Celebrating the Holidays: Trends, Tips, and Timeless Traditions
If you’re dreaming of hosting the ultimate festive gathering, then your ideal season is fast approaching! The holiday season is a time of warmth, joy, and celebration—a perfect opportunity to embrace togetherness and honor timeless traditions. Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends, or both, it’s the perfect time to create lasting memories and share moments of laughter and cheer.
From Friendsgiving to New Years, there’s so much to look forward to when it comes to event planning. With a little thought and preparation, you can design a gathering that’s both enjoyable for you and unforgettable for your guests.
Whether you’re a veteran host or first-time planner, these top trends, tips, and traditions are sure to enhance your upcoming event and leave everyone with full stomachs and even fuller hearts.
What’s Trending This Year?
Gone are the days of oversized parties and cookie-cutter decorations. As each annual holiday season approaches, a new list of trends enters the chat. Jumping on trends creates a fun way to explore new ideas and step outside of your usual comfort zone when it comes to design and experience. After all, the holidays are about making lasting memories—and what better way to do that than by trying something fresh and fun?
Quality Over Quantity: You may have heard the saying that “love is in the quality, not the quantity” and that rings true for your holiday party, too. Intimate gatherings are this year’s top hit for embracing your most meaningful connections and curating an intimate night with a smaller group that you can guarantee will bring good vibes and even better company. Keep in mind, small get-togethers doesn’t have to mean small entertainment, menus, or personalized touches!
Modern Twists on Designs: Holiday tablescapes and color palettes are evolving this year. Say goodbye to traditional fall colors and hello to a modern twist on the classics. By incorporating pops of color into your tablescapes, like pinks and jewel tones, you can instantly make your design more exciting and unique. Instead of your typical silverware try opting for gold cutlery, a touch of pink glassware, or mixed-texture linens to elevate the look. These unexpected details add warmth and personality, helping your table stand out from the usual holiday fare.
Custom Touches: Custom gifts or take-home keepsakes are small details that can go a long way in enhancing the experience. Afterall, it is the season of giving! Want to go a touch further with personalization? Add a theme to your cocktail menu and give your drinks fun names or make your guests feel extra invited by adding their names to a decorative place setting.
Playful Themes: We love a creative theme to keep ideas cohesive and holiday celebrations are no exception! This year, we’re seeing fun themes like pastel sweets and Candy Land, which are perfect for a kid-friendly cookie decorating party. For a cozy touch, a woodland theme is ideal for backyard s’mores at a Friendsgiving or embrace an après-ski lodge vibe as you ring in the New Year.
The time is now to explore new ways to blend classic traditions with fresh, creative elements to make your event feel both nostalgic and modern. Remember, while trends may evolve, timeless holiday traditions will always provide a foundation to build upon.
Timeless Traditions
The holiday season is a wonderful time to celebrate those cherished and meaningful traditions from years past. In a time where everything is constantly evolving, it can be nice to return to what is familiar and already have a grasp on what to expect going into your dinner or event.
Casual Settings: On days like Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving, when feasting and fun are top priorities, casual attire and settings are a dream come true for guests. Instead of prioritizing style, opt for comfort instead - this takes the pressure off everyone to look good and redirects it to just feeling good, instead.
Interactive Meals & Activities: Going the extra mile on thoughtfulness will never go unnoticed and creating opportunities for your guests to interact at your gathering makes it that much more engaging. Self-serving charcuterie boards, “build your own _____ (you fill in the blanks)”, or DIY craft or activities give guests a chance to customize some of the touches and adds an extra layer of fun.
Embrace the Entertainment: Just because the attire is casual, doesn’t mean the entertainment has to be! Professional live entertainment is a sure fire way to increase the overall experience, but a well-curated playlist and group-style games are sure to do the trick, too.
Bring on the Traditions!: Some of our favorite holiday traditions with family and friends include a little friendly competition, like a Chili Cook-Off or Cocktail Creation Challenge. We also enjoy the fun of a White Elephant or Yankee Swap, which is always a hit for larger groups. And of course, a cookie swap or decorating party is a timeless classic that we return to year after year!
The holidays offer the perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation, making it a season where both old and new traditions can thrive side by side. While you may love your annual traditions, don’t be afraid to mix old with new - you never know what you may end up adding to your list for years to come.
Top Tips
If 2024 is your first time planning and preparing to host loved ones - don’t fret! You don’t have to have years of experience to pull off a day that’s perfect for you and your guests. You should, however, ensure that you’re outlining enough of a plan in advance to make things run smoothly. There is an art to hosting - one that incorporates many elements like design and logistics, but what’s most important is that you’re prioritizing what matters most to you!
Plan Ahead: First things first - when hosting Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, or another holiday soiree, the location and time matters. The holidays can be overwhelmingly busy, so giving yourself enough time to plan and your loved ones enough notice to prepare will make all the difference in your turnout.
Set the Tone: Ensure that all of your elements - from invitations and menus to decor and attire set - all come together to set the tone for your event. Whether you send out a digital RSVP and opt for casual attire or go over-the-top with a more elaborate design and formal dinner options, each piece of your puzzle should give your guests a hint at what is to come on the day of.
Outline Your Splurges: Let’s face it, even the smallest celebrations can add up quickly. But here’s the good news—they don’t have to! The key is to plan your budget in advance and identify the areas where you’d like to splurge. Maybe you’d rather treat your guests to an exceptional meal than invest in live entertainment. Or perhaps it’s more important to you to create stunning décor that sets the tone, rather than putting together personalized gifts for everyone. By mapping out your priorities ahead of time, you’ll be able to focus your budget on what matters most to you—and still have room for those extra special touches. The best part? The choice is yours!
Ask for Help: Don’t get overwhelmed - hosting doesn’t mean that you have to do it all by yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with side dishes or beverages, or a small clean up crew as the night winds down.
In the end, hosting a holiday event is all about making it your own and enjoying the process along the way. It’s not about perfection—it’s about creating an experience that reflects your personal style and brings your loved ones together.
Happy Planning!
It’s easy to get lost in the excitement, holiday decor, and yummy meals this upcoming season. Remember to embrace this time for all of the wonderful and meaningful moments that it provides. Take a deep breath, stay organized, and remember that the best moments often come from the simplest details.
If the thought of handling all the details of hosting a holiday event feels overwhelming, you're not alone. The good news is, you don’t have to do it all yourself! If you'd rather be a guest at your own party than overwhelmed by the planning process, working with an event planner is a stress-free solution. Get in touch today.
