Americana Dinner Party

morgancremer
Jun 17, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Although I live in Texas, where summers are ungodly hot, it’s still my favorite season. I love being outside—especially near water, whether it’s a pool, lake, or beach. I’ve also got an obsession with East Coast beach towns and Nancy Meyers. I was lucky enough to have my bachelorette party in the Hamptons and visited Nantucket for my 30th birthday. So today’s post is all about hosting an Americana-inspired summer party—whether it's Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, or just an excuse to gather your favorite people for a summer dinner.

Invitations

When I think of East Coast summers, I picture American flags, blue hydrangeas, rosé, and seafood. We always start with the invitation, and this illustrated icon style is one of my favorites—it’s fun, on trend, and fits the theme perfectly. Ours features baby blue illustrations with pops of red, inspired by all the signature details of an East Coast summer.

Table Settings & Decor

One of my favorite parts of planning is always the tablescape. As a base, I’d start with this tablecloth. Then, I’d layer in vases of blue and/or white hydrangeas (a good rule of thumb is one arrangement of ~5 stems per 4 guests).

For a more elevated vibe, stick with simple white dishes and add vintage-inspired wine glasses. I’m obsessed with Indian block print fabrics and love the floral touch of these cloth napkins and these scalloped chargers for texture.

For a more casual setup, try adorable disposable plates and scalloped napkins.

Then sprinkle in some charming touches—gold table lamps, tapered candles in simple holders, scalloped trays for utensils or serving, and if you’re actually serving lobster, these lobster crackers are a must. If not, this bottle opener works just as well and both can double as a party favor. We also created a custom favor tag to complete the look.

The Menu

Of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic BBQ—burgers, hot dogs, all the summer staples. But for our printable menu, we leaned into a more elevated East Coast flair. Either way, the template is easy to customize for whatever menu you land on. If you opt for a buffet, we also offer place cards that can double as either food labels or seating assignments.

A wine chiller or beverage cooler is a must—no one likes warm rosé. When it comes to cocktails, I love taking a simple drink and elevating it with fruit juice, herbs, and a garnish—which you’ll see on our bar menu. And if your group leans more beer-and-seltzer, we’ve got a Koozie to match too.

Games & Activities

My friends and I love game nights, and this is the perfect chance to bring that outside. Set up a classic like cornhole or croquet, or surprise your guests with something new like Mölkky (Finnish Skittles) or Kubb (“Viking Chess”)—both are easy to learn and super fun.

Final Touches

Don’t forget the music! We’re a Sonos family, and this Eras speaker is compact but still makes an impact.

All custom designs featured here can be purchased on Etsy, and we’ve pulled together an Amazon list for a few extra loose ends like serving dishes and bug spray.