In the summertime, entertaining needs to be easy — so you have more time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the warm-weather eats. We set out to create fun, complete party experiences using only five essential ingredients, from tasty food and drinks to decor and games. Party on!

On a hot summer day, there’s nothing better than cooling down with a bowl of frosty ice cream. I happen to love icy treats of all kinds — from traditional tubs of vanilla to fancy sorbets and gelatos — so I recently decided to invite some friends over for a party in honor of National Ice Cream Month. To make the gathering feel more festive, I staged a buffet that would look like one of those ice cream parlors or soda shops of yesteryear, with some of my usual modern, punchy touches and fancy flourishes. And just like that, a low-key from-the-freezer treat became an ice cream social with a nostalgic vibe.

To throw this ice cream social, you need five essential ingredients:

• An ice cream scoop for digging into frozen tubs
• Mini waffle cones for piling high with scoops
• Plenty of toppings served in pretty dishes
• Striped straws for that soda shop vibe
• Bunting in pretty pastels and punchy patterns for the buffet backdrop

Click here to see the ice cream buffet and get tips for hosting your own ice cream social.

Camille Styles is the founder and editor of lifestyle blog camillestyles.com, where she shares creative entertaining ideas for parties and everyday life. She also owns Camille Styles Events, a design and planning firm that transforms ordinary events into extraordinary experiences.