Like all great endeavors, it begins with an idea: "We should get together." Invitations are extended, venues are proposed, and menus are discussed. From quiet, intimate gatherings and grand soirees to cocktail parties and potlucks, coming together for food and fellowship has been part of the human experience since we first circled around a fire.
While today's Holiday and Christmas parties may include invites by text message and shared plates rather than fine china and seating charts, the basic premise remains—coming together to share a common experience and spending time with the ones we love.
Inviting people together, whether at your home or another venue, creates unique opportunities for connection, conversation, and shared experiences, making each gathering a special and memorable event.
Consider the partnerships, bold schemes, romances, and grand adventures born from impromptu happy hours, casual dinner parties, or day-long festivities.
The merriment and possibilities abound!
Relationships are nurtured as phones are silenced (or should be) as we listen to and truly see the people around us.
Today, entertaining at home doesn't have to be the most stressful time of the year with starched white linens and an overly complicated menu. Hosting allows us to create an atmosphere that makes our guests feel welcome and comfortable and says something about us. If that means take-out served from the coffee table with people seated on floor cushions, so much the better.
While the etiquette experts (and our grandmas) may advise certain rules when hosting a gathering, we know better—trust your judgment.
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Entertaining is personal, and yes, for that reason, it can feel a bit risky. Wine will spill, the turkey will get dried out, the buns may burn, and the weather can turn on a dime. But on the other hand, jokes will be shared, hands shaken, backs slapped, glasses clinked, and laughter returned.
We're told we live in a divided society, in a time of dissent and discord. Perhaps that's true to an extent, but maybe it's not. People will still come together to share food, share memories, and share smiles.
But maybe entertaining from home—whatever that means to you personally—is more vital today than ever.
In this article, we will share a few tips for making your next holiday get-together a memorable one—with the least amount of stress as possible. Win-win!
Setting the Scene —
While the celebration itself is the star of the show, it is important to not overlook the little details that add to the moment's magic.
Your home may already be decked out in festive décor. However, mixing some natural elements is a surefire way to make your home pop with Christmas cheer. Consider filling glass vases and bowls with pinecones, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks while weaving in a few cedar and evergreen boughs. It'll smell great, too!
Consider adding in some fun and funky vintage items as well. Prefer something new and fresh? RONNINGS is always stocking its shelves with new holiday décor, ornaments, and fun novelty items for Christmas.
Remember, low lighting, candles, and twinkly lights also help give your home a cozy atmosphere but still allow guests to see all the beautiful decorations that deck the walls. Find some holiday decorating inspiration in this blog post.
With party-ready décor checked off your "to-do" list, it's time to create your playlist that includes all the favorite standards, along with instrumental versions of these timeless and traditional songs. Artists like Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, and Elvis, along with soundtracks from our favorite holiday movies and cartoons are welcome on any holiday playlist.
Sorry, kids, but keep the volume low enough for guests to have conversations without yelling. It's important to readjust the volume throughout the night as needed.
Sip & Savor —
You can choose to keep your menu simple—and guests satisfied—with a selection of snacks and appetizers or go all out on a gourmet feast (discover some fun, flavorful food items at RONNINGS). Better yet, make it a potluck (get some recipes here). Most folks love to share some of their favorite holiday foods, and it's a great way to swap recipes and find new favorites.
When serving beverages, it is essential to have non-alcoholic offerings on hand—party punch, water, seltzer, coffee, tea, cider, hot chocolate, and soda are excellent to offer and serve double duty as mixers for alcohol.
Another fun idea for your party is to have a Hot Chocolate Bar and Decorate Your Own Cookie Bar. Both are guaranteed to be huge hits with young and old alike. Make a batch of hot chocolate and keep containers of candy canes, marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, and nilla wafers. Check out our post about creating a sweet and savory hot chocolate bar.
Party Favors —
Send guests home with a parting gift, such as nuts, candy, chocolate, dip mixes, dried soup mixes, and homemade cookies or cookie mixes—all festively packaged and wrapped with raffia, twine, and a bow. See some fun gift ideas below.
