Being surrounded by friends and family is a prime ingredient for a glam holiday—along with fabulous decor, impeccable lighting, festive music, a beautiful centerpiece, the perfect tree and bottomless drinks, that is!
This season, we enlisted celebs' most coveted event designers to find out their secrets to achieving a beautiful holiday setting, essentials you need own and how to flawlessly execute your soiree in sophisticated style.
Glam Holiday Theme: "Stick to one or two festive themes that thread seamlessly throughout your space. Whether your decor style is traditional, modern, glam or rustic, be sure to select items that complement one another," advises David Merrell from AOO Events and creative authority for high profile events featuring Gwen Stefani and Bruno Mars. "I prefer a sleek and polished look for my holiday tree and typically only use white lights. The last thing you want to do make your tree look massively busy with too many ornaments."
Lighting: The secret to making everything look instantly better is proper lighting. Colin Cowie, the mastermind behind Oprah Winfrey's and Jennifer Aniston's most spectacular events, says "Try to avoid downward florescent lighting and opt for soft upward lighting that complement the decor (and your guests) features! Dim the lights and add loads of candles in different sizes to create a truly dramatic atmosphere for your guests."
Floral: Flowers are absolutely essential when throwing a glamorous holiday party. Saco Sarkissian, floral design artist to Kourtney Kardashian and owner of Petals LA, reveals what his A-list clients are vibing this holiday season. "Right now everyone is obsessed with pavé (tightly grouped) monochromatic vanilla and white flowers. Clients are loving peonies, roses, lilies, and orchids in pale pink, dusty purple, and warm yellow. These colors are chic year round! Sarkissian reminds us, "You don't have to spend a fortune on flowers, a few garden roses in a small julep vase can also be the perfect touch."
Music: When it comes to festive tunes, Cowie recommends, "You shouldn't make it all about Santa. Just play great music! Take your best cocktail playlist and mix in 20 percent holiday songs."
Pre-Party Purchase: Merrell reminds us, "Guests will arrive at different times, and you want to ensure the appetizers stay warm. A proper chafing dish is essential for the holidays and totally reusable for other times of the year as well."
Menu: Cowie recommends that when hosting your holiday event, "Set up food stations. I like charcuterie, smoked salmon and rye bread (with frozen vodka or aquavit), plus one warm dish like turkey stew, chicken pot pie, or risotto. To serve, have a tray of espresso cups and spoons at the ready so people can have a taste."
Never Do This: "Don't create a gigantic rat nest of decorations! Just because you have loads of ornaments doesn't mean you have to use all of them. Reserve your right to edit, edit and then edit one more time to keep things simple and sophisticated!" exclaims Cowie. "Stinky cheese is a conversation killer. It's delicious, but avoid serving overly fragrant food in general," suggests Merrell.
Relax and Have Fun! "Greet your guests at the door with a huge smile! Take their coats and offer them a drink ASAP! The more prepared you are, the more the room will come alive, and the more welcome your guests will feel," concludes Cowie.