Host the Perfect Holiday Gathering

• YOU choose your party style! Small and intimate or grand and over the top. It’s up to you, decide and commit. 
• Commit! Stick to your first idea and don’t stress over the invitation. Once you start inviting friends and family you are committing to the event. No turning back.
• Say YES to the help! People love to help out. If someone offers to bring a dish or drink take them up on it. They feel useful and you have time to focus on other party details.    
• Knock out anything you can ahead of time. Pull out all the serving ware and decided what food is going where. Clean up small areas around the house during naptime. (aka dust those random nooks/ledges/lighting fixtures). Pick up party items when doing your regular supermarket runs. This will help with any overwhelming feelings the day of the party. 

• Stick to a 2 color palette. This will simplify your shopping and help you focus on a consistent theme and look. Gold, silver or white should be one your accent colors. Bonus* Add twinkle lights. These instantly take any room or focal feature up a notch! Plus it makes people happy and it’s so easy throw a strand of lights up. 
• Tidy up the rooms people won’t see but no need to do a deep clean. Plus a tealight candle or some flowers distract people any areas you have skipped over.
• You choose where to be fancy. It’s ok to use disposable party plates for appetizer or a dessert bar. Mimosas taste just as good out of a plastic flute.

• Store buy where you can! Sometimes food just taste better from the source. Trader Joe’s or Costco appetizers or platters are always a hit!
• Stick to room temperature snack and appetizers. No one wants to be running around thinking about the oven and worrying about timers.
• Empty the dishwasher before your gathering. Helpful guests always ask to help clean up and clear dishes towards the end of the event. Take the help and let them put away dirty dishes.

And when all else fails take a deep breath and relax. Ask for back up help and enjoy a glass of wine. The best advice I ever received during wedding planning, (which I try to remind to myself during any event) is whatever doesn’t happen or get done the guests will never know that it was missing. Don’t get wrapped up in the little things, set a warm and inviting mood and that’s what guests will be talking about the next day.
Cheers and Happy Holidays!