Holiday Glitz: Party Planning
Bring on the glitz! While this is more up Aleah’s alley than Nick’s, we’re both equally excited about holiday entertaining and fun! For our December entertaining spread in San Diego Magazine we put on the Ritz with our decadently glitzy table top and entertaining tips. Why not go all out for the holidays? It’s the one time of year when you can lay it on thick and everyone will appreciate the touch of glamour.
Elements of a place setting: Start with a white bistro table cloth and dress with a sequined runner {or a scarf, in our case!}. Lay the framework for the place setting with a glittering charger and plain bistro napkin wrapped in a sequin band {buy a yard or so from the fabric store for a few dollars – it looks like a million bucks!}. Aleah likes to mix metallics on the holidays. It creates depth and interest and a little surprise as you remove each layer.
Add striped chargers {in case you missed our DIY you can see it at the bottom of the post!} and a beautiful black plate. Dress up ordinary silverware with some gold cutlery for some pizzazz.
Welcome your guests with a classic dish: oysters on the half-shell. We serve ours atop sea salt for a unique touch and top with parsley and a lemon wedge alongside a teeny pearl spoon. Aleah loves penning whimsical place cards like these; we also shared this DIY project a while back so be sure to check it out so you can make your own!
Add little table top accoutrements like vintage champagne saucers {and our other elements we’ll reveal in later posts!} and you have it. A classically festive holiday bash with glitzy details any guest will swoon over!
Of course, topping cocktails with whimsical touches makes them that much better, doesn’t it?
Photos by McGuire Photography for Valley & Co. and San Diego Magazine
Are you all prepped for holiday soirees? Do you dream in glitz like Aleah does during the holidays?
You’ll need:
Plastic trays in whatever color you’d like {we used black and white} – we got ours from Target for $2 a piece! | metallic everyday spray paint in gold or silver | 1″ blue painter’s tape {or smaller or wider depending on how big you want your stripes} | a guitar pick
Take your tray and start from one edge taping the painter’s tape from the left side to the right, holding tape tight as to not make any bubbles. Continue to make stripes as skinny or fat as you like. Smooth each stripe with a guitar pick. Warning: if you skip this step the paint can seep under the tape.
Take your trays outside and lay flat on packing paper. Spray lightly from about 6″ away covering the tray evenly.
Let the paint dry and cure before you bring it back indoors.Gently pull the tape off holding the tray firm {be sure to pull the tape straight up}.
…and the link to our whimsical place card DIY, first seen on our wedding blog. See the full instructions below:
You’ll need:
black {or dark} paper cut to 8″ in length by 1″ in width | white ink pen | a pencil
Take your strips of paper and write guests’ names towards the right-hand side with a curly and swirling hand.
Take the left end of the paper and secure it with your finger tightly to the middle of a pencil.
Carefully curl around and around a few times tightly until you reach the name.
Take your pencil out and voilà!
Aren’t these perfect for a festive holiday bash or a darling wedding? We sure think so. 
Photos by McGuire Photography for Valley & Co.
Tell us: what do you envision using these for? If you recreate for your holiday celebration please share your photos! We’d love to see!
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love the mix of sparkle and metallics…so easily done with just a couple extra special pieces! I love the idea of using pretty trim for napkin rings!
Loving those place cards and that little bit of a gold artichoke I see in the one photo. What a festive tablesetting. And, I must find myself a fun cocktail ring to celebrate with this holiday season. Love yours
i love this inspiration!!
Totally cute. We are having a cocktail party for Christmas and although we don’t have very much room for formal seating, I love these ideas for place settings!
Kristina
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Is your gold cutlery disposable? Also, is Pizzazz a website or store? I am looking for disposable gold cutlery that looks like the real deal.
Thanks,
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay,
No – the cutlery is ours. You can often rent gold from a local rental company and even pick up pieces yourself to avoid a delivery feel.
Pizzazz? We were referring to addding Pizzazz, as in a pop of fun, in the post.
Shop Sweet Lulu has an assortment of fun disposable table top musts and cutlery: http://shopsweetlulu.com/category/Utensils/c79 Not sure if they have gold….if not try a local restaurant supply shop. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!