Hosting holiday parties can be stressful, but if you give yourself enough time to plan and organize beforehand, everything can – and will – run smoothly. Here’s a handy holiday hosting timeline to make things easier for you as the hosting season begins!
Prepare Your Space
The first step in your holiday hosting timeline is to prepare your space. Meridian Collectors love to stick to neutral colors and natural textures so that their holiday and tabletop decor compliment what’s already in their home. Order these essentials – which also look beautiful on your everyday dining table – to ensure you have enough time before your event.
If you’re looking for neutral holiday decor ideas, we have a few favorites. Our Peace Ornament Sets and Alpaca Ornament Sets are pretty, neutral accents for your holiday tree, and they also make excellent gift toppers. Meridian Collectors love our best selling Handmade Copper Bells that serve as a gorgeous warm accent grouped together on an accent table, in a bowl, hung on cabinet knobs, door handles, or even stocking hooks. This Juniper Garland is another favorite that looks beautiful anywhere, from a garland on your holiday tree, to along the center of your dining table or mantle.
Create the Menu
Your next step in preparing to host a holiday party is to create the menu. After you decide which recipes you would like to use, how much food you will need, and where you will get the food, spend a moment to consider what serving pieces you might need to complete your tabletop look.
Meridian Collectors love our Maison Pinch Bowls for elegant salt and pepper access, or our Marble Spoon Rest to keep a serving spoon within easy reach on the dining table. Our Cyprus Hand Towel, with its fluffy and soft touch, is a lovely addition to keep on hand, especially while you prepare the menu. As for serving the food, we recommend our Oliver Appetizer Dish for olives or skewers, a Vintage Bread Board to add layers to your table, and these classic and timeless Striped Salad Servers.
Order Last Minute Supplies to Make Guests Comfortable
Now that you have your space and your menu prepared for the party, it’s time to begin thinking about what you can do to make your guests feel more comfortable. You don’t want to forget essentials, like our Bamboo Wrapped Bottle Opener for bar cart or beverage area, a set of Brass Cocktail Spoons for guest’s mixed drinks or hot cocoa, some Gali Onyx Coasters to help protect your surfaces, or this chic French Cube Soap for your guest powder room.
Declutter and Organize Your Home
The day of your party is coming soon and you’ve gotten everything else done on your to-do list. Now, it’s time to declutter and organize your home. That way, your house will be clean and clutter free for guests upon arrival. And, it will be easier for you to navigate as you finish setting up on the day your guests arrive.
For home organization, Meridian Collectors love our Lilou Wire Storage Baskets to catch everything in the guest bath or even the pantry, this Cezanne Market Basket for a more Provincial feel, and this Cairo Catch-All Dish for every little loose odd and end.
Set the Table
Congratulations, you made it to the day of the party! Time to set the table for your guests. We recommend doing a few trial runs beforehand to test and make sure that you know where you want everything to go. That way, on the day of the party, you won’t have to do any guess work or make any last minute adjustments.
We love a beautiful, festive tablescape. So, if you want to go the extra mile with your table setting, stick with handmade accents in neutral colors that compliment the rest of your home’s decor. First, choose a centerpiece. We love this Windsor Container filled with blooms, especially for Fall and Winter. Then, choose accents to surround your centerpiece. Our Felt Pumpkins and Stella Antique Brass Garland are some of our favorites. Underneath your centerpiece and accents, you also have the option to add a table runner or table cloth, like our gorgeous, neutral Harlow Linen Table Runner or Chloe Floral Tablecloth.
Lastly, for your tablescape, you’ll want to plan out each guest’s place setting. For each place setting, you will need a drinking glass. Meridian Collectors love our Sienna Glassware, Jolie Placemats, as well as one larger plate for the entree and one smaller plate for the appetizer or salad. You will also need silverware as well as napkins, such as our Marseille Napkins or Pebble Windowpane Napkin Sets, and napkin rings, like our Lam Stoneware Napkin Rings.
Et voila! Your holiday tablescape is ready to “wow” guests.
We hope you have a spectacular holiday season & a Happy New Year!
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