Instantly elevate your next dinner party

And for cheap!

Hi there,

Before we dive into kitchen stuff, here’s a link with a roundup of Southern abortion funds. And Abigail is sharing a roundup of reading to do on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in her newsletter today. Find that here. I’m furious and heartbroken.

I’m also distracting myself with some light planning for this week’s micro dinner party, which has been a bit of a balm. So let me extend some dinner party distraction your way as well. And! It’s the last Monday of the month, which means we’re doing product recommendations—we all know how far a little shopping can go to sooth the soul…

So this month, I want to talk a bit about my favorite way to set the mood (cheaply!) at any soiree.

As you know, I subscribe to the “if you say it’s a dinner party, then it is one” school of thought. But in my mind, one thing that clearly sets a dinner party apart from standard weeknight dinner territory is a little bit of intentionality behind the ambiance. Which can honestly be as simple as throwing on some tunes. I’m also a big proponent of turning off all harsh overhead lighting. Lamps only!

For me, getting dinner party ready also often means the table scape is a bit more elaborate than it might be on a regular night. I’ve been getting really into florals and table linens lately, but let’s face it, neither of those things are cheap and both are a little fussy, requiring arranging and/or ironing.

Candles, on the other hand, are easy, extremely cheap, and add so much to the general ~mood~ and ~vibe~ of a dining experience.

Lighting a candle requires just the right amount of work to indicate a bit of intention. Just set them out and light ‘em up and you’ve elevated your table scape in under 2 minutes. So, let’s talk about the candles I always keep stocked and pull out for dinner parties of all sizes:

• My favorite cheap, white tapers that I like to set out in my vintage brass candle holders add a little drama to any table they’re set on.

• My favorite tea lights (or an even cheaper option). I usually set these out in some pretty little Diwali tea light holders I got on a work trip to India, but I’ve also been know to just set them on a little plate and call it a beautifully lit day.

• My favorite cheap, slightly more fun tapers are often in those same vintage candle holders, but I also have this guy for a bit of extra pizazz.

And a general reminder: I always go for an unscented option when a candle’s going to be hanging out on the dining table with the food. Why put all the work into creating gorgeous smells in your kitchen, only to mask them with a scented candle? Plus, the scented guys tend to be quite a bit more expensive than their orderless counterparts.

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Hooookay, I think we’ve covered it on the candle front. But I know a lot of you are looking for a bit more table scape #inspo, so if you’re in the market for that, you check out my dinner party Pinterest board. I hope you’re taking care of yourself and as always, I’m wishing you a lovely, well-fed week ahead.

With love and a tip of my chef’s hat,

Erica

Want more? I’m so flattered! You can also follow me on Instagram, pop over to my YouTube channel, or check out my blog where you can find my tips-laden e-book collection.

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