The fully stocked bar, the gourmet spread, the tabletop and dining room decor. Don't have the budget it takes to host a glamorous holiday party? Fake it with one of these four fabulous (and wallet-friendly!) party themes.
Holiday Party Idea No. 1:
Fete of Fire and Ice
Before you head inside for winter hibernation, why not kick off the holiday season with a marshmallow toasting and chestnut roasting party? Dine outdoors or, if you live in an area where the chill is more of a freeze, invite guests to feast in your dining room before stepping outside to warm dessert over an open fire. Spark up the fireplace, dim the lights and fill the room with candles. Dress the table in the natural colors of winter. Find your palette in shades of white, cream, chocolate brown and icy silver. Easy essentials like white china and plain glass stemware work perfectly. Go one step further and add elegance to your tabletop with festive silver chargers (glass or acrylic fakes are great!). Pick up a few bunches of white and cream roses and—staying true to the season's stark color palette—strip them of their leaves. Make numerous low, tight arrangements and intersperse them with the candles. Feeling crafty? Amp up your candles by brushing them with glue and rolling them in white and silver sprinkles. Trim individual, handwritten place cards with the same glitter. In keeping with the toasting and roasting motif, sprinkle the table with sprigs of chestnuts. As favors, stuff individual cellophane bags with chestnuts and ingredients for s'mores. Keep your menu warm and hearty: think soups, stews and roasted autumnal vegetables. And for the evening's signature drink, how about a White Russian, the ideal sip for this winter soirée? To turn your backyard into a winter wonderland, spark up several outdoor fire pits (certain to get plenty of mileage over the next few summers) and litter the snow-covered lawn with candle-filled lanterns and paper luminarias. To keep quests warm and cozy, offer comfy blankets, furry scarves and snuggly wraps, stashed in pretty baskets near the door. After an evening filled with food, drink and fire your guests will be ready to stow away for the winter... until your next holiday party, that is.
