It’s never too early to start thinking about holiday parties here at The Catered Affair. The holiday season invites our most creative ideas to make each party sparkle and stand out, and we’re seeing some new trends for this year’s holiday events that we want to share with you in plenty of time for you to incorporate them into your event.
Making your holiday party extra-special, whether it’s for a corporate or company party or an event at home with friends and family, takes plenty of forethought and insight into what’s fresh and new. Here are a few of our tips for holiday parties this year.
Search for a Unique Venue
If you’re hosting a catered corporate holiday party in Boston, your options for a memorable venue are practically limitless. Allow your guests to get a glimpse into Boston’s literary history with an affair at the Boston Public Library complete with new event spaces in the newly renovated Central Library, rent a private estate for a one-of-a-kind experience, or give your guests the one of a kind artistic experience at the Institute of Contemporary Art or the Harvard Art Museums . Consider the natural assets that the holiday season brings when you’re picking your location as well. Holiday lights and Evergreens line Copley Square, Faneuil Hall and a number of other locations in the city. In the suburbs, beautifully decked out homes line the streets to get your guests in the spirit before they even arrive. Explore our venue list feature for some inspiration in New England and Beyond.
Remember the Small Details
Holiday parties are all about that special, once-a-year feel, so consider your first impression. Everyone feels welcome when they’re greeted at the door by a waiter with a flute of champagne, and with that unexpected New England weather, guests everywhere will appreciate the added touch of a valet parking cars along your street or in the nearest garage to your venue.
Set the Tone with Your Decor
Show your guests that your party will be a fresh take on the holidays the moment they walk in the door with these tips on this year’s holiday decor trends from Vice President of Sales, Andrew Marconi:
- Focus on making your decor fresh and exciting with creative centerpieces or really highlight the natural beauty of your venue with soft lighting.
- Consider monochromatic florals in three vessels to provide texture and a surprising look for your guests.
- Hand calligraphy is an extra-special touch. Use it on menu cards or place cards that show you took the extra-special step to seat people accordingly.
- Utilize fresh herbs in your flower arrangements or wrapped as part of your napkin display to add fragrance. Rosemary is a classic choice for the holidays and pairs beautifully with beef or pork when they are served.
Get Playful with Your Drinks
A great bar is an essential part of any party, but at a holiday party you can have some fun with your drinks, whether that’s cute, holiday-inspired names or drink recipes that allow seasonal ingredients to shine. Here are a few seasonal drink recipes that add warmth and spirit to any holiday event:
- Pumpkin & Apple Cider Fizz: 1.5 oz. Pumpkin Puree, 1.5 oz Vanilla Vodka, 2 oz Apple Cider, 1.5 oz Ginger Beer
- Crisp Kringle: cranberry juice, splash of white creme de menthe, 3 oz. of Champagne
- Spice Cocktail: spiced rum, pear nectar, lime juice and nutmeg
- Snowflake Martini: 3 oz. white cranberry juice, 2 oz. blue curacao, 1 oz. vodka, dry ice for effect
Make the Food Extra-Memorable
Part of the delight of the holidays is the abundance of food. At The Catered Affair, we strive to make every event memorable, but winter holiday parties call for particularly decadent recipes and beautiful presentation. Passed hors d’oeuvres and small plate presentations encourage mixing and mingling at a holiday cocktail party, and we love to mix it up with a variety of dishes instead of a seated meal. Some of our favorite menu items for the holiday party season include:
- Blue Cheese Popovers with Beef & Horseradish Cream
- Sweet Potato Biscuits with Barbecued Beef and Cole Slaw
- Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Cinnamon and Sage Brown Butter
- Mini Truffled Chicken Pot Pies
And of course, you have to have dessert. Classic favorites are always the answer during the Christmas and New Year’s party season:
- Buche de Noel
- Warm Apple Cider Donuts
- Limoncello Sips with Lemon Sorbet
- Cranberry Linzer Torte
- Pear Tart Bardalou
For more information on The Catered Affair’s unique corporate holiday parties and private holiday parties in Massachusetts, get in touch with us.