Throwing a holiday party that feels both impressive and effortless is the ultimate goal for any host. Whether you’re planning a cozy family affair, a lively gathering with friends, or a sophisticated soirée, the secret lies in thoughtful preparation, a carefully curated collection of entertaining essentials, and added details that bring convenience and luxury to guests. Here are a few practical tips to help you host a memorable event without losing your holiday cheer.
Hosting Essentials: Review, Replace, Update, and Upgrade
Before sending out the invitations, take a quick inventory of your hosting collection to review what you already have. Take note of what you are missing and what you might need to update, replace, or upgrade. The basics—such as glassware, plates, flatware, and serving bowls—are a must, but the extras make entertaining smoother and more enjoyable. Adding these holiday must-have items to your entertaining essentials will help you focus on planning your menu, guest list, holiday theme, and event details.
Stocking your bar or buffet with the right Barware helps create a festive self-serve beverage station.
- Is this the year to add holiday mugs for cocoa to your collection? Take stock of your glassware to ensure you have what you need for special holiday drinks.
- Invest in a high-quality cocktail shaker set to showcase your mixologist skills.
- Self-serve is easier with an elegant ice bucket and tongs.
- Let your style shine with your choice of bottles for flavored syrups, small bowls for garnishes, pitchers for juices and mixers, a cold drink dispenser, and a hot beverage carafe.
- Crystal or holiday drink stirrers will add a festive touch to cocktails and mocktails.
Go beyond the basics with these Serveware extras to ensure you won’t have to scramble mid-party.
- Is it time to update your holiday-themed dessert and appetizer plates to make mingling and grazing easier?
- You can never have enough serving utensils, so take stock to make sure you have enough large and small spoons, forks, and tongs.
- Specialty serving dishes, such as a handcrafted charcuterie board, a special cake plate, or an heirloom platter, elevate any spread.
The right Linens and Tableware Accents will bring your holiday theme to life.
- Do you have table linens to match this year’s seasonal decor?
- For a sit-down meal, charger plates will add interest and dimension to your tablescape, protect linens, and enhance your holiday theme.
- Having a few seasonal accent pieces stashed where they are easily accessible—think napkin rings, votives, and ribbons—will help you add a touch of cheer to last-minute meals and gatherings.
Impressive Additions: Elevate With Convenience and Luxury
Adding a layer of refinement and exceptional service to your home will elevate any celebration from a lovely gathering to a memorable event. Consider these additions to your kitchen and entertaining area to create a sense of luxury for you and your guests.
- Enhance the flavor and visual sophistication of your drink with craft ice. Favored by mixologists for its larger size, clarity, and slow melt rate, craft ice creates a high-end bar experience. This gourmet ice preserves the integrity of spirit-forward cocktails and keeps fizzy beverages refreshing longer. You can easily keep craft ice on hand with an undercounter specialty ice maker or one of the new refrigerators featuring integrated craft ice makers.
- Undercounter refrigerator drawers and warming drawers help you keep plates at optimum temperatures, pampering guests with the top-tier service experience of fine restaurants. Chilled plates ensure that salad greens and vegetables stay perfectly crisp, while also preserving the texture and flavor of desserts. Warmed plates enhance food aroma and maintain ideal meal temperature to the last savory bite.
- Guests will appreciate a strategically placed undercounter beverage center. This convenient addition to indoor or outdoor entertaining spaces keeps guests’ favorite canned and bottled drinks perfectly chilled and readily accessible.
Your thoughtful planning will set the stage for a party that feels both effortless and unforgettable. To make it a truly impressive occasion, visit our showroom soon, and let our knowledgeable team help you explore an array of appliances that make life easier and take holiday celebrations to the next level.
