Create a Stunning Summer Tablescape With Candlelight

There’s something magical about summer entertaining: Golden hour lingers, drinks taste a little colder, and conversation has a way of stretching into the night. A beautifully styled tablescape sets the tone — especially when candles are involved. Whether you're hosting outdoors or simply want to bring that breezy, late-summer energy inside, candlelight can turn any gathering into something memorable.

To help bring that feeling to life, I asked Melody Julius, Founder & Creative Director of Flourish and the stylist behind our recent tablescape photoshoot, to share her process and styling tips. From casual dinners to special celebrations, her approach makes candlelit hosting feel effortless and inspired.

Start With a Feeling, Not Just a Color Palette

"When beginning to plan any tablescape, I first imagine the feeling I want to create," Melody explains. "How do I want my guests to feel when they arrive in the space? How can the design facilitate great enjoyment and conversation? What memories do I want to end the night with?"

For this summer setup, that mood was inspired by MINOT’s new Eventide scent, which blends amber, bergamot, and sage. 

"I can't get enough of it — it's sultry and rich and breezy all at once, just like a gorgeous summer night,” she says. “I immediately pictured candlelight flickering off of pearlescent and silvery hues that have turned liquid and molten as the sun sets."

That spark of inspiration led to a silk tablecloth and a cascading runner of MINOT votives, with the crashing ocean waves serving as a dramatic, natural backdrop.

Let Seasonality Guide the Look and the Menu

The tone of a gathering is often set before the first bite — in the textures, colors, and atmosphere of the table itself. And just as a summer menu often leans light and fresh, your styling can follow suit.

“I am such a believer in living seasonally, and that includes my styling choices for a table because I'm usually focused on serving seasonal food, too,” Melody says. “Living on the coast in the summer means we're eating lots of seafood: oysters, scallops, and fresh caught fish, perhaps served with bright and zesty citrus.” 

Inspired by that fresh, coastal menu, she landed on a soft, neutral color palette elevated by layers of beautiful materials and textures: linen, pearl, polished silver, clear glass. The result feels intentional but relaxed — easygoing elegance at its best.

Choose Candles That Work With the Elements

For outdoor dining especially, candle choice matters. “I gravitate towards votives because they can handle some wind without extinguishing, and they burn longer than some other options,” Melody says. “They're also so easy to cluster in an effortless organic way.”

On this table, a low-profile runner of MINOT votives kept the glow intimate while still leaving space for passing plates and clinking glasses.

Use Your Candles — Don’t Save Them

One of the most common mistakes people make? “Forgetting to light them!” Melody says. “I've been at restaurants or friend's houses where they have a beautiful table set, only to get busy with other elements of hosting and the gorgeous candles go unlit.”

It’s an easy thing to overlook — especially when guests are arriving, drinks are being poured, and the food is nearly ready. But taking a moment to light the candles helps shift the mood instantly. It says: The evening has begun.

Melody also encourages using the candles you love most, not saving them for some future occasion. “I have some friends who love to hoard their candles, but in my opinion, your special items deserve to be used. Burn them!”

After all, the right scent and a little flicker of light can change the entire energy of a space. “Candles create such an intimate, romantic vibe that can keep a party going for much longer than it might have lasted otherwise.”

So go ahead and use the good ones. That moment you’ve been saving them for? It might be tonight.

Keep It Safe and Stylish

Even with the magic of open-air dinners, safety comes first. Always keep candles within sight while lit and place them on flat, even surfaces away from drafts. That said, a little wind is inevitable when dining outdoors.

“That's why I love votives: They're not too tall so they're harder to knock over, and they can hold their own against a little wind,” Melody says.

And when conditions aren't ideal — whether it's gusty weather, little ones at the table, or uneven ground — unlit candles can still add to the overall aesthetic. Always better safe than sorry.

Tie It All Together With Final Touches

For this shoot, Melody made a few key styling decisions in the moment to keep the look feeling cohesive and elevated — starting with the glassware.

“I was drawn to the simplicity of keeping everything low to the table. I originally planned to use coupe glassware for my cocktails, but realized that would block the runner of votives, so I opted for these chic little tasting glasses that are the perfect size for a pre-dinner aperitif.”

She also made a last-minute call to skip the flowers. “They were just adding too many green and yellow tones that didn’t complement the pearlescent theme,” she says. “But I think the shimmer of the tablecloth and the pearly shell napkin rings are so elegant.”

The result? A setting that feels polished and intimate — perfect for a vibey summer night by the sea.

Ready to Style Your Own Summer Tablescape?

Here are a few quick tips to bring the look together:

• Start with a mood: Do you want your dinner to feel casual and coastal or romantic and moody? Let that be your guide.
• Build in layers: Think texture over color — soft linens, glassware, ceramics, and candlelight all working together.
• Light candles early: Candlelight isn’t just for after dark — the earlier glow helps set the scene from the start.
• Use what you love: Don’t save your favorite pieces for later. A beautiful candle is meant to be enjoyed!

Whether you're hosting seaside or just channeling summer from your dining room, we hope this inspires your next gathering. 

Want to recreate the look? Shop the MINOT votives featured in the shoot and bring a little of that golden-hour glow to your own summer table.