I have two types of friends. One who loves to entertain and enjoy the process and the other that runs and hides when asked to host a gathering. Naturally, I am more drawn to the latter. My friends Mary and Mary both share a flair for fashion and hosting fabulous gatherings. One Mary hosts a Christmas luncheon that sets the tone for the holiday season, the other Mary is the most incredible host. Whether it is sports banquets or VIPs, she is your gal! I also have friends who are paralyzed at having people for dinner; I have never been to their homes for dinner. I used to host every holiday, birthday, or event. I realized during covid that what I enjoyed most about hosting a party was the creativity, so now I treat myself to a beautifully set table at least once a week. I love creating a story with my table.
I love lists; I have loads of notebooks with scribbles in them. I have lists of lists...I know I am crazy.
You have to break your list into actional items. What is the reason for your party? Can you use the purpose
to plan the theme? For example, if you are hosting a birthday party and your guest of honor was born in 1953, you could highlight Elvis and rock and roll, the TV, or the hula hoop. Having a theme, style, or color helps you put your event together and keeps it feeling cohesive.
Once you know who you are, inviting, what you are serving, and where you are purchasing supplies, you can get to the fun stuff!
Ask yourself what emotions you want your guests to feel. I am planning my family's Christmas Eve party, and I want to create a European Christmas with lots of natural elements. I want my guest to feel welcome, comfortable, and loved. I want everyone to forget about the outside world for a few hours and remember the importance of friends and family.
Choose a theme, colors, textures, mood, or tone. I like mixing jewel tones, as seen in the photo of the plates above, with neutrals with depth, like the blush below.
Candles are a must. When it comes to candlelight, more is more. I like to mix high and low candlelight whenever possible. I recommend a minimum of 3-5 votives mixed with 2-4 taper candles.
When choosing florals, be creative. Use different textures, shapes, and colors. One simple bloom surrounded by greens can be enough if styled correctly.
Finally, try to create an event that allows you to join the party. I am guilty of working through events without enjoying them. I have hosted a Christmas Eve party for almost 20 years, and I love this party it is comprised of families that all have kids that grew up with my kids. It takes me about a week to pull this party together and no less than 20 to-do lists! This year I will focus on interacting more with guests and less with the meal. So I better get to my lists!
I hope you enjoyed this post. If you need any ideas for decor, comment or message me through my site. I would be happy to guide you.
Please let me know if you like this post by commenting or liking it. I love feedback, and if you have an idea for a post, please let me know.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I am so happy to have had you.
Best,
Celia