Lacelliese King Tablescape Fourth of July

I was just reminiscing with one of my closest friends about our childhood Fourth of July memories in Jackson Hole. Some things have changed (we haven’t painted American flags on our faces lately), but the hometown parade, 70ish-degree temperatures, and fireworks in front of the Tetons still make this one of the most picture-perfect places to spend the Fourth.

One thing that definitely has not changed is our affinity for throwing together a somewhat last-minute dinner fête. We have always referred to this as “running on Jackson Hole time.” And while I do aspire to a bit more forethought (i.e. ordering my desired India Amory tablecloth more than two days in advance), there’s something quite satisfactory about pulling off a casually elegant, alpine-appropriate dinner party for eight on Jackson time.

I am regularly inspired by exquisite tablescapes from tastemakers such as interior designer Clary Bosbyshell and Jackson Hole’s very own XOWYO events that seem to be executed with such grace. For this occasion, however, I wanted to also incorporate a sense of ease and practicality into our outdoor entertaining style that would be fitting for both the occasion and the celebration. We dusted off the crystal, but in the end, paper napkins and placemats won the day. After all, who wants a fussy Fourth…especially on mountain time?

Here are a few tips from my tablescape that make for easy, elegant entertaining all summer long:

LAYER TEXTURE AND PATTERN

For an outdoor table setting that felt polished, yet relaxed, the key is to mix up your elements. I skipped paper plates in favor of simple white china, but to keep from feeling too formal, I opted for a medium weight paper napkin in place of cloth. I was thrilled to discover these disposable paper placemats from Hester & Cook at our chic local Aspens Market, which layered in just the perfect amount of color and pattern. While I could not resist setting the table with my mother’s beautiful crystal wine goblets, we also kept a stack of adorable paper cups nearby for simple, self-service refills.

INVEST IN A SIGNATURE PIECE

As I mentioned earlier, the downfall of my last-minute planning was that I missed out on having a beautiful blue and white India Amory tablecloth delivered in time (which led to improvisation…see below). Whether a tablecloth, a stunning vase, or standout serving ware, invest in a signature piece that you love and will reuse over and over. Using a bold statement piece as the foundation for your tablescape helps tie everything together and makes for an inviting, intimate center of conversation where your guests can congregate.

USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Back to the aforementioned tablecloth dilemma. Nothing from our linen closet was working for me, so I dug through a stack of old fabric ends and found the perfect scrap of blue and white floral chintz to drape our table. A little bit of ingenuity can go a long way in creating an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind tablescape. Even Aerin Lauder recently posted that her mother loves using vintage quilts as tablecloths! For our centerpiece I repurposed an old silver trophy vase that I filled with store-bought hydrangeas together with Wyoming wildflowers picked on our property earlier that day. It’s amazing what a fresh bouquet of flowers can do to perk up a table when partnered with a little bit of old and a little bit of new.

DRESS FOR THE OCCASION

While I really wanted to don the Dallas wardrobe staple that is a Mi Golondrina dress, the temperature here at the base of the Tetons never hit 70 degrees on the Fourth of July. Instead I threw on a pair of reliable white Frame jeans, and this top from Zara (sold out, but try this or this for a similar feel), together with a pair of Jack Rogers jelly sandals. To dress it up ever so slightly, these Rebecca de Ravenel earrings were the perfect finishing touch to complete a stylish but laid-back look.