1. Create the mood with beautiful textiles.
To make this dinner party look gorgeous and cohesive, I started out by using the coordinating table linens available from Spoonflower. They don’t have to be matchy-matchy but keep your table linens in similar colors and prints for a fun and festive look!
2. Add florals to match your color palette.
For this dinner party, I took the visual cues of the color palette of deep eggplant, ruby and light sage to coordinate the florals and greenery. The eucalyptus, dusty miller, hydrangeas and dahlias gave the table and bar lots of color and texture and looks gorgeous with the stunning table linens.
3. Add a little sparkle!
For a modern metallic glow, I added lots of copper to this dinner party. From the plate chargers, water glasses, Moscow mule mugs and bar accents, it matches so well with the table linens and gives just a perfect hint of glamour without being over the top.
4. Set up an interactive component
For dinner parties, I love to create a DIY component, which gets your guests up out of their seats and mingling with each other. A Moscow Mule bar does just this! Guests can serve themselves while having fun doing it. Plus, it frees up the hostess to attend to getting the final touches done and ready for dinner.
Along with a cocktail bar, I also love Charcuterie stations, which again, lets guests serve themselves hors d’oeuvres so you don’t have to pass around appetizers which keeps the vibe casual and fun! Have plenty of cocktail napkins at the bar for your guests.
5. Use pretty paper invitations and menu cards.
I created a pretty invitation suite for this party. Mail the invitations to set the tone of the evening to your guests. The night of the party, slip menu cards into beautiful napkins and use name cards at each place setting. A fun Moscow Mule signs shows your guests how to mix up the perfect cocktail!
6. Give a fun favor!
To thank your guests for coming, create and give a simple copper accented planted succulent. So easy to make and your guests will love this simple reminder of your wonderful time spent together!
7. Keep the lighting low.
For a really fun back drop, I added simple hanging fairy lights behind the dining table, which gives such a pretty sparkle to the party! I also added copper accented hanging lights to the bar area….so fun! And of course, always use lots of candle light to create an intimate and festive feel to your dining area.
When it comes to party planning and hosting during the holidays, it’s easy to find yourself short on time. Skip the DIY and let Spoonflower help with all your entertaining needs. Whether it’s table runners or custom cocktail napkins, outfit your celebration with one-of-a-kind home décor for a memorable evening.
Vendors
Concept, Styling & Design, Graphic Design/Printed Items: Kiss Me Kate Studio
Creative Partner & Party Blueprint: Black Twine
Photography: Emily Hajec of Little Wishes Photography
Coordination: North State Events
Design, Rustic Bar Back, Farm Table, and Lighting: We Do Designs
Florals and Floral Design: M Creations Floral Design
Venue: The Colonia Building
About the Guest Blogger
Kiss Me Kate Studio is the creative vision of graphic designer and party stylist Tina Dahl. She also has an Etsy Shop offering pretty party accessories including party invitations, cake & cupcake toppers, and banners & garlands.
