You're invited! GH's favourite hosts share their party season secrets
What are the key ingredients that truly make a party one to remember? Is it about the drinks poured and the canapés served, or is it more about the decorations displayed and the music played? Really, of course, it’s about all these things, and while a good event is undoubtedly greater than the sum of its parts, these elements are all key to making sure that everyone gets a warm welcome and enjoys themselves.
We’ve asked some of our favourite party-throwing friends for their advice on hosting the very best soiree this festive season. You are cordially invited to be our guest…
Paper decorations make the simplest scene-setters
Suzy Humphreys, founder of Layered Lounge, shares her last-minute decorating trick
"Nothing starts the proceedings off like fabulous decorations and I’m no minimalist. I have an open-house policy when guests are invited over, so every room gets the party treatment, with fairy lights and oversized paper stars hung everywhere – from banisters to light fittings and even the rafters. They create a ‘wow’ factor without any fuss. As a last-minute host who often finds myself with a houseful at short notice, they’ve become my party saviour. Plus, it’s so easy to fold and store them, I’ve used the same ones for seven years straight!"
A proper invitation creates a sense of occasion
Holly Chapman, head of brand at stationery brand Papier, says it's not the last post for paper invites
"When a paper invitation drops through my letterbox, I always have a real, tangible moment of excitement. For me, they’re so much more than just sharing details of the where and the when. They can really capture the feel of an event before it begins, and I love to send them regardless of whether I’m hosting a full-blown dinner party or smaller festive drinks. I like to match the colours of my invitations to the occasion, so my New Year’s Eve invitations have gone out foiled with gold to tie in with my decor. And the lovely thing is that guests can save them as keepsakes – I’ve even known them to end up in scrapbooks! In a world of emails and texts, sending something handwritten through the post is a way of showing love and care."
If you're cooking, don't overcomplicate things
Skye McAlpine, cookery writer and the creative mind behind Tavola, on how to keep dinner parties stress-free
"I love hosting dinner parties at this time of year to make the most of the longer nights and fuller flavours – but the secret to enjoying them is not to overcomplicate things. My pre-dinner essential is crisps – simple, yes, but you can jazz them up any way you want and guests especially love the fancier varieties. I like the ones laced with black truffle and I’ll serve them with little pots of lumpfish caviar for dipping."
"Bite-size panettone crostini, topped with blue cheese or mascarpone, is another favourite. For the main event, I love to pair sweet and savoury together, such as roasted plums, apples and grapes with roast pork or chicken. A few pomegranate seeds, sprinkled over everything from salads to chocolate cakes, add an instant touch of festive sparkle. Things always go wrong in the kitchen, but I’ve learned to go with it, as it’s just you who knows how a dish is meant to look – and guests will only enjoy themselves if you do, too."
A disco ball always gets the party started
Jane Rockett, co-founder of lifestyle brand Rockett St George, on creating a dazzling dancefloor
"The most memorable party I’ve ever been to is the one where I met my business partner, Lucy St George. She was hosting a fancy dress evening at her house in north London, in 2005, and our friendship was sealed when we discovered our passion for black clothes, flea markets, Manchego cheese and... disco balls!"
"At the centre of her party, right above the dancefloor, was the disco ball to end all disco balls. It completely dominated the room and reflected light in every direction. Now, I never throw a party without one. It creates an experience and makes any room feel alive. I always go for the classic silver mirrored version as you can’t beat that timeless sparkle. I’d love to dance the night away underneath mine with Madonna and Harry Styles – like me, I’m sure they always follow the call of a disco ball!"
Let the music play
Alex James, musician and Blur bassist, shares his top three floor fillers
"Music is a key ingredient to any party, no matter the size of the gathering. It’s also the cheapest thing to nail out of all the other party pillars, but it’s important to give it some thought. You want songs with universal appeal. Here’s what I’ll be playing this New Year’s Eve..."
Rasputin by Boney M: "Guaranteed to get everyone up! I’ll push for competitive dancing and award a prize for the best." LISTEN NOW
Y.M.C.A. by Village People: "I don’t know why this song resonates with absolutely everybody, but it just does. It never fails." LISTEN NOW
The Man With The Red Face by Laurent Garnier: "This song is a builder. And it's really long, meaning that the DJ can have a break!" LISTEN NOW
Make your table the star of the show
James Cunningham, our homes and gardens editor, on creating place settings to charm
"The clink of glasses, the tinkle of cutlery and the sparkle of good conversation over delectable food and drink are just a few of the reasons why I love hosting a dinner party. My top one, though, is the chance to dress the dining table. Beautiful place settings can make any evening a more memorable occasion for guests."
"For a showstopper tablescape, the starting point is always the cloth and set of napkins (patterned ones are a must). Summerill & Bishop’s handmade creations are always on my wish list, but H&M Home has fabulous designs that go far beyond just being a backdrop for your plates. Beautiful glasses are a must, too – I love gold-rimmed stemware at this time of year, which looks particularly gorgeous filled with red wine. Anthropologie always has brilliant designs. A statement candelabra is an instant centrepiece. This year, I’ll be populating mine with dinner candles in a mix of different colours to create a joyful look."
