Be the host with the most
The holiday season is full of opportunities to gather friends to celebrate. Whether it’s a large corporate Christmas party or a smaller cocktail party, planning the perfect seasonal event isn’t always straight-forward. Decorations, refreshments and atmosphere are all important, but how do you start? More importantly, how can you guarantee your event will be successful?
To answer those questions, 280 Living met with party experts Lauren Clowers, a catering sales manager with Birmingham Marriott on U.S. 280, and Ashlee Moore, a Cahaba Valley resident who finds any excuse she can to host a party.
Small gatherings at home
“I think it’s important to have the atmosphere set,” Moore said. “You want to have fun music playing, and you want to have a candle lit. I consider a party an experience, so when I go to one I want to have an experience.”
Before you can create that “experience” Moore references, she said it’s important to take out a notebook and plan the party. There are things you need to take into consideration when hosting a party, like the size of the group and your desired timeline of the event. Is it a nighttime party for couples, or a daytime brunch for the ladies?
Moore also said the host should start planning a menu about a week before the event. Even earlier than that, though, you should decide how to invite guests (online or printed invitations, phone calls or texts), what you are going to have at the party and how you will decorate.
Invitations
“I like to put it on paper; I want it to be pretty,” Moore said. “I would start thinking about the invitation I wanted to make now. I love to make an invitation, so when they receive it, it’s like they got a little gift in the mail.”
That’s why she prefers smaller group settings. She thinks it’s easier to think outside the box, get creative and make those individuals feel special.
Decorations
Moore suggests using what you have and getting creative. She said she frequently finds décor outside her back door.
“Pull a branch out of the yard, put it in something and hang a bunch of vintage ornaments on it,” Moore said. “Make that the centerpiece instead of a traditional poinsettia.”
She also uses bark and moss from her backyard to create her own manger scene, and she finds ideas for homemade potpourri on Pinterest. If homemade is not your thing, Moore recommends checking out thrift stores. They have a lot of decorations that are light on your wallet. She says you can add those items in with your current décor to freshen up the scene.
Refreshments
“Pull out your fun Christmas china but then decorate with greenery,” Moore said. “Have a fun cocktail. Have a fun frittata and yummy food. It should feel special.”
Moore said she’s known for serving a particular cocktail at her own holiday parties. It’s a mixture of champagne, white wine, cranberries and orange concentrate. She suggests getting out fun, funky glasses for people to choose from, and if you don’t already have some, Moore said to start a collection from the thrift shop.
Large events at a venue
From large corporate events to family gatherings of 30-50 people, Clowers has planned it all, but her favorite events are holiday parties.
“What we take into consideration is what’s popular, what they would like to see in terms of budget and how do they want to spend their money,” Clowers said. “We put a lot of emphasis here on our food and beverage portion.”
She said there are many fun ideas that can take the traditional holiday party and give it a little more life. Although the Marriott hosts many corporate holiday events, Clowers said there are many ways to separate work from the party.
The mood
“I love it when they get musicians or DJs,” Clowers said. “Putting in that band or DJ, even if they are just playing holiday music all night, it makes it awesome.”
Tunes like “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride” can put people in a festive mood, and Clowers said traditional decorations transform the atmosphere into one worth celebrating. The Marriott uses traditional holiday colors such as red, green and gold to decorate their trees, and they hang lights in the atrium.
“The other thing I have seen a lot of is glitter this year,” Clowers said. “Glitter is everywhere, which is fine, it’s just very glittery. That’s always fun.”
The drinks
While a traditional dinner party might offer coffee with dessert, Clowers said she always encourages people to go for something a little more festive and fun — hot chocolate and apple cider.
“It’s really neat, it’s really fun and it’s different,” Clowers said. “You hope that it’s cold enough here that it is OK. You never know with Alabama.”
And, of course, holiday-inspired cocktails are a popular trend Clowers has seen lately. That’s why some venues will offer to try out new recipes and customize drinks for guests. She’s seen holiday-themed drinks with gin or bourbon, and some are served warm or with a cinnamon stir stick.