One of my absolute favorite things about summer is how long the evenings last. That golden hour light right as the sun begins to set, the air finally cools off, and friends gather for dinner in the backyard… what could be better?

Inspired by that glowy light and golden tones, we dreamed up a perfect palette of layered yellows in a casual backyard setting, with a menu to match…

a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley

My friend, neighbor and amazing florist, Carey of Bleedfoot Florals, created the centerpieces for the table with smoke bush, sweet peas, garden roses and campanula.

a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley

I created the charcuterie that kept in the theme of the evening with golden raspberries, apricots, honeycomb, and more goodies all in that golden tone.

a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley

The whole point of a party like this is not to have to try to hard. Between the two of us, we already had some yellow dishes that we layered with creamy linens and gold flatware. There’s no shame in foraging for items like this in the aisles of Goodwill! Of course, the setting certainly helps here, too.

We were lucky enough to borrow this gorgeous backyard for the evening from a friend of mine. The whole mood is so very European in the best way with the pea gravel and sun-bleached wood table. The chairs are such a fun modern touch, from Blu Dot!

a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley

Rather than fuss with cocktails, we decided that this French cidre would do the trick. It’s insanely delicious, and we acquired a few bottles from our friends at Left Bank. If you have a specialty wine store or grocery with a decent selection, you should be able to find something similar! It worked so well with the charcuterie!

a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley

And for dessert! I baked up these Nectarine Frangipane tarts that were incredibly easy – recipe coming tomorrow! They were light and delicious with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream. The perfect ending to the evening.

a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley a summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelleya summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelleya summer golden hour dinner party | coco kelley

 

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