Host with the Most: Your Ultimate Guide to a Beautiful Holiday
It’s that time of year, and for this year, the holidays are sure to be extra special as we gather once again in a new and transformed way. Although the times have changed, holding onto some beautiful traditions and perhaps adopting some new ones will bring joy and grace to your holiday event.
We’ve put together an easy guide as your go-to for this season to host an event at any size… as well some keys to being a good guest to the events you attend.
Art of connection: Coming together in community is one that gives us the opportunity to bring peace and happiness with a sense of fulfillment. As humans, we’re meant to come together for support. The holidays are a key time to show our appreciation for life, family and friends.
Gatherings are a ritual to celebrate with gratitude.
Set the Stage:
Plan ahead to create a simple, accessible and elegant experience for your guests as a host.
- An ambiance of a glowing candle in bathroom, entry table, hallway tables, etc.is key to creating the mood that aligns with your event. Candles create warm and welcoming air to any event. As well, they assist with transitioning into evening and night to align with the season. Lighting can make a world of difference. Shop our candles here!
- Fresh linens in the bathroom with seasonal special soap is always an essential plus, showing appreciation for your guests comfort. We have a variety of soaps available in our boutique!
- Aroma and music are also key considerations to setting your vibe. Create a playlist or find a radio station that fits your theme and set up an aromatherapy diffuser. We love Lana Del Ray’s music to set the mood, especially her new album, Blue Banisters.
Your Dining & Party Spaces: Create a theme.
- The centerpiece is a statement piece. Your dining table, appetizer table and beverage station should have a common theme. Even something as simple as a few birch and evergreen tree branches tied with a beautiful twine is a sure win. Bringing a little nature indoors creates a naturally comfortable piece and honors nature.
- Place setting can create a sense of belonging and can take away the awkward moment of guests figuring out where they should sit at the table. Create place cards that align with your theme, hand-written adds a personal touch.
- Theme your plating. Depending on your personal style and home, pick your plates and dining-wares ahead of time to be sure you have what you need that works well with your menu.
- Have an activity. Perhaps set out tasting cards for your cheese & charcuterie board for both guests to know the details of the plate as well as to make notes to take home. We also love the cards “The And” to engage with each other and get real conversation going!
The Menu:
- Keep it simple and plan ahead. Selecting your menu a few weeks in advance gives you time to plan your shopping in a less-stress approach. For example, if you’re at the grocery weeks before the event and happen to notice a canned item that you’ll need, you can pick it up for less to do the couple of days leading up to the event as you procure your produce and other fresh ingredients.
- Potluck is always an option. If you’re hosting and have guests who you know love to cook, it may be a nice gesture to invite them to bring a dish to contribute to show their skills.
- Signature Beverage. Create a station with a signature beverage that aligns well with your menu. Pre-mix a batch of your beverage and pick out a nice beverage carafe for guests to be able to help themselves while you make your mingle rounds and keeping an eye on the kitchen. Be sure to have a mocktail option available as well as a water carafe. We’ve put together a simple guide for mocktails earlier this year, take a look: Mocktails
- Appetizer to Dessert Table. Pick an area near the signature beverage station where your guests can find a nice cheese & charcuterie board or fresh cut veggies with a toasted onion dip. Also a great space to have available in the event a guest shows up with a surprise dish. After the main meal, the table can be transformed into a dessert station to re-create the mingle vibe for a later night party.
For gorgeous charcuterie boards, check out our friends over at Minnesota Made Boards! They offer a variety of sizes and selections perfectly customized for your party.
- Keep it local. Consider purchasing small batch items like pickled vegetables, jams and mustards from local artisans.
Etiquette:
- Never show up empty handed. Bring your host a gift like a candle, bottle of wine or something you know they’ll enjoy. A moment of gratitude for all hospitality feels good all around. Shop our hostess gifts here!
- Consider a parting gift. Send your guests home with a homemade jar of spiced nuts or marinated olives with a beautiful bow and with well wishes hand-written on the tag.
- Sensitivities. Be sure to check in with guests ahead of time for possible food allergies and sensitivities for a pleasant and stress-free experience.
- The invitation. Send your invitations with plenty of time in advance for guests to prepare and mark their calendar.
And finally… the unwind. Remember to breath! Whether or your guest or the host, holidays and events come with a little stress regardless of if it feels positive or negative. Take time for yourself as needed, even if its just a moment in the bathroom to reset. Take a few deep inhales and exhales, smile at yourself in the mirror and get back to the party or post-event relaxation.
HOSTESS GIFTS x SALT
We have a large variety of locally curated goods in our boutique that make the perfect gifts! We’ve put together a few ideas to assist with your host gifts, easily available any day of the week. Call our Concierge, shop online, or stop in to reserve your items.
- Candle + Handsoap
- Coffee + Chocolate Bar
- Gift a SALT Room Session
- Camps Cocktail Mixes
Shop these products on our hostess gifts page!
For the rest of November, spend $100 on our online boutique and receive free shipping on your products! Just in time for holiday & hostess gifts!
Wishing you a delightful holiday from your SALT team! See you soon.