For Architectural Digest, by Hannah Martin.
From the wildly eccentric parties that entertaining legends Tony Duquette and his wife, Beegle, hosted in the gardens of their Dawnridge Estate--the tables sheathed in malachite-print fabric and lit with Chinese lanterns--to the modern open-air soirées devised by today's great party throwers such as Bronson van Wyck and Charlotte Moss, there's simply nothing that says "summer" like dining alfresco. Whether you prefer a formal tea in the garden, a nautical seaside snack, or a casual backyard barbecue, we've rounded up 20 table setting essentials that will inspire outdoor affairs of every style.
Shown: Homme Chinois melamine dessert plates by Bongenre; $60 for a set of four. bongenre.com
Breton Blue stainless-and-acrylic flatware by Sabre; $100 for a set of fork, spoon, knife, and teaspoon. sabre.fr
Woven rattan tray by West Elm; $59. westelm.com
Banded iron lanterns from Anthropologie; $14-$58. anthropologie.com
Trevor horn salad server set by Ralph Lauren Home; $95. ralphlaurenhome.com
Blue resin pitcher with swizzle stick by Tina Frey Designs; $172. jungleeny.com
Watercolor Iris melamine tray by Bunny Williams for Ballard Designs; $39. ballarddesigns.com
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