A Gracious Guide to Summer Hosting

My ten timeless rules for making every summer dinner feel special

I’ve become quite the host. Yes, we love opening our apartment in the city to friends for cozy dinners—but more often than not, my brand of hosting happens at other people’s homes.

I know, that might not sound like hosting, but trust me: it absolutely is.

Take this past weekend, for example. We spent the Fourth of July at my father’s in Iowa City, and I found myself pulling together a dinner party almost effortlessly: setting the table, planning the menu, arranging flowers picked up that morning, and making sure everyone had a chilled drink in hand before they even set down their bags. It got me thinking… what are my hosting non-negotiables?

So, let’s get into it. My ten tips for becoming the hostess of the mostess—even if the party isn’t technically at your place.