Picture: Caroline Fernandes Designs

Late summer is the sweet spot: warm enough for dinner outdoors, cool enough to linger long after the plates are cleared. The secret to a truly memorable evening isn’t more décor it’s better light. Here’s how to design a simple, sensory lighting plan that carries your gathering from golden hour to star lit calm.

1) Begin with the moment you want to create

Ask yourself: What should the last hour of the evening feel like? If the answer is “unhurried and cosy,” choose warm, low light and deeper, comforting fragrance notes. If it’s “fresh and social,” keep it light, clean and bright with uplifting scents. Let this single decision guide everything that follows.

2) Palette & materials that work outside

Keep colours quiet so light can shine: bleached linen, oatmeal cotton, or a sand toned runner. Layer rattan placemats over cloth for texture, then add stoneware plates and frosted glass stemware to catch and soften candle glow. A few hand beaten brass touches (chargers, cutlery, a small bowl) echo the last rays of sun.

3) Three layers of light (so you’re never scrambling)

Ambient (base): Place Luxury Pillar Candles inside clear hurricanes or lanterns at the table ends and around the seating area. They’re steady in a breeze and create a soft halo your guests feel rather than see.

Focal (tabletop): Add taper candles in sturdy holders, spaced so sightlines stay clear. Keep flames low enough to talk over, high enough to stay safe from sleeves and flowers.

Accent (afterglow): Keep a cluster of tea lights or a storm lantern ready to light when dessert arrives. This gentle dimming signals the evening is winding down.

4) Scent zoning from kitchen to conversation

Fragrance should guide the evening, not compete with food. Use zones:

Prep & entry (fresh welcome): A Bitter Orange Candle in the hallway or near the door quietly brightens without a flame perfect when ovens or grills are busy.

Dining table (subtle lift): Light White Pepper & Honeysuckle just before guests sit; its airy floral with a peppered spark feels clean, convivial and food-friendly.

Afterglow corner (cosy close): When you move to the lounge or terrace, switch to a deeper note like Dublin Dusk or Cedar, Amber & Clove the olfactory equivalent of a soft throw.

5) Wind, weather & safety (the elegant way)

Use glass hurricanes outdoors wind is the enemy of both ambience and even burn.

Keep open flame 30 cm from greenery, napkins and menus; never leave candles unattended.

If pets are mingling, place tapers toward the table centre and pillars at perimeter height.

6) Centrepieces that don’t fight the flame

Build low arrangements so light can breathe. Think meadow grass, poppies, and thyme in small earthen vessels nothing taller than the average chin. Herbs double as garnishes and release scent when touched. If you love a fuller arrangement, split it into three small posies so sightlines stay open and candlelight travels.

7) The effortless table ritual

Before guests arrive: Light your base pillars; set the diffuser; cue a mellow playlist (acoustic folk or soft jazz).

When you sit: Light two or three tapers; place water carafes where the flame reflects in glass.

As dusk deepens: Dim overheads; add tea lights; swap to your afterglow scent as you move seats. The lighting shift tells a story—and your guests will feel it.

8) Sustainably beautiful by design

Rathbornes candles are hand-poured with 100% natural wax (rapeseed & responsibly sourced beeswax) and finished in reusable glass with FSC-certified packaging. When the evening is over, give vessels a second life: bud vases, pencil pots, or a tiny herb planter on the sill.