It’s the most wonderful time of the year… right? Bueller?
Okay, I have to admit, while I LOVE this time of year it does at times get stressful and overwhelming. Sometimes I can’t see the next move between my holiday obligations, work, family, finances, expectations, and occasional crazy weather. At this point in time I’ve only done just a little bit of holiday shopping (YIKES). Though, if you are like me then you will be excited to read that I have some great last minute holiday prep materials for you right now!
My 2016 Holiday Gift Guide was sponsored by several great companies. All of the companies I choose to highlight are ones that I use and can recommend on my personal experience.
The holidays are seriously right around the corner and I am a little bit shocked. I still have my stocking stuffer gift guides coming to the blog and lots of holiday shopping that still needs to be done. YIKES! This weekend will likely be a big holiday party weekend and I was thrilled to be asked back to KATU’s Afternoon Live to share my last minute holiday party tips.
Here is my spot! Scroll below to look for links to some of the items discussed on this clip.
Holiday Party Tips
Below are some of the tips I shared in my segment and some great links to more tips, recipes, ideas, and DIYs. I also snapped a few behind the scene photos from yesterdays shoot and have shared them below.
Think of people’s schedules.
My favorite type of holiday party to host is an Open House style party so that people can come and go as they please and still make it to any other holiday obligations they may have. Brunch time parties, late afternoon, or early evening are great times for an Open House style party. Avoid dinner time as you would want to serve heavier foods and more people have plans during the holidays at dinner time.
The Holiday Party Decor Tips Segment Set-Up before rolling on screen!
Decorate with What You Have
Use items from your own holiday decor or that will coordinate with your holiday decor to decorate for your holiday party. Use natural elements such as garlands and rosemary Christmas trees as decoration as well. (See the Natural Green & White Holiday Party for more ideas.)
Pick a color scheme and use it throughout the party.
Pick a color scheme that coordinates with the holiday decor items you are using and extend that throughout the party to make everything look like it goes together. (Use balloons on stemless beverage-ware to make your glasses stand out and coordinate. This tip has been on a lot of party blogs, but I think the first place I saw it was over on Hostess with the Mostess – click for her tutorial on balloon dipped glasses!)
Create height at the food buffet.
Use platters and stands to create a food display at various heights. TIP: If you don’t have a lot of stands and platters fill a vase with holiday decor and set your platter on top. You can also make yourself an awesome (and inexpensive) cake stand with a glass, glue, and plate! (Check out my tutorial on EAT DRINK PRETTY for making your own cake stand.)
Serve bite sized appetizers and just refill your platters throughout the party.
This not only looks better but it is safer than letting food sit for several hours. Keep platters prepped and in the fridge or in the oven on warm setting so that you can easily replenish. If you are worried about spending the afternoon replenishing platters instead of engaging with your guests farm that chore out to family and friends who ask how they may help. (Check out my favorite holiday appetizers .)
The holiday bar set up before its TV debut!
Set up a Beverage Bar!
Don’t spend the entire party making your guests drinks. Set out a simple beverage bar or batch drink (punch bowls are totally back in style) and let guests serve themselves. For the holidays I recommend creating a Sparkling Wine bar with additions such as pomegranate seeds, sugared rosemary, sugared cranberries, and your favorite liquor. I love the Marrionberry Vodka from Wild Roots as a festive addition to a glass of sparkling wine. Pour 3/4 oz of Marrionberry Vodka into a glass and top (carefully, it will bubble!) with 5 oz of sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of sugared rosemary.
Yes, Give Party Favors.
Party favors are a way to extend your party in the memories of your guests. Give them something to enjoy after the party! My favorite holiday party favor ideas:
Set out little holiday bags or boxes for your guests to fill with sweets. BONUS: Now you won’t have a ton of leftover sweets from the party!
Give your guests a small bag of stocking stuffers. They can use the ones that they want or they can use them in stockings at home so that they don’t have to go out and buy as much. I’d LOVE for someone to do me the favor of getting some of that type of holiday shopping out of the way.
Give an ornament. Beautiful and small ornaments are a really lovely way for a guest to remember the party year after year.
We try to get family photos a couple times each year to really capture the growing boys and important moments in our family. Holiday photos have become sort of a new tradition for us since having kiddos so that we can have a new set of image for our holiday cards. Last yearMacey Snelson Photography joined us as we picked our Christmas tree out. This year we decided a trip out to Mt. Hood to play in the snow was in order. What I didn’t realize is that both my husband and I wore the SAME SHIRTS two years in a row. HA!
Even with the same shirts on two years in a row we managed to get completely different images and really wonderful memories from Macey Snelson Photography. Here are some of my favs:
At the end of the session Macey also snagged a couple of new headshots of me for the holiday season. Snow made them magical.
I’d love to see YOUR holiday family photos! If you’ve posted them drop a link or share your profile with me so that I can see them!
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