hosting labor day weekend: the essentials

to be honest, i'm never quite ready for labor day. summer just never seems long enough; suddenly we're down to the last few beach days, summer cocktails and picnics, sunsets get earlier and mornings darker, like the days are slowly being taken away from us. but i do love the idea of cosy knits, apple pies, and carved pumpkins, as long as i get to have a proper goodbye, a farewell to arguable the best season of all, so i have some closure and can move forward with autumn.

and what better way to do this than gather friends and family together for a nice meal and good conversation?

here's everything you'll need to host a fun, sophisticated evening to kick off autumn and close out summer.

the essentials:

linens: a tablecloth, runner, and napkins

candles / fairy lights: as decor along the runner, it's all about a vibe

pottery or mason jars to display flowers

wood bowls: for fruits and veggies

wood board / cheese boards: appetizers

glassware: for water + wine / sangria/ cocktails

plates, bowls, cutlery

carafes: fresh juice, sangria, iced tea...

folding tables + some benches or chairs or both!

what you need:

a menu

signature cocktail (ours will be a hibiscus aperol spritz)

table setting

florals (i love peonies or greens like eucalyptus with baby's breath + lamsb'sear, dried pompous is always nice as well)

parting gift: s'mores kit, a cardboard box filled with the goods and tied in muslin + string

each person has their own citronella candle that we hand made with the help of jenni kayne. with lots of food around there's bound to be some bugs, and candles are much nicer and more aesthetically pleasing than bug spray...