This dream team has made their second feature of the week! After we shared this Christmas styled shoot on Monday, we felt it was only right to share some New Years inspiration as well. Decked out in sparkles and confetti, we couldn’t dream up a more festive way to ring in the New Year! Thanks to Charlotte Jarrett Events and imagery by Travis Curry , auld lang syne’s styles are a thing of the past and glittering champagne carts & mirrored serving trays are the things of 2015. Below Charlotte is sharing some incredible party planning tips!
When hosting a dinner party, don’t worry about the fact that you haven’t quite upgraded your china from your college days… you can rent everything! Chargers, flatware, glassware, china, linens- it can all be had for just a few dollars per person. Our holiday styled shoot featured a selection of gold wares from Party Plus . Metallic anything will automatically make your table feel more festive.
Add a beautifully folded napkin, a menu, and a place card, and your table will be magazine worthy. The menus and place cards in this shoot are by Allison Barnhill , who does the most amazing (and affordable) custom paper. If you’re on a tight budget but still want to personalize your place settings, you can DIY your own! Paper Source has a great selection of place cards in all different colors- use a metallic pen and a strip of washi tape across the bottom for a quick and easy project with a big impact.
A dinner party wouldn’t be complete without a fabulous centerpiece! Pops of Plum , has the most amazing & affordable florals that you can shop for online- it’s like the ready to wear collection from a high end designer. We used full blooms & dressed the table with vases filled with metallics. The dollar store is a great resource for holiday entertaining- you can pick up a ton of ornaments or votives for just a few dollars, and scatter them on your table, fill vases with them, or use fishing wire to hang them from the ceiling over the dinner table.
Renting a couple of cocktail tables and sparkly linens will make a huge impact without the price tag. Guests will have a place to set their drinks and you’ll add a big design element. Take a trip to your local fabric store and purchase a few yards of shimmery fabric and cut it into table runners to glam up plain linens. Renting a statement piece, like the light up marquee signs we used from XOXO Vintage , will not only wow your guests, but are a great addition to mood lighting.
Extra tips: If you go the route of plasticware, always make sure to have 20% more than the number of guests you have to allow for people misplacing/tossing their drinks. As for food, small bites are definitely the way to go and instead of doing a full bar, supplying your guests with beer and wine (a selection of 2 beers and 2 wines is plenty) and a specialty cocktail or holiday punch will keep your wallet full and guests merry.
