Turn this Film into a Fete!

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is the story of two girlfriends who go on summer holiday and discover the beauty & passion of Spain (and Spanish men!)  I’d love to throw a party with a similar joie de vivre by taking a cue from Barcelona’s warm & vivacious entertaining style.

The Spanish home is welcoming & family-oriented, with constant conversation and plentiful laughter.  Hence the birthplace of made-to-share tapas.  Let guests gather around one huge table, and scatter delicious bites and bottles of wine down the center so they can help themselves.

Barcelona is a city of vivid colors: crimson chili peppers, abundant flower markets, & bright textile designs provide a feast for the senses.  Infuse party elements with this energy by using punches of color in food, flowers, & serving pieces.

Bright colors look best when paired with natural elements.  Wood vessels for succulents and earthy pillows provide a neutral backdrop for an outdoor party space.

I love the way this table runner & napkin are printed with a Spanish lace-inspired pattern for a touch of homespun charm.  Low bunches of flower arrangements in a mixture of vases keep the look warm and casual.

The perfect party outfit?  A chic white shirt paired with a painterly skirt bursting with color.  Jewel-toned chandelier earrings take the festive-factor up a notch.

Serve cocktails in bright, mismatched martini glasses.  These serrano ham-wrapped breadsticks are a pretty, simple appetizer that are a great addition to the tapas table.  Get the recipe here.

Other ideas for the perfect tapas spread: manchego cheese with quince jelly, tuna dressed with olive oil + lemon juice, piquillo peppers with olive oil + sherry vinegar, rustic sourdough bread, salted marcona almonds, mixed olives with rosemary, pitchers of sangria.

Images: {Row 1} Vicky Cristina Barcelona still, IMDb {Row 2} Table, Sunday Suppers {Row 3} Barcelona, kika13’s Flickr {Row 4+5} Outdoor fireplace & table centerpiece, Style Me Pretty {Row 6} Girl in skirt, Philip Newton; Earrings, Anthropologie {Row 7} Martini Glasses, CB2; Serrano-wrapped breadsticks, Dutch Girl Cooking.