Book Club Kit: Moody Intimate Candlelit, Elegant Slow Living, Romantic Vibes

This one I can just feel. Muah! The flicker of the candlelight. The warmth of the outside air. The laughter of friends as you discuss the cozy romance book you just devoured. Technically, it doesn't have to be a romance. But don't these vibes just fit a slow burn?

To get this vibe, you want to be super intentional and strategic about lighting. That's going to be the biggest key player here. Whether you choose indoor or outdoor, Chick-fil-a platters or a homemade fancy three-course meal, you can spice everything up with lighting! It is sooooo very important. And easy. And usually cheap.

Candlelight Shopping List

• Taper candles

• Taper candle crystal holders

• Tea light candles

• Lighter or matches

A lot of these items can be thrifted in order to save money and also prevent having too many extra.

If you choose to do the floating tea light candle look, make sure your glasses are heat safe (tempered glass) so they don't crack. This actually happened to me at my wedding reception! Luckily, no one was hurt, and my amazing wedding planner caught it early. She was able to switch them all out for fake ones. But, I was definitely sad about losing the intimacy of real flame!

When arranging candles, make sure to consider height variation. You should make sure to have a variety of tall and short vessels in order to balance out the look.

Other decor must-haves...

• Lace or jacquard napkins and tablecloths

  
  

  • Silver platters and trays - thrift these and use them for anything and everything! One idea: print and cut out discussion questions on strips of paper. Then fold them up and 'serve' them to your guests on a silver platter.

    
    

• Fancy silverware - consider using plastic because they're A) disposable, B) so detailed they look real, and C) they come in packs of hundreds so you can use the extras at the next party!

  
  

• Baby's Breath - real or faux

  
  

• Cream satin ribbon - you guys should know (or will know quickly) how much I love ribbon! It's so versatile. You can tie it on literally anything and it's instantly szhushed up. It's awesome.

The Menu

Al fresco dining is amazing for this vibe, but I know firsthand the weather doesn't always cooperate. Many--most?--days out of the year here are not comfortable to be outdoors. So, if that's you, too, don't fret. You can still achieve this elegant, moody aesthetic inside, and it will be just as cozy and sweet!

Whipped Feta Dip - recipe from Natasha's Kitchen here

• 8 oz feta cheese block, (cold) drained and crumbled

• 4 oz cream cheese, cold

• 1/2 cup thick sour cream, cold

• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

• 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed (make sure to zest it first)

• 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed

• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste

Bruschetta - recipe from Natasha's kitchen here

For the Tomato Bruschetta

• 6 Roma tomatoes, 1 1/2 lbs, diced

• 1/3 cup basil leaves, chopped

• 5 garlic cloves, divided

• 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• Optional balsamic glaze

For the Toasts

• 1 baguette

• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Strawberry Summer Salad - recipe from Love & Lemons here

• 5 ounces fresh spinach

• 1 cup thinly sliced strawberries

• ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion

• 1 recipe Poppy Seed Dressing

• ½ cup toasted pecans

• 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For drinks, consider bubbles! Sparkling cider, sparkling water, sparkling grape juice...garnishing with fruit is always a win. And make sure to serve in fancy glasses.

For dessert, you can't beat a chocolate board. It's intimate, it's moody, it's addictive. Mix different types of chocolate and don't be afraid to get fancy with it! Berries and nuts are also a great addition if you want to mix it up a little.

Craft

I wonder if anybody could guess what craft pairs just perfectly with this theme! Anybody? Anybody? That's right, you guessed it--painting taper candles! I like this one because it's fun, functional, and fairly quick. And the great thing about crafting is you have a built in party favor. Love!

Materials Needed

• Smooth Taper Candles

• Acrylic Paint

• Paint Brushes in a Variety of Sizes

• Paint Pallet

Follow this tutorial from Pretty Life Girls.

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A Quick Note: All my blog posts are written by me. Any em dashes, semi-colons, and the like all come from my own head and heart. :)

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