Weekend House Parties

Weekends in August differ from their counterparts in July or, for that matter, the rest of the year. Weekends in August are laid back. Gone is the frenetic activity that goes into, say, a Fourth of July party. Animated chatter is replaced with quieter conversations that inevitably end with a sigh about the soon-to-be end of summer. Afternoons of grilling grow into languid evening get-togethers that, after weeks of alfresco dining, gradually move indoors. It's as if the long weeks of sun have finally loosened tense shoulders, and the heat, necessitating slower movement, has permanently altered the pace of the everyday.

Entertaining, though frequent, assumes an easygoing familiarity that's nearly as effortless as it is routine. Make the most of the lazy tenor of these weekends in August by hosting an unhurried buffet, relaxed birthday celebration, or casual bridal shower. Beat the heat with a morning brunch or begin in the evening before the late-summer sky turns to gold. All of the party ideas in these pages require minimal preparation. Decorations and table settings are improvised. And the best part — laughter in summer with friends — is free.

Shower a bride-to-be with good wishes at a sit-down buffet.
China and glassware needn't match. Use what you have, and if you require more, ask a friend to bring along a few extras.

Beverages can be self-serve. Set them atop a side table or desk, and if you want more room, nestle bottles of Prosecco or ginger ale in a garden urn filled with ice.

Sit-down buffet linens needn't be ironed. Lay the cloth in the morning, and let the August humidity gently smooth its creases.

Guests will have a fine time at a farmhouse picnic that's as much fun for teens and children as it is for adults.

A vibrant palette will give the party its cheerful country look, and a playful piñata ensures the party will end with favors that drop from the sky (find one at talkingpinatas.com).

A store-bought birthday cake is dressed up for the occasion in brightly colored candles and a charming gingham bow. Guests are kept hydrated and happy — before and during the party — with a nearby beverage and dessert station. For country-fresh tablecloths, use sheets, cotton yardage, or oilcloth. Plop cushions on hay bales or benches, and suspend paper or fabric "flags" from lengths of twine.

On a Sunday afternoon, few things lift spirits like a good cup of tea. Pair it with friends and you have a party sure to send all home content and merry. A printed-paper tablecloth with coordinating printed napkins lends the table busy English cheer.

Play up the look with mismatched china cups, more than one teapot, posies from the garden, and cupcakes frosted in a multitude of floral hues. The medley of color and pattern is easy to assemble even if you don't own a lot of dishes. Visit a flea market — and if you can't, call your Mum.

Showers: What bride-to-be wouldn't smile at the sight of a cup and saucer in her grandmother's china pattern? Find out the pattern, then get it at replacements.com.

Trio of teacups: Inexpensive but charming, vintage teacups make thoughtful gifts. Choose with an eye to color and then wrap (carefully) with a generous bow. If you know your friend's china pattern, opt for getting a single cup to add to her collection.

Personalize it: Even if your daughter or granddaughter doesn't share your love for vintage dishware, it's likely she'd happily don jewelry made with repurposed china in her own pattern. Try vintagerevival.com for inspiration and gift ideas.

Sweet combinations: Plates don't have to match to look pretty as a place setting. Focus on borders, combining geometric designs with floral ones, and include at least one plate with a scalloped or gilded edge. Secure with a color-coordinated grosgrain ribbon.

Good scents: Buy soaps and candles when you see them, to always have gifts on hand. And be mindful: These items usually have a shelf life of about two years.

Wax romantic: A pillar candle, or a bar of luxurious soap, is sure to be received with pleasure when placed atop a pretty antique saucer that might otherwise be discarded just because the cup has been broken or misplaced.

Annual events: Is there an event you attend annually, such as a birthday? Each year, arrive with a new place setting for the honoree.

Two in one: Don't walk away from a lovely tea- or coffeepot with a missing lid. Present it filled with a fragrant treat, such as specialty tea bags or bath salts.