Elegant Christmas Party

Yes, you can have an elegant and fun Christmas party. Your guests will feel extra special with a few elegant Christmas decorations. This might be a formal Christmas dinner party but the party will never feel stuffy!

Christmas Party Invitations
Carlson Craft has some wonderful holiday invitations that would work with a more formal affair. (I love the Cinnamon party invitation) This is definitely not the time to use an electronic invitation. We would even recommend having someone hand address the envelopes. Be sure to include your dress code on the invitation.

Even with a more formal event, you can still have fun.  Party411.com has some wonderful holiday invitations that are a little more whimsical but that would still work for this event.

Don't forget to let your guests know the dress code for this party, especially if it's a more formal event. No one wants to show up in jeans to a party when everyone else is wearing suits and dresses.

Elegant Christmas Decorations and Party Supplies
I'm sure your home has an assortment of beautiful Christmas decorations. Mix in some fun Christmas party decorations and your house will be festive, warm and inviting. To welcome guests, line your walkway with luminaries with votive candles. LED votive tealight candles stay lit for hours, are battery operated and are a safer alternative to real candles.

As guests arrive, be sure to have Christmas music playing in the background. It will put everyone in the holiday mood! Hand everyone a drink as they arrive. How about hot chocolate for the kids and a fun eggnog martini for the adults? Here's an easy recipe:

Eggnog Martini
  • 1 Oz Eggnog
  • 1 Oz Ameretto
  • 1 Oz Vodka
Directions:  Combine all ingredients and shake well. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg or cinnamon, if desired.

Inside your party, hang white starlight spheres from the ceiling to help the party glow. They are beautiful. And, a fun lifesized cutout of the host or hostess dressed as Santa or Santa's Helper will get everyone laughing and makes a great photo op!
 

Simple and Elegant Centerpiece Ideas and table Decorations
 Here are a few easy yet elegant Christmas decorating ideas for your table:
 
Rosemary Trees - Find these at your local greenhouse or supermarket. Set several in a row down the middle of the table. They will look and smell wonderful! For a matching placecard, tie a sprig of rosemary to a piece of cardstock with your guest's name written on it and place it in the middle of their dinner plate.
 
Ideas for Using Glass Bowls -
  • Fill clear glass bowls and vases with glass ornaments in varied sizes.
  • For a more natural look use pine cones.
  • Flocked Styrofoam balls that look like snowballs are another great option.
  • Jingle bells purchased in bulk from the craft store will also look wonderful!
Luminarias Centerpiece - These will give a soft glow on your table. Use battery-operated tea lights instead of candles for long-lasting, safe illumination.

Ribbon Candy - Set this festive and fun candy of plain cake stands in the center of your table. Add pillar candles for a glowing display.

Hanging Centerpiece - If you have a chandelier over your table, hang coordinating ornaments from it so that they hover over the table. If not, you can still hang a festive grouping from the ceiling. Try paper stars or tissue snowflakes with a coordinating table runner beneath.

Flowers - You can use white flowers for a holiday party that has more of a winter feel or something as simple as Poinsettia for a look that's more Christmas.
  • Carnations stuck into floral foam spheres stacked on a plate for beautiful pomander balls
  • Roses in a clear short vase with cranberries to hie the stems
  • White and red tulips in tall vases
  • A tall glass cylinder full of branches adds height to a tablescape (use bare branches, pussy willow, or branches with berries.)
Gift Display - Set out  multiple tiered, candy-filled gift boxes, wrapped, tied off with bows and ribbons. Each box should be numbered. Then, a number is placed under each plate so that guests at each table pull numbers and each can take home "a present."

Edible Centerpiece - A beautiful tiered serving plate piled with chocolates and petits fours in the center of the table makes a yummy, elegant centerpiece.
 
You can set your table with cloth linens and china, or use beautiful Christmas themed paper goods. It's the holidays - no one wants you to have to wash dishes. If you are going to use china, then mix in the Christmas themed cocktail napkins to use during cocktail hour and for dessert - it's a nice touch!


Christmas Party Activities
I've said it 1000 times and I'll say it again - elegant doesn't mean you can't have fun! Sing Christmas carols by the piano or have a Christmas gift exchange.
 
Or choose from an assortment of fun Christmas party games.

Christmas Favors
Besides the wonderful memories your guests will be leaving with, send them home with a great party favor to thank them for celebrating with you.

A bottle of sparkling champagne with a personalized holiday wine label will delight your guests. You can leave a few bottles on each table for everyone to enjoy throughout the evening, or send a bottle home with each couple. You can dress it up in a gift bag so it is easy for them to carry it out.
 
Or go for something homemade. Make an individual crème brule (in a custard cup) and put it in a cello bag - wrap with a small ornament and you've got a personal and elegant treat.

Happy Holidays!