Try Our Holiday Party Planning Tips
POSTED: 8:45 am EST November 10,
2004
UPDATED: 10:23 am EST November 10,
2004
Planning a holiday gathering this year? For a festive celebration that will wow your friends and family, think like a professional party planner.
A good party planner's first task is to create a schedule that outlines deadlines for decorating your home, creating your menu, and shopping for party favors. Planning ahead is the key to eliminating last-minute chaos.
First on your list should be the decorations. Making your own will personalize the party and set the tone for the evening. Whether you are looking for a casual feeling or something more upscale, your decorations will help create the right mood.
Décor
"The first impression of your holiday party begins at the front door," said Larrisa Gleason of Beckett Corporation. "Create an elegant entryway by floating poinsettias or decorative glass ornaments in your existing birdbath or reflection pool."
Once inside, your table is the center of the party and you'll want your centerpiece to be impressive. Here's a simple idea that is also striking: a cake stand centerpiece. Decorate a plain cake stand with thin velvet ribbon and miniature pinecones using Perfect Glue 1, an adhesive made to work on a variety of surfaces. Once you've assembled it, add some festive pillar candles of different heights for a dramatic effect.
Party Food
Next on your schedule should be planning your menu. Will you serve cocktails and hors d'oeuvres or prepare a formal sit-down dinner? Once you've decided on a menu, it will be easy to put together your shopping list and a cooking schedule. Determine what items you can make ahead of time or the day before.
If planning a formal party, one elegant touch is to include individual dinner menus at each place setting. Compose the list of courses (first course, main course, and dessert) and print it out on lightweight vellum. Using pieces of cardstock cut slightly bigger, place a drop of Perfect Glue 1 at the top of each piece of cardstock and press menu on top. Finish by decorating with velvet ribbon and miniature pinecones.
Party Favors
Party favors can serve a dual purpose as a decoration during the party as well as a nice parting gift for your guests. From elegant treat cones that hang on a small tree to playful matchboxes filled with goodies, use your creativity to personalize your favors.
For more detailed information about these holiday projects, visit www.perfectglue.com or call (866) 321-GLUE. For information about Beckett Corporation's fountains and water features, log on to www.888beckett.com or call (800) 888-BECKETT.
Courtesy of ARA Content
A good party planner's first task is to create a schedule that outlines deadlines for decorating your home, creating your menu, and shopping for party favors. Planning ahead is the key to eliminating last-minute chaos.
Décor
"The first impression of your holiday party begins at the front door," said Larrisa Gleason of Beckett Corporation. "Create an elegant entryway by floating poinsettias or decorative glass ornaments in your existing birdbath or reflection pool."
Once inside, your table is the center of the party and you'll want your centerpiece to be impressive. Here's a simple idea that is also striking: a cake stand centerpiece. Decorate a plain cake stand with thin velvet ribbon and miniature pinecones using Perfect Glue 1, an adhesive made to work on a variety of surfaces. Once you've assembled it, add some festive pillar candles of different heights for a dramatic effect.
Party Food
Next on your schedule should be planning your menu. Will you serve cocktails and hors d'oeuvres or prepare a formal sit-down dinner? Once you've decided on a menu, it will be easy to put together your shopping list and a cooking schedule. Determine what items you can make ahead of time or the day before.
If planning a formal party, one elegant touch is to include individual dinner menus at each place setting. Compose the list of courses (first course, main course, and dessert) and print it out on lightweight vellum. Using pieces of cardstock cut slightly bigger, place a drop of Perfect Glue 1 at the top of each piece of cardstock and press menu on top. Finish by decorating with velvet ribbon and miniature pinecones.
Party Favors
Party favors can serve a dual purpose as a decoration during the party as well as a nice parting gift for your guests. From elegant treat cones that hang on a small tree to playful matchboxes filled with goodies, use your creativity to personalize your favors.
For more detailed information about these holiday projects, visit www.perfectglue.com or call (866) 321-GLUE. For information about Beckett Corporation's fountains and water features, log on to www.888beckett.com or call (800) 888-BECKETT.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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