Deck the halls with boughs of holly…the holidays are right around the corner and there is nary an activity more festive than a good ol’-fashioned holiday party! Here’s our less shiddy guide to throwing a less shiddy dinner party this holiday season.
Don’t underestimate the power of a centrepiece. Centrepieces bring a homey touch of character to a tablescape and help elevate your spread. For some of us, it’s not often we get to gather around a table for a family-style meal, so romanticize it as much as you can! It’s all in the details. This smokey glass vase with a few sticks of holly berries or a bundle of dried flowers can be the perfect seasonal centrepiece.
Set the mood. If there’s one thing more important than the food at a dinner party, it’s the ambiance. Okay, maybe that’s a bit hyperbolic…but we have one rule in the less shiddy club. Never 👏🏻use 👏🏻 the 👏🏻big 👏🏻 light 👏🏻. As HRH Mariah Carey once said, overhead lighting is abusive. We’re going for a sense of coziness and warmth, so rather than that harsh overhead light your house came with, illuminate your space with lamps, or even better — candles. Can it get any more romantic? Check out these simple soy and beeswax candlesticks, or if you want to set the vibes and make your space smell good, these vigyl candles come in a variety of intoxicating and sultry scents.
Plan your meals in advance, shop the day before, and keep it simple. The essence of a dinner party is connecting with friends, so you don’t want to be pulled away by having to be married to stirring a risotto or chopping a whole garden for hours. Prep as much as you can in advance and keep the day-of tasks to a minimum to maximize chill time with your friends! Your pièce de résistance can be as simple as some cheese and crackers or a bowl of Campbell’s— the focus isn’t the food, it’s about the friends we made along the way.
Elevate your tableware. This ain’t your grandma’s dinner party! Inject a little character into your tablescape with some colourful glassware. It’s all about the little everyday luxuries — a funky cocktail glass or a glass spoon can double as moving art and serve as a conversation piece. Don’t shy away from mismatched tableware either — I personally love when every guest has a different glass or plate — it makes everyone feel like they have their own special something and gives so much more character to a dinner. Get bold with the colours like these double-walled glasses, or collect some curios at your local thrift store.
The heart and soul of a dinner party is the connection with loved ones, so however you choose to host your holiday party this season, make sure this is your main focus! Wishing you a less shiddy holiday season 🎁
Remember to be less shiddy to others, our planet, and yourself.