Take a trip down memory lane with me?  Back in our warm San Diego life we could only dream of a snowy holiday. I joined up with some of my favorite vendor friends to create our White Christmas inspired dinner party, bringing the snowy vibe to us.  Come drop by my old home in California and pick up some hosting tips along the way including not one but two dramatic centerpiece ideas.

Color Palette & Vibe:  Whether a dinner party or a larger event, your gathering will look more pulled together if you decide on a color palette + mood you’d like to carry through the details.  I chose gray + white + copper accents + natural greenery.

Invitations:  I love the way an invitation sets the mood for a party.  For a larger party consider hiring a custom invitation maker to craft your specialized invitation. I have two go-to favorites; Brightly Designed and Twinkle & Toast.

Florals: These stunners are from Blush Botanicals.  When I really want to wow my guests, I call in the big guns and order from a pro.  Winter brings some really unique textural flowers that can create showstopping pieces.  Some of my favorites are included here; protea, anemones, and snow berries.

Desserts:  I am drawn to smooth and simple cakes, letting the flavor and decorative fresh flowers shine.   But when I was blessed to have a pastry expert, Lauren of Sweet Cheeks Baking, I asked for some sparkle too.

Seasonal Drink:  We love to offer a signature drink at our dinner parties.  You can prep in advance and create a self-serve station. Guests won’t need to wait for you to create order by order.  For this party I created a hot chocolate station.  You can choose good old-fashioned hot chocolate or add a dash of Bailey’s.   The station is complete with super-sized homemade marshmallows and cookie stirrers.

Garland & Candlelight Centerpiece: Ok so we don’t always have a budget for a florist.  I’ve created a second look you can pull off yourself.  Over a couple of months I collected brass taper candlesticks from etsy, craigslist and local antique stores.  The garland is layered fresh greenery branches.  Two to three types of stems will give some depth to the garland. For some softness tuck in loose blooms throughout.

Place Settings: A pretty place card is always a welcome start to a meal.  I have a fondness for mismatching glassware.  Collected over time, we have cabinets filled with glasses of all types.  Its like layering a room with different styles, a table setting can be approached the same.  Something new, something old, something textured, something smooth.

I love how this tabletop shows how far a muted palette can take you. Soft grays, lush greens, and a touch of metallics can create a timeless show stopper of a party.

Thanks for joining our Dreaming of a White Christmas party!  Stay tuned for a holiday blog hop coming in at the end of the month with more styling ideas & hosting tips.

In the meantime enjoy this week’s holiday!  Happy Thanksgiving!

The generous vendors:

Photography: Cavin Elizabeth Photography

Paper Goods: Brightly Designed

Flowers: Blush Botanicals

Cakes:  Sweet Cheeks Bakery