Augusta Cole is the designer and planner behind her eponymous firm, Augusta Cole Events. From weddings to family celebrations, her events are full of color, personality, and showcase her innate eye for detail. To celebrate the launch of our new collection, we asked Augusta to dream up a summer tablescape using our Marina Lavender tablecloth and napkins. Follow along to learn about Augusta and see how she created the perfect dockside dinner!
First off, tell us a little bit about yourself and how your namesake planning and design company, Augusta Cole Events, came to fruition!
Prior to going out on my own, I was a planner for Easton Events for just over a decade. And in March 2020, I launched Augusta Cole Events! While the majority of our events are wedding-related, I am inspired by the legacy aspect of working with a family through all of the major milestones. From weddings and anniversaries to baby showers and major birthday celebrations, I love to be the through-line to make these experiences seamless and personal. Our office is based in NYC (where I live with my husband, Brandon, and our pup, Moose!), but we bring to life events all over the country and world.
How would you describe your entertaining style?
Fresh, punchy, effortless, and engaging. And I certainly don’t skimp on the fun!
Walk us through how you styled the Marina Lavender tablecloth and napkins!
I really love a palette of lavender, white, and green, so I complemented the linens with a rich green. I love our hand-dipped plates from Beldi in Morocco and use them whenever I can. We have complementary green tamegroute vessels from the souk that I sprinkled on the table with beeswax votives.
I played with two looks for the napkin. To keep the color palette clean and crisp, I tied the matching napkins with a thin white silk ribbon — easy to always have on hand. For a punchy look, I introduced my woven napkin rings with summer fruits — lemons and strawberries. I love how this adds a little fun and playful color pop. Pair this summer table with a sun hat and rosè from Provence and call it a great party!
What are three tips you have for seamless summer entertaining?
Making meals an experience is important to me. Timing cocktails to be served the hour before sunset and then inviting your guests to sit down to enjoy sunset with dinner is one tip for a beautiful evening. That may mean a late start during the peak of summer, but it’s also a recipe for cooler temperatures. Bring your silver down to the dock for a dinner party — because why not! For an easy and always beautiful centerpiece, keep petite terracotta pots on hand. For this table, I ran to the local garden store and found lavender veronica that paired really well with the Marina pattern.
What advice do you have for mixing and matching patterns and decor to create the perfect tablescape?
Hang on an anchor color and don't overthink it! And don't mix just to mix—only do it if the individual elements are strong in their own right and play well together. In general, mixing solids and pattern is a good fall back, as is combining pattern and stripes. Scale is critical!
Big parties are on the horizon, but after last year we can’t help but have a soft spot for small intimate gatherings. What did you enjoy about planning micro-weddings and events?
From a design perspective, I love that my clients have been investing in tabletop elements that they're able to use for decades to come — like dishware or linens that they can entertain with after the fact. And on a personal level, smaller gatherings are so intensely emotional because it’s just you and your very closest people celebrating. It’s incredible to witness!
What's your favorite event location?
I love designing events at my clients’ homes — they showcase their innate personal style in a way no other venue could. Otherwise... anywhere we can set up a tent and build from the ground up!
Who is your dream dinner guest?
I’ve got to invite a whole table! Bunny Mellon, Oprah Winfrey, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sarah Blakely, Stephen Colbert, and Pierce Brosnan. Can you imagine the conversation?
What's your go-to dinner playlist?
It sounds too good to be true… but give “Dinner with Friends” on Spotify a try!
Fresh blooms or candles?
Both!