Sure, you can throw dinner parties all year round, but there’s nothing quite like a spring soiree. Be it a garden party, a picnic or an alfresco lunch, getting your nearest and dearest together for an afternoon eating and drinking in dappled sunshine is hard to beat.  

When it comes to hosting, there are a few things one must always bear in mind. Don’t overthink the menu — no one wants to spend their entire party slaving over a hot stove. Go for dishes that can be mostly prepared in advance or appetisers guests can help themselves to. There’s an increasing movement toward elevating low-touch canapes – think cheese and kimchi jaffles – by serving them atop silver trays with linen napkins. Or you could take the route of eternally chic hosts like Beata Heuman and Matilda Goad, who opt for fancy store-bought takes on savoury baked goods (like warrigal greens and feta scrolls, and pork, fennel and caramelised onion sausage rolls). It’s the ultimate fuss-free approach.  

Your tablescape should nod to the season and the setting. Flowers are always lovely, but you could focus on an abundance of taper candles for a late evening dinner party, or incorporate fruit and vegetables as centrepieces too — look for what’s on sale (ie seasonal) at the supermarket around the time of your event. Even better if they’ve got some character about them. Eggplants and tomatoes are often featured on the most elegant of tables (and you can use them in a lasagne later – everybody wins).  

Music goes a long way to setting the mood, but if you don’t have your own playlist curated for occasions such as these, a quick Spotify search will always deliver. When all else fails, choose the Spotify Radio setting on an artist you’re confident fits the vibe, whether it’s Fleetwood Mac or Khruangbin.  

Read on for a few of our go-to pieces and serving tricks to elevate any spring soiree.  

It’s essential that guests are greeted with a delicious scent when they arrive, whether it’s your cooking or this fresh and fruity candle from Jo Loves (the latter is much easier in most cases).  

SHOP NOW: Fresh Fig & Cassis Townhouse Candle, $215 from Jo Loves, Ground Floor 

Nothing lifts a tablescape like one of Dinosaur Designs exquisite resin bowls. This rock bowl is perfect for serving dips and olives, and instantly brightens up any setting.  

SHOP NOW: Small Rock Bowl, $80 from Dinosaur Designs, Level 1 

One easy way to wow guests is with a homemade tart for dessert, served at the table in this Le Creuset stoneware dish. (Or you could slip a store-bought tart into the Le Creuset stoneware dish. Noone will know the difference.) 

SHOP NOW: Stoneware Fluted Flan Dish, from $39, from Le Creuset, Ground Floor 

Though if dessert only calls for something small but sweet, fill a few vintage glass dessert bowls with The Nut Shop’s indulgent Splinters and pop them on the table. Guests can pick at them while you play a round or two of Articulate. 

SHOP NOW: Dark Chocolate Almond Splinters, $17.10 from The Nut Shop, Ground Floor