If you are a someone who loves to entertain, you love to entertain during the holidays most of all. The creativity of the season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is your time to shine. If you are a new homeowner getting your feet wet or a seasoned event thrower, these tips for holiday entertaining will have something for everyone.
Be creative with holiday decorations
If your holiday party is at night, candles in all shapes and heights set an excellent ambiance to a room. Be sure they are unscented as scented candles can clash and over power whatever delicious food you are serving to your guests. Choose large glass hurricanes and fill them with layered red and white peppermint candies and mini-marshmallows. Place colored candy canes in short glass bud vases. Hang elegant bulbs at varying heights from your kitchen chandelier over your table. Don’t forget to top it off with a silk ribbon and bow. Mix and match textures for an unexpected surprise.
Send ‘real’ party invitations
In the age of technology, the Evite gets a lot of use. We still head out to the mailbox everyday and find junk mail and bills. What a treat to get a real printed invitation to a holiday party! Use your own well designed and adorned table as a photo backdrop for your own invitations. Use tacky glue to fix them to a store bought 4X6 invitations for that personalized touch. Mailing and receiving such a treasure will surely make your guests day , give them something to pin on the fridge as a reminder of your special holiday event!
Create a color scheme
Everyone knows that red and green are the Holiday colors but make a statement at your party with an all white theme or a pale blue and silver palette. Replace the winter green with a lime green and add a touch of the outgoing 2014 color of the year, wild Orchid. Still not sure what to do, there is always Pinterest for many whimsical or classic Holiday inspired themes!
Entertaining in the Kitchen
Gathering around the kitchen island and being in the kitchen with your guests says, “you are family to me”. It gives you a chance to showcase your cooking skills and serve your guests and not be separated fro them! Guests love being helpful. Plan a meal where everyone has something to do to bring it to the table. They will feel more a part of the celebration and may learn a thing or two. The community feeling you create with getting your guests involved in the kitchen will create a closeness for the group. Having aprons for each one (perhaps individually selected as a party favor) will make their participation easier and hassle free. Make sure you kitchen is clean and well organized. If this type of entertaining appeals to you, plan in advance to have your kitchen cabinets faux painted, if they are in need of an update. Showing off your newly remodeled and refinished kitchen cabinets to invited guests will be the highlight of your year!
You can entertain any day of the year but there is something extra special about entertaining during the holidays. Your friends and family will certainly how special they are to you this season with the extra touches you add to your home, your menu and your planning for your holiday parties.
