Southern Lady Celebrations 2018

Southerners are always up for a good party. We’ll jump at the chance to throw a get-together for any reason—or for no reason at all. Our love of entertaining is rooted in our deep attachment to home, where we open the door and welcome someone inside to share a little of our heart. Whether it’s asking a neighbor over for coffee or inviting scores of guests to join in a blowout bash, the message of hospitality and genuine delight in their company remains the same. Our first-ever Southern Lady Celebrations special issue brings you page after page of festive ideas to mark occasions large and small. Some pay tribute to Southern traditions, like an alfresco luncheon themed around the annual Masters Tournament (page 9). Others capture the joys of everyday life—our…

LUNCH ON THE LINKS Choose tableware in verdant shades to echo both the signature green of the Masters’ logo and the rolling expanse of Augusta National’s course. Gently scalloped salad plates and chargers complement crisp striped napkins; emerald-tinted tumblers are just waiting to be filled with a classic Arnold Palmer beverage. For a festive take on place cards, pen each guest’s name on a golf ball, then affix to a tee and nestle in a glass dish filled with sand. Enhance the ambience with a few golf-themed mementoes scattered about, such as bags filled with vintage clubs and baskets of balls. Arnold Palmer MAKES ABOUT 1 GALLON 3 quarts cold water, divided 3 family-size tea bags 1½ cups sugar 1 (12-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed Garnish: fresh lemon slices 1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 quart water…

SOMETHING BLUE Treat the happy couple to a fête that exudes the simple beauty of a love truly meant to be. Craft a sense of casual elegance using basic dishware and airy linen fabrics in white and blue to highlight the occasion. For no-fuss flowers, mix azaleas and other garden cuttings with pretty store-bought blooms in clusters of glass bottles. Individual fruit cups and a colorful take on shrimp and grits add to the light, refreshing feel of the day, while a signature Champagne cocktail and an Iced Tea Bar lend notes of festivity. Springtime Fruit Salad MAKES 10 TO 12 SERVINGS 6 cups balled honeydew (about 1 large honeydew) 6 grapefruits, sectioned 3 navel oranges, sectioned 1 pint blueberries 6 tablespoons honey 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 1. In a large bowl, gently stir together honeydew, grapefruit, oranges, blueberries,…

LOVELY SURROUNDS With a sky painted blue and spring unfurling all around, Mother Nature has done most of the decorating for you. All you need to do is supply a table laden with pretty things. Make the day feel extra special with a pristine white tablecloth and a stunning arrangement of peonies, Lenten roses, and lilac. Then bring out your favorite china and stemware to complement a menu perfectly suited to this splendid occasion. Lemon Cucumber Tea MAKES ABOUT 1 GALLON 3 quarts cold water, divided 3 family-size tea bags Lemon Cucumber Simple Syrup (recipe follows) 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Garnish: lemon slices, cucumber slices 1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 quart water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; cover, and steep for 5 minutes. Strain tea into a large pitcher. 2. Add Lemon Cucumber Simple…

EVERYTHING IS ROSY A longstanding symbol of love and beauty, roses shape the inspiration for this jubilant occasion. The petals lend their delicate blush to heirloom china and painted stemware, while dishes like Smoked Salmon Canapés and Rose Water Iced Tea carry the motif throughout the meal. Assorted dinnerware patterns layer seamlessly, thanks to the unifying buds on each. Add linens in shades of blue for a lovely contrast to the soft pink blossoms and rich green landscape—perhaps including a few sentimental favorites passed down through the generations. “GRATITUDE IS THE FAIREST BLOSSOM WHICH SPRINGS FROM THE SOUL.”—HENRY WARD BEECHER Mint-Lime Fruit Salad MAKES APPROXIMATELY 10 SERVINGS 1 small seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into triangles 2 mangoes, peeled, cubed 2 nectarines, thinly sliced 2 cups cherries, halved, pitted 1 cup blackberries 1 cup strawberries, quartered ½ pineapple, cubed ¼ cup sugar 1…

LAKESIDE ENCORE From boating with grandparents to cannonball contests with cousins, nothing says summertime like a day of fun and sun at the lake. Extend those magical family moments by surprising the crew with a dockside dinner spread. To make the occasion extra special, be sure to include personal touches, such as an heirloom quilt as a cloth on the buffet or place cards made from the grandkids’ hand-painted rocks. A table runner of lanterns lets the good times continue past sunset. Baked Beans with Bacon MAKES 12 SERVINGS 12 slices hickory-smoked bacon 2 large red onions, chopped 2 tablespoons minced garlic 4 (28-ounce) cans pork and beans, drained ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar ½ cup molasses ¼ cup whole-grain mustard 3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1. In a large skillet,…