Getaway Dinner Party

Fresh off the plane from Copenhagen? Dreaming of croissants in France? Whether you've just returned with photos to share or you're dreaming of a far-off vacation, use the recipes, decorations, and chic favors in this party to take you and your guests on an at-home getaway.

"Kransekake" may sound intimidating, but the traditional Danish cake is totally worth the pronunciation mistakes. Guests will devour the layers of almond cake, jam, and royal icing.

Add a ribbon of color to your dining table with a DIY table runner. Light shades of green act as neutrals against brighter colors like bubble gum pink and lemon yellow.

Open-faced sandwiches are traditional in Copenhagen, but the idea is easily translated to other countries, too. Use malty crackers and fresh spring veggies for the sandwiches here, or try fresh cheese and ham to mimic a French tartine.

Accent clean, glass serving dishes and modern trays with our simple tray liners. They're gorgeous paired with ruby red elderberries, and they make cleaning oh-so easy.

Serving local cheese is a great way to get to the heart of a country's palate. For our Danish party, we chose tangy rye sour breads and tangy cheeses, such as Castello, Beemster, and Molbo.

Transform simple strips of paper into a charming party favor. Fill the sweet strawberries with candies for guests to enjoy on the ride home.

Add life to your tablescape with a colorful bouquet in pinks and yellows. For this arrangement, we used:

• Pink naked ladies or resurrection lilies (Lycoris squamigera)
• Goldenrod (Solidago)
• Pink snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
• Billy Buttons (Craspedia)

Sip on bubbly lingonberry rose to set the mood. The sweet-tart berry flavor is similar to that of a cranberry.

Add inexpensive foreign flair with framed photos from the "host country." Use frames you already have, swapping in travel snapshots (or Internet images) for the party.

Make every guest feel special with their own gift to unwrap. Give candles or traditional sweets.

If you want to share trip memories with your guests, adopt the old adage, "a picture is worth 1,000 words." Keep a journal on your trip and add photos when you get back. Guests can flip through it on their own time.