1. As you begin planning your holiday party, begin with a color theme. Use the theme colors for your invitation and decorations.
2. Decorate the entryway with florals that tie into the theme colors and fill the space with candles. This will be your guest first WOW moment of the evening.
3. Opt for an artificial tree. It is the perfect shape/height every time. Burn an evergreen scented candle to generate a fresh cut tree smell.
4. Let your holiday tree be a bright light in the landscape of the decor. Don’t skimp on the lights. A rule of thumb is 100 lights per foot.
5. There are a variety of ways to make an event look chic. One of my favorites is using a monochromatic theme in the decor. It can be both stunning and festive.
6. If having a sit down dinner, create name cards for your guests using festive holiday decor. They are easy to create and are sure to be memorable.
7. Pop a bottle of bubbly to kick off the evening.
8. Have a variety of chocolates at the party. People can nibble during cocktail hour or grab a chocolate after dinner. They also make a great gift for your guests to take home with them. Create small chocolate goodie bags in the party theme colors.
9. When creating your party playlist, make sure to mix things up. I usually combine classical music, holiday songs, oldies, country and trending songs to add some fun for everyone.
10. Serve a signature cocktail at your party. Whether your bartender creates the signature drink or you come up with it yourself, it’s a fun detail to add to your party.
11. Have a hot chocolate station at the party. It’s perfect for children or adults that don’t drink alcohol. There is always an option to add some bourbon to it for those who want some added kick to their cocoa.
12. Don’t take on too much when planning your event. Order seafood from Joe’s Stone Crab or ham from Harry and David. Set it up so guests can help themselves.
13. Set up as much as possible the night before the party. One the day of the party you will only have to focus on the food, drinks and getting yourself ready for your guests.
14. Dress to the nines! Make sure you have a fabulous outfit for your party that makes you feel completely confident. It is your party after all.
15. Keep the cocktail area separate from the main food area. This will allow for a reveal of the food in a spectacular way. It will also prevent guests from “nibbling” until you are ready to serve the food.
16. For a fabulous tablescape, group candles, flowers and ornaments together. Remember, don’t make the table decor too tall so guests can interact with each other.
17. Make sure you have the lighting just right; not too bright and not too dark. Use dimmers to have the perfect balance in your lighting. There is no such thing as too many candles so mix it up with votives, pillars and tapers throughout the party space.
18. If your holiday party is small, opt for a seated dinner party. The holidays are one of the few times everyone comes together so make the most of it.
19. Depending on the number of guests and size of the dining area, have a mix of round and long tables. Tables of 10 are perfect to help keep guests engaged while dining. No one is too far away at the end of the table.
20. Provide your guests with plenty of water during dinner and throughout the party. After an evening of decadent indulgence, they will thank you in the morning.
21. Give your guests a small parting gift. Whether it is a holiday candle, small box of chocolates or an ornament, your guests will enjoy a memory of your party to take with them.
