CHRISTMAS PARTY STYLING FOR LARGE NUMBERS
Large gatherings at Christmas can be daunting, not least when you are the host. After a recent large family party at Milden Hall Tudor Barn we thought we’d share our top tips for stress free party styling.
Chose a theme. Is this a formal Christmas dinner, a relaxed Christmas breakfast, a drinks party or a birthday bash? With the atmosphere and theme you are creating in mind, it is then a good idea to select a colour theme. Is this a red/green/gold Christmas a silver/blue Christmas or like we chose here a colourful explosion!
Mix & Match - often with large numbers you are unlikely to have sets of plates, cutlery and glasses that will accommodate everyone. We love to embrace beautiful things rather than have perfectly matching sets, so why not gather all your favourite pieces and mix them together. A differing selection of glasses can look so pretty and are more interesting to look at. It also helps with remembering which glass is yours if, like us, you always struggle to identify your own one!
Flowers are always brilliant to decorate with, however for large scale events can end up being expensive. Instead try foraging through your garden or local footpaths and see what you can find. Something as simple as ivy can look fantastic. Here we tied huge bunches of ivy with long thick ribbons and threaded coloured fairy lights through them. This was both high impact and cost effective. On the table we simply put sprigs of ivy in 19th Century French Jam Jars.
Lighting is so important, soft warm lighting is always a winner for a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Candles create beautiful dappled light. Here we were embracing all things colourful so found a mixed collection of brightly coloured tapered candles… for such a long table it took a while to light them all!
Finishing touches are the final flourish to your event and table. Ribbons tied around napkins elevate them beautifully, we added a cutting of rosemary here to ensure the table both smelt and looked beautiful. Chocolate in bowls and jars always add a festive touch.
Food and drink are the final flourish to any party, we've got a delicious cocktail to keep you impressing your guests this Christmas. Get the recipe here >>