Summer Celebrations

Story and Photos By Amy Falkofske

Whether you’re entertaining friends in your backyard or reuniting with family far away, summer is undoubtedly the most popular time to gather. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, life can seem like one big celebration. And many Prince William residents will be celebrating this summer.

Around the Pool

Interior designer Maria Loveless loves to entertain, and she has the perfect backyard for it. Her Manassas home sits on about three-quarters of an acre with a big yard and a pool.

She doesn’t worry about hosting large events. “I don’t fear. I’ve had as many as 200 back there before,” Loveless said.

Born and raised in Greece, Loveless said that entertaining is just a part of who she is: “My grandmother had a house full all the time. There were some days there was a reason, some days there wasn’t, so it became second nature. I have entertained as long as I can remember.”

In May, Loveless held a happy hour with about 25 ladies to open up the pool. She also leads a local Meetup group, Décor Design and More, and frequently has the members to her home. She said she also plans to host a lot of informal events on Saturdays and Sundays for friends. She and her husband, Tom Larsen, usually host one big themed event each year. Last year, they held a pig roast, which was a big undertaking, but a huge success. Their big event for this year is yet to be determined, but will probably take place in August or September.

Loveless’s skills as an interior designer come into play when she’s putting a table together for an event. She says it’s just like putting a room together because you are working with color schemes and spacing. She also points out that decorating and entertaining are parallel to one another. “My artistic background plays into it,” she said.

Regardless of the effort she puts into the preparations, Loveless believes the success of a party is measured by how much those in attendance enjoy themselves. “As long as you have fun, it’s a success,” she said.