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July 4th is one of my favorite holidays, and I’m thrilled to continue my tradition of celebrating with the lovely Katie Jacobs! Katie is a cookbook author, tabletop/food stylist, and DIY diva. I love working with her because we have the same passion for entertaining and she’s always full of amazing ideas for the menu. I can’t believe this is our THIRD Independence Day collab (our setups from 2019 and 2021 are full of great décor/recipe inspo and definitely worth a re-read).

Our goal this year was to design something that’s very easy to recreate at home. We leaned into a “country chic” theme with gingham and bandana motifs that are perfect for setting a casual, fun vibe. Of course, the whole scene was enhanced by Katie’s incredible backyard, which is like Eden. It was the perfect backdrop to a perfect celebration…read on for all the details and resources!

The Food:

Check out Katie’s blog for all the yummy recipes!
Menu: Easy Lobster Rolls, Green Bean Potato Salad, Mini Strawberry Shortcakes, Fried Chicken (store-bought!), and Corn on the Cob

The Table:

Bandana melamine plates (The Avenue)
White melamine dinner plates (old, similar here, here, and here)
Tablecloth (The Avenue; for a less expensive option try this one from Amazon)
Chargers (Mrs. Southern Social for Dillard's; sold out online but still available in stores)
Flatware (Mrs. Southern Social for Dillard’s)
Wrapped Glassware (Kirkland’s)
Blue bottles (Amazon)

For an outdoor gathering, you can’t beat the convenience of melamine tableware. Almost every brand has a melamine line these days, and I love the selection at The Avenue, where we sourced these bandana plates (as well as the tablecloth). Y’all know I love to layer up a place setting to keep things interesting: use a tablecloth and charger to fill up space and add some depth, and of course, mix your textures for extra pizzaz (here we introduced touches of bamboo and wicker). It’s SO hot right now so forget the fancy florals. These blue bottles (an inexpensive Amazon find) add a great pop of color, while hearty chamomile (mini daisies) does well in the sun and complements our “country chic” vibe.

The Bar

Beverage dispenser (blue not currently available, but there are 2 red ones on theCrow Canyon Amazon shop)
Glasses
Pitcher
Cocktail Napkins
Vintage star garland
Vintage flag garland
Over-the-table rod

I use my Crow Canyon enamelware every July 4th – it just screams summer and of course, I try to avoid using glass outdoors. Batch cocktails are ideal for large gatherings because guests can serve themselves, and I’m all for a pared-down bar. For the Fourth, lots of water is a must, plus a few beers, some soft drinks, and your batch cocktail. That’s all you need – you’re not running a professional restaurant!

Do stock up on cocktail napkins – I love these from Grey Hall Design, a design house and small business I learned about at this year’s Southern C. Sisters Page and Grey design the most amazing silk scarves, pareos, prints, and more, all based on their watercolor artwork. Their cocktail napkins are a chic addition to your bar and I love their unique take on Stars & Stripes. The napkins are cotton but look like linen, so you get that chic vibe for a much better price.