Summer is coming to a quick end — only just a few weeks left — and we’re soaking as much sun up as possible. Which is why anything that means enjoying a meal al-fresco is on our inspiration boards and to-do lists. In a few months, when all we see outside our windows is slush, we’ll be looking back to the balmy summer evenings where a slight breeze pairs perfectly with a chilled cocktail and a fresh salad.

We’ve heard of bringing the outdoors in, but in this case, CountDown Events created a garden party that brought the indoors out. Louis dining chairs and a rustic table serve as an unusually stylish backdrop for a lush table setting, provided and coordinated by Burnaby-based event company, Art of the Party. To tie in taste and aroma, they had Dushan Flowers create centerpieces of lavender, basil and rosemary.  Not only does it work aesthetically well, tying into the idea of a home garden, but it reminds us of the beauty of locally grown produce. Not to mention the vegan dishes by Culinary Capers serve as fresh evening fare, mixing perfectly ripe vegetables like tomato and squash with basil.

We love the idea of adding edible herbs to your dish if you want to add an extra bit of flavor, making the dinner interactive and casual. This sort of event would be a perfect close to the summer, and can be an excellent inspiration for any labor day weekend dinners you might be hosting!