I thought it would be fun to highlight our favorite holiday party planning tips in this week's blog.
The holidays can be magical when you surround yourself with loved ones and what better way to enjoy them, but with great food and drink.
My husband and I love to entertain. One of my favorite ways of entertaining is creating the small touches to make it special.
This could be anything from mistletoe above the door, to colorful votive glass or small candy canes placed on martini glasses.
A few years ago, my husband, who loves to cook, introduced me to Epicurious. They have great recipes, as well as a plethora of information, such as stating the start to finish time to make a recipe and little forks as their fork user ranking system.
The recipe link below is Bloody Mary Shrimp - it ranked very high on their web site and it looks delicious.
Bloody Mary Shrimp Recipe
Top Five Holiday Planning Tips -
1. Check the weather starting 10 days out - this will help you make changes to keep your guests comfortable, such as adding more heaters or creating an area to place their coats and umbrellas.
2. Plan your menu with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices that are easy to consume (I love small bites), so your guests can have a variety of selections. We recommend anywhere from 4-6 different appetizers.
3. Hire an experienced bartender - they know how to make great drinks. Also,have the bartender arrive about an hour earlier, so he or she can set up the bar.
4. As the host or hostess, please have alternative transportation in case one of your guests has a little too much cheer. Cab vouchers are great or you can even have the phone numbers of reliable cab companies on hand should the need arise.
5. If you are having a large cocktail party, consider hiring a planner to assist with the last minute details.
6. If you want your guests to dance, hire a disc jockey. Professional disc jockeys know how to read the crowd and can play music to make your party fun!
7. I always recommend hiring wait staff (maybe one person or more depending on your guest count), who can pass appetizers and assist with clean up.
8. Create a party list and run it by your event planner to make sure you have not forgotten any important items. Last minute shopping or staff hires can be expensive.
9. Add pretty lighting to your party - it can be votive candles with LEDs or the real thing. Remember to keep the flames away from flammable items and at the end of the night, make sure everything is extinguished. I grew up in a family with firemen (my uncles and cousins) and this has been rule number one, from day one.
10. Once your team is in place, give yourself a couple of hours to get ready before the guests arrive. Then, right before they arrive, all you need to do is dim the lights, start the music and ask your bartender to make your favorite cocktail.
XO
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Wishing everyone happy holidays! Love, Gianna
XO
Great blog thanks for sharing with us. And really awesome Bloody Mary Shrimp Recipe.
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