately thought about 22-year-old Grace. She planned a whole Lilly-inspired luncheon to kick off her wedding weekend and celebrate with bridesmaids. She would’ve freaked out and bought alllllll the napkins, tablecloths, and definitely the reversible charger placemats. However, that ship has sailed. So instead, I had to get creative in bringing these Lilly details to life!
Before walking too far down memory lane, I want to mention (before I forget!) that you can use my code LPM-GRACE2 to take 25% off one Lilly Pulitzer item!
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Lilly Pulitzer’s Latest Tabletop Collection
Lilly recently sent me a selection of their new tabletop goodies, and the pieces were just begging to be used in a tablescape! Even though I’m not hosting a luncheon anytime soon, I couldn’t resist putting something pretty together. And it just seemed fit that I would draw inspiration from that special day nearly 15 years ago!
A Colorful Summer Tablescape
If there’s one thing you can always count on when it comes to Lilly, it’s a pretty punch of colors. Their latest table collection combines beautiful shades of pink, green, and yellow, making it such a classic for summer. I had a blast putting together a bright and cheery tablescape using these pieces, and I’m sharing all of the details below. It would be the perfect table for hosting friends this summer, a baby or bridal shower, or even the wedding welcome party 22-year-old Grace dreamt about!
1. Delicious Drinks
First up, drinks (because no party is complete without these!) Seashells, citrus, and champagne – oh my! Both then and now I leaned into to the juice stand origins of the iconic fashion label by incorporating touches of fresh citrus. You could make delicious mimosas in this beautiful raffia wrapped pitcher and serve them in these pretty textured glass tumblers. Want to give the drink an extra tropical twist? Just add pineapple juice to your champagne!
2. Guest Books
If you’re creating this summer tablescape for an engagement party, consider giving the bride a nice leather bound guest book (like this one) as an engagement gift. This way, they can use it at future wedding celebrations, showers, and wedding weekend events. Another idea that I love – You could gift a special coffee table book as a guest book alternative. Choose one that is an ode to the destination, the theme, or a topic unique to the couple. This makes for a wonderful keepsake guest book for them to display in their home!
3. Placecards or Escort Cards
For this summer table, as well as for my bridesmaids’ luncheon, I used a stencil to create escort cards in the shape of a classic Lilly shift dress. I nestled these into fresh lemons for a fun twist! For my original luncheon, I’d meant to attempt to nicely calligraphy the guests names (with the back up plan of printing them if it looked awful). However, when I went to set up the table, I realized they were still blank and I had completely forgotten to write names on them! So, I ended up having to use a pink highlighter that my mom, thankfully, had in her car!
reversible placemat charger, printed napkins, printed tablecloth, rattan cane napkin rings, melamine bamboo plates, pink glasses
4. Potted Orchids Centerpieces
I love using small potted plants as centerpieces, not just orchids! All things considered, not only do they look great, but this is usually a fairly economical option. Plus, I like the sustainability factor – they don’t just wilt and get tossed out like a traditional arrangement. Afterward, you can give them to special people in attendance or keep them for yourself! My friend Sarah Tucker ties hers to her trees. How fun would it be to see your wedding weekend orchids bloom in the years following!? Plus, there are so many fun options for containers to add interest and texture.
5. Personal Touches
I have always been the kind of person to lug a bunch of trinkets, tchotchkes, and decor elements from home when I’m setting up a party. So there’s no doubt that I’d do this all over again if I were planning a Lilly Luncheon 2.0. Things like the giant conch, the linens that I’d surely have to bag up afterward and somehow remember to wash (versus renting ones I don’t like as much), the gold bamboo flatware, the basket weave ice bucket…they’d all be coming with me once again! I derive so much joy from planning and putting together things like this.
However, to ensure that time is well spent and not too frenzied, all the little knick knacks and personal touches might not be feasible. And in that case, simplifying and pairing down is worth it! But, I do think if it’s for something like a wedding weekend where there is an event coordinator or designated people to help you before and after, then this kind of approach is doable. For me, it only added to the fun!
6. Classic Cake
No matter what occasion you might be setting up for, a classic cake is always a winning dessert choice. It’s simple, sweet, and looks great on any tablescape. For my wedding welcome party, I actually incorporated the southern tradition of charm pulls into the cake I had made. This was such a fun little touch! I found some great pulls here.
But custom cakes can be so expensive. For this summer table, I was looking for ways to save without compromising too much on my vision, (as I always like to do). So, I ordered from Caroline’s Cakes, which is a perfect way to serve a beautiful and delicious dessert that doesn’t break the bank! This is my second time having Caroline’s Pink Champagne cake, which is shockingly light and fluffy! The first was to celebrate my friend Mary Hollis Huddleston on her second book release up in Seaside.
7. Party Favors
For my wedding welcome party, I wanted to do luggage tags as party favors. In order to keep with the theme, I found someone to make homemade Lilly-esque tags. The good news is that now Lilly sells the cutest luggage tags, so there’s no need to have these homemade! I think these pink and green luggage tags would be a great favor option. Another thought would be to gift your guests something else on-theme, like a seashell ornament!
8. Pretty Invites
While I had a blast putting together this tablescape for my faux summer gathering, I didn’t go as far as to have custom invitations made. However, if I were dreaming up an invitation for this event, I’d totally enlist someone talented like Shannon Kirsten. Shannon is incredibly skilled, and having her make a custom crest or motif suite inspired by the print on these Lilly linens would be the perfect added touch.
What to Wear to a Summer Gathering
While I love a Lilly Pulitzer dress year-round, there’s something so special about wearing them in the warm months. Even though they’re known for their vibrant and whimsical prints, Lilly is also a great source for white dresses (like mine!) Their white dress selections are great for everything from Easter and family photos to graduations and wedding events. They range from casual (there’s even a skort option) to dressier midi and maxi styles.
While it wasn’t white, I love the shift dress I wore to my bridesmaid luncheon. If I could suddenly fit into it, I’d wear it today in a heartbeat! It was part of their heritage-inspired collection, and such a classic. It was actually one of the first options they offered in a size 16.
Sunny Summer Tablescape
Whether you’re hosting a birthday, a get together with friends, or a bridal shower this summer, the new Lilly tabletop pieces would be perfect for every occasion! Or maybe you’re just here for the walk down memory lane? In which case, thank you for following along! For more summer table inspiration, check out my posts on flower arranging in non-traditional containers and a classic blue and white tablescape.
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