Golden Hour Summer Supper

A lot of the time, Cassie and Charles Kelley can be found on the road—he belongs to the music group Lady Antebellum; she blogs on fashion, food, and travel at womanista.com. During the summer, when they are at home in Nashville, they like to entertain alfresco. We caught up with the duo as they hosted four close friends at their home. A soft color palette of pinks, greens, and golds complements the summer evening light. Cassie says she loves “romance and sparkle” but insists “it’s important to keep it easy and not too fussy.” Here, she shares her tips.

Printed invitations from Nashville’s Rock Paper Scissors add formal elegance, while the fresh design keeps things fun.

Combine precious items with unbreakable pieces. A mint green-and-gold china pattern dresses up coral hardboard place mats from Holly Stuart Home and flatware from West Elm. A large bunch of peonies and ranunculus blooms is a quick and easy way to add bursts of color to the table.

Charles Kelley keeps things simple and avoids cluttering the table with platters by serving guests himself.

Keep the party moving by designating certain areas of your backyard for different uses. The Kelleys set up an intimate seating area beside the pool for cocktails and then moved on to the enclosed patio for a seated dinner. The change of venue—however small—keeps things fresh for your guests, and eliminates the possibility of a restless crowd.