There are few things I love more than hosting a festive soirée when my halls are decked and holiday music is on repeat. And while adding another event to your calendar during the busy month of December can seem daunting, with my step-by-step guide to holiday hosting, you can focus on being merry and enjoying this special time of year with family and friends — and not on all the stress that hosting typically brings.
Step One – Mise en Place
Mise en place is a French term that translates to “everything in its place” — and I apply it to holiday hosting by always making my first step in the process gathering all the supplies I’ll need for my event: food + drink supplies, servingware, decor. If I need it for the party, it goes onto my kitchen island so I can survey what I already have on hand and assess what I need to shop for. By doing this a couple of weeks before your event, you’ll ensure you have everything you need on hand – without a last minute scramble.
For food + drink supplies for holiday hosting, my go-to is Trader Joe’s. Not only do they usually have a great selection of fun and delicious seasonal items — which are a must-have for any festive soirée — they also offer party staples, like wines, cheeses, and charcuterie, at a great everyday price.
For serveware needs, pick up classic, non-seasonal items from Target and World Market. While it’s always fun to have holiday-specific serveware, white platters can be used year-round for any holiday or event, making them much more versatile than pieces you can only use once a year. And when those basic pieces are mixed in with seasonal decor from Paper Source and anthropologie, you still are able to create a really festive feel.
Step Two – Mix Up Some Drinks
When it comes to the actual day of your festive soirée, I recommend keeping things as easy for yourself as possible — and this philosophy is of utmost importance when it comes to drinks so you’re not spending the whole time bartending. Set up a bar where guests can serve themselves — and in addition to offering a mix of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic options, having one or two seasonal cocktails available.
For the holiday season, offer a Pomegranate Spritzer and a Pomegranate Moscow Mule. In addition to being extremely festive, these cocktails have several overlapping ingredients, making them easier to shop for and very efficient to mix up. The drink recipes below can be easily multiplied to make a large batch ahead of your event. When trying to figure out if your bar is stocked enough, a general rule of thumb is to assume your guests will enjoy two drinks the first hour of your event, and a drink an hour after that.
Pomegranate Spritzers [Serves Four]
- 1 bottle Prosecco (Foxtrot has a great selection)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 ounces pomegranate juice
- 8 ounces club soda
- Fresh rosemary and pomegranate seeds for garnish
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small pan, then add 1 cup sugar to boiling water and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Then, remove syrup from heat and let cool. Pour 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 ounce pomegranate juice, and 2 ounces club soda into each champagne flute. Fill each glass the rest of the way with chilled Prosecco and stir. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and fresh sprig of rosemary.
Pomegranate Moscow Mule [Serves One]
- Ice
- 1.5 ounces of vodka
- 4 ounces of ginger beer, chilled
- 1 ounce of pomegranate juice
- ½ ounce lime juice
- Fresh mint, pomegranate seeds, and lime for garnish
Fill your copper Moscow Mule mugs with ice, then add the vodka, ginger beer, pomegranate juice, and lime juice. Stir to combine, and then garnish with fresh mint, pomegranate seeds, and lime.
Step Three – Go Heavy on the Appetizers
When it comes to holiday hosting, my recommendation is to skip the sit down meal, and offer your guests an array of heavy appetizers instead. Since the holiday season is busy, many of your guests may have more than one party to drop into, thus making the logistics of when to serve a full meal complicated. Additionally, going heavy on the appetizers makes it easier on you as the host, increasing the chances you’ll actually get to partake in the merriment as well.
At my holiday soirées, I like to have cheeseboards throughout my home so that they’re easily accessible to guests. Load them up with an array of cheeses, charcuterie, crackers, and fruits, alongside plates and napkins so guests can enjoy as much or as little as they want. Complement these cheeseboards with an array of warm appetizers — like mini-pizzas, meatballs, spinach + artichoke dip — throughout the event.
Step Four – Sweeten the Deal
Take a similar approach to dessert as the mains — focus on simplifying your life as the party host by creating dessert boards and having several strategically stationed around your home. Load them up with a variety of different types of desserts — everything from sugar cookies to ginger snaps to mini apple pies — and also include some fresh fruit in case guests prefer to satisfy their sweet tooth that way.
Cheers to another great holiday season and eating, drinking, and being merry with those you love most!
Katie Urban is a lifestyle blogger and hosts A Touch of Teal. Read her blog to find the perfect desk-to-drink or weekend outfits, travel guide for your next adventure, home decor ideas—and cocktail recipes for when you have people over, a new book to read, or just reflections on life as a millennial living in DC.
