A Magical Dinner on the Beach
One of the most important things about planning a party is finding the right location. Ever since we bought the beach house in Ventura I have wanted to host a dinner on the beach. As in a “toes in the sand, practically in the water” dinner on the beach. This past weekend my dream came true and it was truly magical.
I am not suggesting you all have to host a dinner on the beach. Rather, if you find a unique location, you can create an amazing dinner party experience.
I have hosted lots of dinner parties in many different places in our backyard. We have entertained on our back patio, by the pool, in the middle of our yard, and under the covered patio. It’s all about thinking outside of the box.
Our home in Ventura is on a beach that isn’t crowded. In the summer evenings, there is rarely one person on the beach.
So I had the idea, why not set a table and have a dinner party in the sand?
I have to say that this was the most incredible location for a party. We had warm weather, no wind, and a gorgeous sunset.
How I Created a Dinner on the Beach
Creating an Outdoor Dining Room
My first task was to create what I call an outdoor dining room. All I really needed was a way to hang some sort of lighting.
I had some amazing solar lights in ball jars and needed to create a way to hang the solar lights. I bought some poles at the hardware store and pounded them into the ground. Then we used stakes and supports to keep the poles taught and strung wire diagonally across the top of the poles.
A very inexpensive way to have your own solar lights is to fill a ball jar with battery operated fairy lights. Then attach some wire for hanging and they will provide all the light that you need.
I put my sea glass (that I have collected on the beach in front of our home) in the Sonnenglas jars and then hung them from the wire.
Next, I bought some hydrangeas at the grocery store and put them in some vintage ball jars. My “flower arranging” took less than twenty minutes.
We already owned the linens and plates so the total decor cost for the party was about $50.00.
Here are some of the items I used to create this party.
What’s the Best Food to Serve at a Dinner Party?
I probably could have served fast food and my family wouldn’t have cared. I have learned that the better the setting, the less you have to worry about the food.
The setting and the view were that good!
Actually I cooked tri-tip and a fabulous meal with two salads and baked potatoes. It wasn’t fancy at all.
The location was absolutely perfect for dinner on the beach. I guess the saying “location, location, location” also applies to entertaining.
Absolutely magical????????????????… have always dreamed of dinner on the beach set up just like this… WOW‼️????????????
I wAnted to do a dinner on the beach as well but I chickened out I was worried about bugs. Was that an issue? Your setup is stunning. I love the effect of the lights with your lovely sea glass in the jars!!! Really pretty!!!!
Oh my word, this is amazing. Such a beautiful setting Love those lanterns and your amazing tablescape too
Lovely just Lovely ! Please send a link to buy the lanterns !
Fantastic Leslie! You know how much I love dinner on a beach. The lanterns are wonderful especially with the sea glass. Beautiful.
Leslie this is stunning! The sea glass in the jars is amazing!???????? I’ll be right over for dinner next weekend!????????
Did you create the awesome lanterns or purchase them? The illumination of your sea glass makes the perfect complement to your beachside dinner.
I would love a dinner on the beach…yours is beautiful
That looks absolutely magical. Wish I lived closer to stop by…LOL
I lived in Ventura for 10 years and had many a picnic lunch and dinner on the beach. I would move back there in a heartbeat – such a wonderful town and community.
Just gorgeous you are so talented but I’m wondering, how did you get the beach to yourself? I would feel so self-conscious if there were people walking by gawking at me, but I guess that’s what wine is for right? We have a beach house too but I’ve never gone to this trouble to make a table that looks so pretty!
It was beautiful, Leslie! We stayed in the same beach house in San Diego for 2 weeks each summer when the kids were growing up I’ve a period of 12 years and I always wanted to do it. But the distance from the sand to the water is very far and then from the house, which was not on the boardwalk, but on a side street. It would have been too much work. How did you manage to get the food to the location? Ice chests, etc. Did you use a fat-wheeled wagon?
Gorgeous and definitely “magical” love!
It really was! Thank you Bisalda.
A little trip to the beach through your photos. What a fun place to host!
Going to try Dollar Tree for green or blue beach glass, solar lights have been ordered from Amazon, however, we live “inland” so will be backyard overlooking our garden. Your dinner party looks awesome … wish we were that lucky. Thanks again for the inspiration to “just do it”. JudyCinNC
That all sounds great! Your dinner party will turn out just as awesome!