Timeless entertaining

Fresh off the Martha Stewart doc and my entertainment wheels are spinning!

My grandparents always created the most memorable, cozy and inspirational gatherings during the holidays. They were great hosts in general all year-round and hosted quite a few parties in their days. Their gatherings always left a mark on me and are part of the reason why I love entertaining to this day.

Their parties always had an energy and essence that felt like something out of story book. I felt the rest of the world melt away when I was there - and forgot about everything outside of their cozy candle-lit walls. I’ve been to only a handfull of gatherings and parties as an adult that have encapsulated that essence - and I always leave feeling inspired and invigorated to host a gathering of my own.

So on the brink of entertaining season, I thought I would share a few notes from my grandparents (and things I’ve personally learned over the years) that I love to use to create a memorable and thoughtful gathering.

Consistency

Every single year, my grandparents delivered. They always created a memorable day, one that felt incredibly special, custom and derived from love. We always knew there would be something special and unexpected which contributed to the excitement and build-up leading to the day.

To me, consistency looks like always being known for something. Always hosting at the same time each year - having a dazzling element or two, and staying organized so your guests know what to expect and look forward to.

Some ideas:

Ground yourself and your party with a solid anchor of delight. This can be different each year - but it serves as something that stands out and draws interest.
Create an over-the-top dessert bar.
Change the layout / seating arrangement meant to keep things fresh and inviting. There is nothing worse than a stale, predictable party layout that never changes year after year. Even if this adds an element of change - it gives your guests the element of surprise that they know they can look forward to seeing at your specific party.

Use Trends Thoughtfully

Although the title of this post is “Timeless Entertaining”, I do believe in the art of trends when it comes to gatherings. Trends ground us in a period of time, they anchor us socially and culturally, and most importantly they give us something to look back on. I prefer a subtle use of a trend versus a literal thematic visualization that feels one-note.

Consider the trends you’re eyeing and pair them down - try to strip them down to their bare bones and reconstruct them in a way that feels native to your gathering.

Some ideas:

As opposed to setting a theme for your gathering, use stylistic signifiers to draw parallels. Rather than stating, “the theme of my holiday party is Bridgerton”, use a classical-inspired font on your invitation. Look into floral design from that period of time. Choose a dessert unique to that region and part of history.
Use fruits / bread / as part of your florals and decor.

Delve into the Details

There are no details too small when it comes to crafting a memorable event.

Set three priorities for yourself so you don’t feel too overwhelmed with the notion that everything needs to be perfect. In fact, everything shouldn’t be perfect and there should be some elements that you don’t even bother with. I like choosing three areas to be “known for” at my gatherings so that my guests can remember them.

For me, these three details are usually great food, beautiful florals, and an element of personalization for each guest like a parting gift or personalized dinner menu with a note.

Be intentional with the details, dare I say methodical. Let those details speak to the nature of your event and heed its aura.

Some ideas:

Create a custom welcome cocktail
Give your guests a parting gift like Swiss chocolates, a small floral arrangement, seasonal spices or jams wrapped in fabrics.
Design a custom invitation that is interactive like a box of homemade cookies with a personal handwritten note.
Use color consistently through your decor and florals, cocktails and even menu to create cohesion.

Leave No Room

I mean this figuratively as opposed to literally. I’ve been to so many events and parties where there is an awkward gap of time that leaves guests feeling in limbo. There is nothing like a total vibe-killer than being in limbo - it will completely suck the energy from your guests and drain the room of chemistry.

A great party flows and exudes an aura of excited energy from start to finish. Insert moment of anticipation - but not confusion or guessing. Set a schedule for yourself and keep the party running to those time markers. Keep in mind, this “schedule” shouldn’t feel rushed or rigid - the goal is not to make your guests feel like they’re on a schedule at all - but rather at a well-planned event that flows from one element to the next.

Some ideas:

Create a goal timeline for your gathering with key milestones.
Make expectations as clear as possible on the invitation and at the event - signage is a great way to do this.
Instead of using language like, “Festive Fete at 7” say, “Dinner, Drinks and Dessert Inspired by the Season” - it may seem obvious but be as clear as possible.
Mark the end of the event with a signal. For example, note the opening of your late-night cocktail lounge in the living room with festive drinks or replace the once flowing hors d'oeuvres table with parting gifts for each guest.

The goal here is to take any guessing room out and make the flow of your party as fluid and organized as possible. You will also feel more relaxed at your event when you know the rough schedule and timing of things as opposed to feeling lost.

Craft a Moment of Delight & Dazzle

I always love when a party has something “over the top” that feels like a sensory moment of indulgence. Some folks go above and beyond and do a few of these throughout the evening - but I find that doing one is just as powerful. My grandparents aways had an over-the-top dessert that came out at the end of dinner. It was always different, but each year it was something remarkable and completely dazzling.

Some ideas:

Hire a bartender to serve beautiful drinks all evening.
A champagne or cookie/dessert tower.
Cookies hung on a wreath or garland.
Bring in a skilled artisan to do something one-of-a-kind, for example permanent jewelry or musician.
Use craft paper as your tablecloth and give your guests crayons to draw.
Leave a candle lit in the bathrooms with disposable hand tissues as opposed to everyone using the same hand towel.
I’m not the biggest fan of games but there is that one scene from Marie Antionette where they’re playing a game where they each have someone who is famous on a card attached to their forehead and they have to guess who they are - I love that idea as a moment of interaction.