Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Read More Next
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More Next
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See all Food

    Lost Cakes of the South

    These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See all Holidays & Entertaining

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See all Home & Garden

    7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020

    ā€˜Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See all Style & Culture

    50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

    Curl up with a classic!
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Southern Living
  2. food
  3. entertaining
  4. Host a Lilly Pulitzer-Inspired Luncheon!

Host a Lilly Pulitzer-Inspired Luncheon!

By Jennifer Kopf
February 12, 2013
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Monica Buck
Go behind the scenes with Dana Small, owner of Matilda's and Cabana boutiques in Stuart, Florida and find out how she pulled off this pink and green Lilly Pulitzer-inspired party.
Start Slideshow

1 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Go All Out with Color

Credit: Photo: Monica Buck

"We have a saying in my business—go big or go home!" says Dana. "I love to use bright and bold color combinations when I'm entertaining. This party, inspired by the great Lilly Pulitzer, reflects the preppiest combo of pink and green. I also added a splash of turquoise to coordinate with the colors of my home's interiors."

"I'm constantly on the hunt for unusual vintage pieces that I can use in a party setting, such as this bar cart. A fresh coat of bright paint gives it an easy update."

1 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Set the Scene

Credit: Photo: Monica Buck

Seat guests at skirted, round tables to allow intimate conversation. "My mom taught me the great trick of hanging paper lanterns and other festive details from the ceiling using thumbtacks and fishing line," says Dana. "It fills the empty space above a table, and the tacks barely leave any evidence."

2 of 7

3 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Set the Table

Credit: Monica Buck

"Don't layer your table with unnecessary glasses or utensils," Dana advises. "Use only what you need for your menu." But do take the time to try a napkin fold. "I have a book on napkin folds, and it's fun to re-create those!"

3 of 7

Advertisement

4 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Where to Splurge

Credit: Photo: Monica Buck

Custom tablecloths made of Lilly Pulitzer fabric. "I always have them made unlined so I can reuse the fabric for throw pillows later," she says.

4 of 7

5 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Where to Save

Credit: Photo: Monica Buck

Flowers. "Keep in mind what's in season to make it affordable," says Dana. "Then add an element of surprise. The kitschy flamingos in these flower arrangements add that 'wow' factor."

5 of 7

6 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Every Party Should Have...

Credit: Photo: Monica Buck

Something personal and memorable. "I'll often display the menu in a take-home frame and have a photo taken of guests that they can later add to the frame," she says.

6 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Always Save Room for Dessert

Credit: Photo: Monica Buck

"I keep the first courses light so you can indulge with a simple sweet at the end," Dana says. "Be sure to test-run recipes a week before the party to avoid any last-minute surprises. I also like including a nonalcoholic drink, in this case a raspberry-infused pink lemonade with San Pellegrino."

7 of 7

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jennifer Kopf

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 7 Go All Out with Color
2 of 7 Set the Scene
3 of 7 Set the Table
4 of 7 Where to Splurge
5 of 7 Where to Save
6 of 7 Every Party Should Have...
7 of 7 Always Save Room for Dessert

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Southern Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Southern Living
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

View image

Host a Lilly Pulitzer-Inspired Luncheon!
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.