Make it a scented soiree
Chrissie Rucker OBE, founder of The White Company, explains how home fragrance can set the mood
"I love to use fragrance when I’m hosting. I think even a single scented candle can instantly transform the atmosphere of a room. Throughout winter, I love spicy scents, such as sweet orange, cedarwood, clove, cassis, fig and pomegranate – perfect for the shorter days and longer nights. For a party, a little bit of scent everywhere is key. I’ll spritz room spray into bowls of potpourri, dot diffusers around the house and add scented candles to mantelpieces."
"I love using candles as a table centrepiece, too, I mix a few scented and plain ones and put lots of seasonal greenery in between. Want to give guests a further scented treat? This year, we’ve created votives in ribbon-topped boxes that make beautiful party favours for place settings."
Dress to impress
Amanda Marcantonio, our fashion director, shares how to look and feel gorgeous
"Don't be afraid to set a dress code. Whether you're a host or a guest, the key is to strike a balance between respecting it and being true to your personal style. Remember that if it’s ‘glam’, that doesn’t have to mean a sequin dress and heels. To look elegant but feel relaxed (and more like myself) this party season, I’ll be pairing a velvet trouser suit with a crisp white T-shirt and metallic trainers or party flats."
"For party footwear, try Camilla Elphick, Jimmy Choo and Pretty Ballerinas – pricey, but you’ll keep them for ever. If there’s no dress code, the contrast of dressy pieces with low-key items (a tux blazer with jeans and sequins or knits paired with leather and lace) feels modern and effortless. If in doubt, keep bobby-dazzler earrings (I love Cheerings) and a red lippy in your bag for emergencies."
Set the time to cocktail o'clock
George Raju, director of bars at legendary London hotel Claridge's, serves up a signature tipple
"You’ll often find our guests perched at the Fumoir, cocktail in hand, soaking up the atmosphere of our Art Deco surroundings. The Flapper, created when the bar first opened in 1998 and inspired by women of the 1920s, has become one of the hotel’s most popular cocktails and the moreish blend of strawberry, cassis and Champagne – is sure to have your guests returning for more. Here’s how to create it yourself."
INGREDIENTS
15ml (1⁄2fl oz) Briottet Crème de Cassis
15ml (1⁄2fl oz) Boiron strawberry purée
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée NV Champagne, to top up
1⁄2 a strawberry, to garnish
METHOD
In a cocktail shaker, stir the crème de cassis and strawberry purée together, then finely strain into a flute. Top up with the Champagne and garnish with half a strawberry on the rim of the glass.
Let nature take centre stage
Hazel Gardiner, a florist who runs her own design studio, says that fresh blooms are a must
"I think of hosting a party as a set design opportunity! I love creating thoughtfully arranged scenes to signify special occasions, but I often think people forget how important an element fresh flowers and foliage can be. You don’t need to go overboard, have masses of imported blooms or a huge budget to transform your space with flowers. I always use what’s local and available seasonally – winter is, perhaps surprisingly, my favourite season, even compared to the floral abundance of summer."
"It’s a time to use unfamiliar foliage, such as winter heather and dusty miller, branches and dried flowers – I love dried hydrangeas and cardoon heads. If you have a larger space, mantelpieces and wide staircases are prime spots for flowers and foliage, but for more intimate rooms, think about decorating mirrors, windowsills or creating foliage bursts on shelves (eucalyptus is brilliant for the latter). My favourite touch at this time of year is adding berries (berried ivy looks beautiful tied with ribbon) to the back of chairs."
Grown-up party bags are the perfect treat
Holly Tucker, founder of gifting marketplace Holly & Co, on the power of a personal touch
"I’m an advocate for celebrating life’s moments, however big or small, so there’s nothing I won’t throw a party for! I’ve often wondered, though, why the party bags at the end were exclusively for children, when in fact, everyone loves a nice surprise. I now make a point of creating them for all my parties and my guests love them."
"Everyone appreciates something personalised or customised, but that doesn’t just have to be something with their name on. What really matters is allowing your thoughtfulness to shine through. Is your friend running a marathon? Do they have an unhealthy addiction to Monster Munch? Are they obsessed with David Bowie? Do remember, though, no one wants a throwaway item, so think about things they’ll actually use and present them in a mindful way – I love reusing wrapping paper, for example, to create the bag itself."
Games always guarantee the fun factor
Victoria Kay, head buyer at iconic toy shop Hamleys, on the joy of tapping into your playful side
"If there’s a guaranteed way to bring the fun factor to a party, it’s with a game (or three). Not only are they an easy icebreaker, they’re a great way to reconnect with friends and family in a relaxed, light-hearted way. Need to convince a Scrooge to get involved? Keep it light, low pressure and remind the more competitive players that, after all, it really is the taking part that counts. Charades is the great equaliser – and classic for a reason, but if you want something new, here are my picks..."
Hasbro Drop Trivia: "A fast-paced, unique take on traditional trivia from the creators of Trivial Pursuit. Players (or teams) compete to place answers in the correct order by dropping pucks into an electronic tower." BUY HERE
Uno Show 'Em No Mercy: "Perhaps the most brutal UNO card game yet. Fans of the original will love the additional action cards, plus there are tougher penalties and a new elimination feature." BUY HERE
Monopoly Knockout: "Another fresh twist on a classic, instead of playing for hours and trying to bankrupt every other player, this version can be played in 20 minutes or less." BUY HERE
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