5 Tips for Hosting A Stylish Holiday Party & GIVEAWAY! #DietCokeHoliday
5 Tips for Hosting A Stylish Holiday Party & GIVEAWAY!
Happy Wednesday friends! I know it’s only November 9th but we’re basically halfway through the month and I also know that the next time I blink my eyes Christmas will have come and gone. I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season but what I dread is when I get so overwhelmed that I don’t have a chance to do the things that make the holidays great. Spending quality time with family, hanging out with friends and enjoying our favorite holiday traditions!
Over the weekend I hosted a holiday party with my friends at Diet Coke and a group of fabulous bloggers in order to take a step back from the craziness of the season that seems to be in full swing! We set a stylish table full of finger foods and fresh flowers. We enjoyed chatting over drinks and taking silly pictures in front of the wall-sized gold and silver streamer banner.
The thought of throwing a party can cause anxiety and panic for some, especially during the holidays, but we really don’t do it enough, do we? We don’t sit around a table with friends often enough just being ourselves and trying to recapture our sometimes fleeting sanity.
I’m excited to share a few of my favorite tips for throwing a holiday party which will hopefully lessen your anxiety and encourage you to text those friends, set a date and make it happen! I promise it’s not as overwhelming as it seems!
Here are my top 5 tips for throwing a stylish and successful holiday party that you can actually enjoy:
1. Keep food simple but add a personal touch. We served simple, ready-to-eat finger foods from our local grocery store with champagne and Diet Coke for beverages. I added a personal touch by baking a homemade Diet Coke cake that was definitely on point with our theme.
2. Time is key. Make it easy on guests by having your party at a convenient time (or make it a drop in!). Our party was from 3-5pm which didn’t interfere with a meal, was probably late enough not to miss kids sporting events, and everyone could go home and spend the evening with their families. I literally left the house in it’s post-party state and high tailed it to a family wedding reception in Gastonia :)
3. Pick at color palette and stick with it. White and metallics are always an easy combo during the holiday season and red and green are certainly a win, win. If you’re feeling adventurous try a non-traditional color scheme such as turqoise and linen for a coastal vibe.
4. Give a party favor. This is an important element to a party that most people overlook because it sounds expensive and time-consuming. But, if you leave your guests with something as simple as a hand written recipe (or a bedazzled Diet Coke bottle!) I assure you they will be touched!
5. Fresh flowers. If there’s one thing I would say every party or gathering needs it’s always, always, always fresh flowers! It doesn’t matter if it’s simple carnations in a bud vase or a beautiful bouquet, there’s just something about fresh flowers that make you feel a little fancy!
BONUS TIP: Dress up if that’s you’re thing, it will definitely make you feel better! And having an activity can be fun too! We trimmed the tree with Diet Coke ornaments and it was really fun doing that together!
It’s definitely okay to keep the decor simple. Use what you’ve got around the house; ice tubs, platters, trays and vases can all be used to display your food and other items.
The classic Diet Coke silver, red and black were our main colors with some gold and white thrown in for a touch of glam. And how about these bedazzled bottles! AH-mazing!!!
Seriously, go simple with your food and don’t make any bones about it. I don’t mind one bit telling my guests that the food is store bought. I’m a busy mom to an 8-year-old boy so if I thought I had to make everything from scratch I would NEVER have anyone over.
This cake is made with Diet Coke in the cake and the icing and it was delicious and so moist! I’ll be sharing the recipe ASAP!!!
The bottle brush trees and silver branches are all decor from last Christmas.
I didn’t realize how fun tree decorating with friends could be!
And since it was about 75-80 degrees in Charlotte on Saturday Kristen of Every Chic Way and I had to take the silliness party outside.
How fun are these Diet Coke inspired swag bags? And that O.P.I nail polish is so pretty!
You know I’m not going to leave you guys with out a couple bloopers!!! Who doesn’t love a blooper?!?! The cork actually popped without me twisting it and Paige was there to capture they hysteria :)
Post-party table. Do I need to say anything else?
{Photos by Paige Winn Photo}
I love entertaining and sharing my home with friends but it’s not always in the budget. Am I right y’all? Well, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered this holiday season! I partnered with Diet Coke and the lovely group of ladies below to give one lucky winner (per blog) $500 to host YOUR OWN HOLIDAY PARTY as well as 5 runner-up prizes (Diet Coke swag bags, a $40 value)!!! Yep, you heard right, 6 people will win the grand prize of $500 toward your own holiday party and 30 more will win a Diet Coke swag bag. That’s 36 prizes!!!
It’s SUPER simple to enter! All you have to do is head over to my INSTAGRAM feed and hopefully you will be enjoying Diet Coke and champagne at your own stylish party soon!
Make sure to check out these fabulous ladies too!
The Southern Style Guide // Dress Your Guests // LC Steele // Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins //Every Chic Way
What is your favorite ways to style your holiday party? Do you keep it simple or do you love an excuse to get fancy? Just like any good party, Diet Coke is classic in style and taste! You can follow along with all of the holiday fun via the hashtag #DietCokeHoliday.
And stayed tuned we’ll be throwing another fabulous party in Washington, D.C. in a few weeks! Hope to see some of you there!
Cheers!
{Thank you Diet Coke for sponsoring this post and thank YOU for supporting the brands that make Simple Stylings possible. All designs, ideas and opinions are my own.}
Such great tips Summer and I love your photos.
Thanks so much Julia! Paige is amazing!
Thank you for reminding us that a simple gathering can bring joy and celebration without being super stressful!
I wish I was there! Miss you! xo
Miss you so much sweet J!!! Watch out, I’m coming to London…end of June/first of July! Start planning!
The guest bedroom is always ready for you (and L)! You will probably be horrified by the pitiful, lack of decorating, though!
Ha! I can’t wait to come visit and help decorate!