Holiday parties are in full swing! Here are a few fun tips to get you and your party ready and totally festive for the occasion.
Planning: The Planning Society // Venue: Wally’s Santa Monica // Florals: Fiore Designs // Rentals: Bright Event Rentals // Linens: La Tavola
Invitations + Theme
Invitations set the tone for your party. Whether you opt for a printed invitation or a paperless one, colors, fonts and themes establish the overall look, feel and expectations of your party.
Once you have chosen your theme (or color scheme), carry it throughout your party for a cohesive and thought out vibe.
Invitations: Mint Afternoon for SMP Living // Photography: Blue Rose Photography
Music
Not every party needs a live DJ or band; creating a simple playlist on your computer or smartphone is an easy (and free) way to set a fun mood. We suggest an assortment of holiday music, both classic and modern! Christina Aguilera’s Christmas album is highly underrated and, of course, the classics by Bing Crosby are always a hit.
Décor
Your level of décor is totally up to you; you can go all out and literally deck the halls with sparkle and shine, or you can go simple and chic with pretty white candles and holiday-themed florals and greens, and of course, find the perfect spot to hang that Mistletoe! We always suggest checking out Pinterest for easy décor inspiration.
Ambiance
One thing people often forget about is lighting. We always suggest dimming the lights down a bit for a warm and cozy vibe.
Keep it cool
Your home will inevitably heat up as soon as guests start arriving and can get really stuffy and uncomfortable. We always suggest setting the temperature to 65-70 degrees (and never above 70!) about 30 minutes before guests arrive; this will ensure the room will stay moderately cool during the party but always adjust accordingly.
Prep the bar
Around the same time you’re adjusting the room temperature, make sure to also chill any champagne, white wine or rose to ensure everything is cold by the time guests arrive and want to start celebrating. That said, we also love having one festive drink at every party; a simple idea would be champagne with pomegranate seeds – festive and easy! If you want to take it up a notch, we recommend this Blackberry Thyme Sparkler recipe from SMP Living. You can also come up with a fun name for your signature cocktail to further get into the holiday spirit.
Add a unique touch
As the host or hostess, you can enhance your party with adding something that is unique to you. Whether that is personalizing favors at each place setting, sending your guests home with your favorite family cookie recipes (wrapped in a cute bow of course!), or setting up a hot cocoa bar, give your guests an extra special and thoughtful warm holiday touch.
Happy Holidays!
Xx, The Planning Society