Easy Entertaining : Creating an Italian Dinner Tablescape
Recently, I had the pleasure of helping a client set the stage for an Italian-inspired pizza and wine dinner party. With her stunning patio and impeccable taste, I was already excited, but when she shared her inspiration pics of a dreamy Tuscan evening, I couldn’t wait to get started! I immediately began sifting through photos of Italian dinners, letting the lush greenery, vibrant lemons, and cozy al fresco vibes fuel my imagination.
When it comes to hosting, nothing beats a simple yet elegant family-style spread of pizza, salad, charcuterie, and wine. Whether you’re dialing up your favorite Italian spot for a stress-free night or whipping up your own culinary creations, this dinner setup is sure to please. Our Arugula, Burrata, and Prosciutto Salad with Toasted Crostini would make a great addition for an easy yet impressive side. And for the grown-ups, here are some mouth-watering wine pairings that are tried and true:
Want to Recreate the Look? It’s Easy. Here’s How!
For a stunning live table runner, you’ll need:
Eucalyptus stems (the kind with round, flat leaves)
Chamomile flowers (or other tiny white and yellow flowers)
Craspedia flowers (those cute round yellow ones)
Lemons (fresh is best, but here’s a faux option)
Votive candles (unscented)
Tape measure (optional)
Steps:
Find the center of your table by measuring or eyeballing it, and place two eucalyptus stems there, pointing in opposite directions.
Keep layering eucalyptus stems to the left and right, making sure to leave space if you’ll have place settings at the ends of the table.
Sprinkle in chamomile flowers, slipping the stems between the eucalyptus for a seamless blend.
(Steps Continued)
Repeat with the Craspedia flowers—just a few of these bright pops of yellow will do!
Scatter your lemons throughout. From a distance, you should see an even distribution of yellow from the lemons and Craspedia.
Finally, add votive candles. Nothing sets the mood like a soft candle glow—just make sure they’re unscented so the aroma of your pizzas can take center stage!
For the lemon place card holders you’ll need:
Lemons
Fresh rosemary twigs
Twine
Rectangular labels
Scissors
Glue dots
Black marker
Steps:
1 - Create your labels. You can DIY this by using a program like Canva or Cricut, or you can keep it simple by purchasing premade tags and adding your fanciest handwriting!
2 - Measure your twine by wrapping it around the lemon 2.5 times. Cut, then wrap around the lemon once, knot it, and secure it with a glue dot.
3 - Thread the twine through the rosemary branches and tie to secure. Then, tie your placecard on with a final knot, leaving the ends looose.
Tip: Fresh lemons look best - choose the ones that are the least likey to roll to keep your placecards in place!
For the rest of your tablescape, check out the Amazon links below. Cheers to savoring the moments and people who make life extraordinary—those are the real happy hours!
1 - Blank gift tags to use as place cards 2 - Hyacinth placemats 3 - Fresh rosemary 4 - Water (or highball cocktail) glasses 5 - Red wine glasses 6 - White wine glasses 7 - White dinner plate set 8 - White salad plate set 9 - Black flatware set 10 - White hemstitch dinner napkins 11 - Lemons (fresh preferred, but here’s a faux option) 12 - Eucalyptus (nothing compares to fresh, but here’s a faux option) 13 - Grey and white rattan bistro chair (affordable knockoff!) 14 - Craspedia (fresh is best, but here’s a dried option) 15 - Ooni outdoor pizza oven 16 - Unscented votive candles 17 - Acacia wood pizza board set 18 - Chamomile flowers (use fresh if possible, but here’s a dried option)
Note: The Real Happy Hours occasionally uses affiliate marketing links. No worries, it won't cost you a dime extra, but if you make a purchase through these links, we might earn a commission. It's one of the ways we keep the party going and the website lights on. Rest assured that always, all opinions and product picks are our own!
