10 Italian-themed parties for a "dolce vita" summer
Look, we can’t all book a flight to Positano this summer… but we can certainly channel a little of that coastal Italian spirit with these summer party ideas that basically feel like an aperol spritz and your favorite spaghetti al limone blended into one. These unique themes take the best tablescape pins from your hosting moodboard and all of those dreamy spaghetti recipes you’ve saved on Instagram but haven’t made yet… and create just a little bit of dolce vita at home.
1. Alfredo Alfresco
There are two key elements to this party, and (spoiler alert) they’re in the name. Part one: alfredo. Dish up some creamy fettuccine with butter and plenty of parmesan, and make sure there’s enough to go around (we always prefer having leftovers over being stressed we didn’t make enough).
Part two: alfresco, AKA “in the open air”. This concept is an outdoor dinner party that is really brought to life with details like vibrant flowers displayed in old tomato cans or even little fresh basil plants strewn throughout to really awaken the aroma of the evening (mini basil or rosemary plants would make a super cute party favor BTW). Consider striped napkins, taper candles, and an overall rustic setup to tie everything together. Bellissimo!
2. Under the Tuscan Sun
A pool party… with an Italian twist! Break out the aperol spritzes, then settle in for some good old fashioned fun in the sun, Tuscany style. Striped towels in bold colors like orange or yellow really bring this theme to life. Tuscan food is fresh and punchy, so try preparing a classic dish like panzanella or Torta Della Nonna to really impress your guests.
3. Ravioli rodeo
We’re combining cowboy boots and carbonara because, well, we can! Channel all the best of the wild wild west (cowboy hats, bull motifs, Megan Moroney) with all the tastiest of Italy’s favorite filled pasta for this down-home and downright delicious party.
Want to add an activity to your evening? We recommend breaking out some air dry clay to make ravioli and cowboy hat-shaped paper weights that your guests can take home as a little memento!
4. That’s amore
Channel all the amore with a lovely little pizza night! Light a bunch of candles, queue a cozy jazz playlist, and lay out all the ingredients for a fun at-home pizza party. No, you don’t have to make your dough from scratch, but we highly recommend making your pizzas heart-shaped — so cute. BTW… this theme works great for a party of two, too! Sending a digital invitation for an evening with your partner is an adorable way to add a little spark to a not-so-typical date night.
5. Tomato girl summer
The tomato girl trend is still going strong, and can we just say we are so glad?? Let’s pay homage to the heirloom with a rosy and rustic gathering that’s refreshing, radiant, and certainly red. We recommend a menu packed with tomato-forward dishes like a tomato tart, fresh gazpacho, classic spaghetti marinara, or a tomato salad with burrata and plenty of olive oil and black pepper. Try cherry tomatoes on small skewers as a garnish on your drinks, display a mix of different sized tomatoes across your tablescape as decor, and encourage guests to wear any of the classic tomato colors (red, orange, green, etc.) — this is one of those parties where you’ve really got to just commit to the bit!
6. Ciao bambino
Let’s take a moment to talk about one of the cutest baby shower ideas we’ve ever seen (and we’ve seen a loooot of extremely adorable baby showers at this point). Can you get enough of… “Ciao Bambino!”? Channel the best of an Italian vacation because, parent to parent… this might be the last vacay you get in a while. Hey, they’re worth it.
Prepare mini bites like little lemon bars, tiny tiramisu, and even teensy tortellini (you can serve these on toothpicks as an easy and elevated light bite). The color scheme is yellow and white (with hints of blue and green), so bring this throughout your party by decorating with fresh lemons and eucalyptus, and even tying in some azure blue checkered napkins. Plus, send your guests home with bars of lemon soap — it’s a sweet and thoughtful party favor that they’ll actually use. Well, mamma mia!
7. Postcards from Positano
While we absolutely love centering a party around food, what about one that’s focused on crafts? Here’s an idea for a particularly Positano painting party that puts a fun spin on your typical painting night with friends. Get watercolor paper or small canvases, oil pastels, and plenty of paints, then lay everything out with a few magazine clippings or examples of Italian landscapes so your guests have painting inspo (your non-artistic friends who still want to be a part of the fun will thank you).
Another little artsy detail? A mini easel at each person’s station really takes this concept up a notch. Then, tie the postcard theme together by giving each guest a set of postage stamps that made you think of them, along with a few envelopes (tie ‘em up with a ribbon, of course) to encourage your friends to send each other snail mail. Talk about Positano party favor perfection… and talk about a total tongue twister!
8. Holy cannoli
Being an adult is great because you can literally have a whole party centered around cannolis just for fun (though, we have to mention that this idea makes a fab kids’ birthday theme for your little foodie, too). The best part about this theme is you can recreate a “made-to-order” cannoli station at home without breaking the bank. Set out a platter (or a tower if you’re feeling fancy) of pre-made cannolis, then line up bowls of toppings like colorful sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed pistachios, and even fresh fruit. It feels like such a luxurious setup, but is actually shockingly easy! To bring the “holy” element into it, decorate your table with prayer candles customized with guests' favorite celebrities, letting them take them home as party favors.
9. Pomodoro-palooza
Let’s get this out there first and foremost — if you’re a pesto person, you can absolutely turn this into a “Pesto-palooza”, no questions asked. In fact, you can really focus this on whatever Italian treat you love most — panini-palooza, parmesan-palooza, pappardelle-palooza… you get the idea. The concept is simple: cook up a whole bunch of whatever P-food you’re choosing, then serve it all family style! Different shapes of pasta (particularly farfalle or fusilli) in cylinder glass vases make unique and adorable centerpieces, and we love the trend of hand-drawn tablescapes using a big roll of butcher paper with marker outlines of plates and foods.
10. Cin Cin
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In our books, it’s always aperitivo hour. Put a chic spin on happy hour with a party that feels like 4 PM at a cafe-turned-bar on the streets of Milan. Have your friends bring their favorite summer fruit-inspired drink for everyone to sip and enjoy (no driving after, obvi!!!). Suggest a negroni, aperol spritz, or bellini as inspo… or opt for a fruity non-alocholic bev if that’s more your vibe. Put your charcuterie board design skills to good use with an Italian-inspired antipasto spread featuring cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, little breadsticks, and plenty of olives. Cheers… it’s spritz o’clock somewhere!
We don’t know how we’re supposed to choose just one of these to throw! If your hosting wheels are suddenly turning too, it might be time to take a look at our Dinner Party Invitations. Ciao!
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