There’s something so romantic about the idea of an Italian summer — golden lemons, chilled wine, rustic meals, and warm, al fresco gatherings. I recently hosted my own “Summer in Italy” themed dinner party, and it was truly one of my favorite nights to date. It was simple to pull together, but felt rich with charm and personality.
Whether you’re planning a birthday, a girls’ night, or just a slow summer evening with friends, I’m sharing exactly how I set the tone — including links to my printable Lemon Paint Party invitation and Limoncello Spritz recipe available in my Etsy shop.
🍋 Start with a Thoughtful Theme
I always find that planning around a theme — even a simple one like a destination, color combo, or fruit — gives a party focus and flow. For this night, I wanted something that felt summery and effortless, with food that would be easy to serve. Italian-inspired felt perfect: white wine, pesto pasta, and a fresh Limoncello Spritz set the tone for the evening.
📩 Set the Tone with a Beautiful Invitation
Before we even dive into the décor and setup, let’s talk about the first impression: the invite.
I designed a printable invitation template to match the look and feel of the event. It features:
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A white arch element for the text
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Blue and white Italian tile background
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A soft lemon border
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An outline of a wine glass with lemons
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Two pages to include extra details like what to bring or where to park
You can find the invitation template in my Etsy shop here — perfect to email, print, or hand out in person.
🌿 Set the Scene with Simple Decor
One of my favorite tricks for creating ambiance is using a photo backdrop. For this party, I hung a Tuscan vineyard backdrop from Amazon and flanked it with two rustic wooden doors. I added a floral vine across the top to create a soft 3D effect — and it looked beautiful in photos.
To make the space feel like an Italian garden, I also hung white wisteria garlands from the ceiling. I mixed these with a few I already had at home — the slight variations in leaf color made it feel even more natural and romantic.
Other simple decor touches:
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Fresh lemons in bowls or vases
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White, yellow, or soft blue linens
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Candles or string lights for a cozy glow
Small details can really transport your guests and set the tone for the whole evening.
🍸 Serve a Signature Cocktail
The Limoncello Spritz was the star of the drink station — bright, bubbly, and super refreshing.
Because it’s best when made fresh, I created a printable Limoncello Spritz recipe card and placed it on my bar cart. This way, guests could easily make their own cocktail if I was busy.
👉 Grab the printable recipe card here in my Etsy shop.
I also offered:
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Crisp white wine
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Peroni (an Italian beer with a subtle citrus flavor) — great for guests who prefer beer over wine
🎶 Create an Italian-Inspired Playlist
To complete the vibe, I curated a playlist with instrumental Italian jazz and soft romantic background music. I pulled several tracks from YouTube and Spotify — think warm guitar, light piano, and vintage European café energy.
Even if no one notices it directly, good music helps set the pace of the night.
🍝 Build a Simple but Elegant Menu
I kept the food approachable, delicious, and mostly prepped in advance. Here’s what we served:
Starters
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Caprese Salad: Sliced vine tomatoes and mozzarella arranged on a platter, drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, and cracked pepper
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Mixed Green Salad: Spring mix, croutons, dressing options, and freshly grated parmesan on the side
Main Course
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Pesto Pasta: I ordered this from a local Italian restaurant (no shame in outsourcing!)
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Grilled Chicken: Served on the side so guests could customize their plate
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French Bread with Garlic Butter: I used Chef Sammy’s garlic butter — just melt and serve. It’s seasoned perfectly and was a huge hit!
Shhh… no one needs to know you didn’t make it from scratch.
🍰 Dessert + A Gentle Wrap-Up
For dessert, I kept it simple: a classic cheesecake with hot coffee.
Coffee also serves as a soft cue that the evening is winding down — a tip I picked up years ago and always come back to.
🎉 Final Thoughts
Hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right theme and a few key touches — like a signature drink, a thoughtful playlist, and food you don’t have to stress over — you can create a truly memorable evening.
If you’re planning your own Summer in Italy dinner party, I hope you’ll enjoy using my printable invitation and recipe card to make it even more special.
🛒 Shop the matching invitation here
🍹 Grab the Limoncello Spritz recipe card here
And if you do host your own version, I’d love to see it! Tag me or share your setup — nothing makes me happier than seeing these printables out in the wild.
