Hostess With the Mostest
Three gorgeous buys for hosting your next fête.
Earlier this month, my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a celebration here in London. We welcomed family and friends from both sides of the pond for three days of merriment in honor of the first decade of our marriage. It was an unforgettable weekend full of laughter, (happy) tears and a ton of food.
Having been raised in a family of A+ hostesses, I’m a real stickler for detail. From the menus to the decor, I wanted the entire event to feel refined but still welcoming. Now that the party is behind us, I thought I’d share three of the resources I used to create the atmosphere I wanted for a truly special event that didn’t blow the budget.
Bookmark them now to pull together your next soirée in no time.
P.S. Looking for a way to thank your host or hostess? Get some ideas here.
To reach guests in multiple countries, I sent electronic party invitations. But on the day, I wanted to have a printed menu at each place so my guests knew which dishes were on the way and give them an idea of the flow of the meal. Papier is a stationery company founded in 2015 by Taymoor Atighetch that is based in my borough and offers a range of customizable, made-to-order products. I went with these deco-inspired menus, but I also adore their current collab with iconic British fashion designer Alice Temperley, shown above.
Once you settle on a location for your event, it’s time to think about decorations. We held the main meal in a beautifully renovated pub that didn’t need much adornment, but I found some finishing touches like this confetti at Ginger Ray to scatter down the center of each table. Launched in 2012 and based in Surrey, they offer everything from balloons to candles and tableware to suit any theme or color palette. Best of all, they have loads of eco-friendly options for weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, holidays and more.
For a formal gathering, I always like to have a favor for my guests. A small token that says “thank you for coming” and helps them remember the feeling of the event. And you can’t get more English than Fortnum & Mason, the tea company founded in 1707. Their hampers are one of my go-to gifts to send to family and friends around the world, so I knew they would have something perfect for our guests to take home. I chose small tins of tea bags, but they also have a selection of sweets as well as trinkets like candles and stationery.
Something to think about …
There is undoubtedly an art to hosting an event. You have so many moving parts to consider, it can be very overwhelming. But a little planning goes a long way, which is why you should also save this guide from the New York Times for your next party.
In case you missed it …
