For this party, we started outside in the garden, in a beautiful but completely casual setting. As the sun went down and we finished our cocktail hour, we moved into the dining room for an elegant sit-down dinner.

The table setting reflected the fact that the meal was more formal, with everything plated in the kitchen and a very sophisticated seasonal menu. It gave me an opportunity to use some of my mother’s antique Meissen onion pattern pieces, as well as new Meissen I have purchased in Rome. Since the solstice is a celebration of summer and warmth and fun and playfulness, I decided the table needed to be adorned with whimsical dancing white porcelain cherubs.

And of course, when the table was set the beautiful blue Lalique butterfly flew in to join us.

Toile tablecloth – Williams Sonoma

Summer Solstice Party: Assigning guest seating.

Porcelain cherubs (Hutschenreuther)

Antique Meissen (blue onion pattern)

Meissen.

Here’s what’s on my table:

• Toile tablecloth (Williams Sonoma)
• Napkins (Sferra Acanthus pattern)
• Centerpiece (antique Meissen blue onion pattern)
• Dinner plates (Meissen — new. Fornari & Fornari, Via Frattina, Rome)
• Small vases (Meissen — new. Fornari & Fornari, Via Frattina)
• Butter plates (Aynsley Pembroke)
• Porcelain cherubs (Hutschenreuther)
• Porcelain cherub candlesticks (Hutschenreuther)
• Glass candlesticks (local hardware store)
• Navy blue candles (Colonial Candle Company)
• Blue butterfly (Lalique)
• Crystal salt cellars (flea market)
• Tiny salt spoons (Melrose by Gorham)
• Water glasses (R.W. Smith & Co., restaurant supply website)
• Flowers (Trader Joe’s)
• Multiple serving pieces (antique Meissen blue onion pattern)
• Place cards (Caspari)

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