Now that Chris and I have been in our apartment for almost two months, we wanted to throw a holiday party that could play double duty as a housewarming. I have always wanted to host a chic pajama party (ever since Vogue threw one in 2016), and thought this was the perfect time to check it off my entertaining to-do list. We had so much fun, and now I want to make this an annual occasion. Mark your calendars for next year, and scroll down for my top 5 tips for throwing a successful holiday party!
No. 1 – A theme makes everything more fun
Once we landed on the slumber party theme, I sent a Pinterest board around to all of the guests to give them an idea of how to dress for the occasion. Secretly, I just didn’t want anyone showing up in tacky Christmas onesies, so I had to clarify the vibe (yes, I’m a psycho!). I also recommend coming up with a couple of elements for your food that can tie back to the theme. We did a popcorn bar and spiked milk and cookies—both of which were really easy to create and very effective in crystalizing the theme.
For the popcorn bar, we put three different flavors of popcorn out in these containers, alongside five types of candy in gold-rimmed glasses. I ordered these scoops on Amazon, and it was all set. Then for the milk and cookies, I used this recipe for vegan coquito and funneled it into these cute mini jars. When the party was at its peak, I popped break and bake cookies into the oven, and pulled the jars out of the fridge. This was the hit of the night!
No. 2 – Create signature cocktails that match your theme
I was so excited to work with Chandon and Regal Chivas to co-create cocktails for the evening. We named them The Feather Slipper and The Smoking Loafer, respectively, as a nod to the ladies’ and gents’ footwear for the evening. For The Feather Slipper, I pre-made a rosemary simple syrup and mixed it with a splash of gin, fresh lemon juice and topped it with a generous amount of Chandon bubbles. For The Smoking Loafer, I made a cranberry simple syrup and mixed a bit of it with the Chivas Regal over ice, garnished with an orange slice. The two cocktails were the perfect compliment to each other, and created the perfect options for every guest.
No. 3 – Mix homemade finger foods with local, store-bought favorites
We set the start time for our party at 8pm, so that everyone would eat dinner beforehand (a key move if you don’t have space for everyone to sit for dinner like us!). We created a spread of homemade finger foods that were substantial enough to keep everyone on their feet with all of the beverages flowing. We started with a giant cheeseboard and made other easy classics like pigs in a blanket, sausage balls and bacon wrapped dates. To round things out, we ordered boneless chicken wings in a few different flavors from our favorite chicken spot in NYC—Stickys Chicken Fingers. I would definitely recommend supplementing your homemade dishes with a few local store-bought items to take some of the pressure off of your cooking to-do list.
No. 4 – Hire a photographer
This was the first time I’d ever had a photographer for a party at home, and I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner! It was so nice to worry less about capturing the evening and just be present with our guests. I told her to bring a flash, gave her a shot list and set her loose to capture the party details and our guests. The morning after, I included a Dropbox link in my email thanking everyone for coming, so that they could look through the photos and share on their Instagram if they wanted. Never not doing this again!
No. 5 – Get a bartender
Once again, not sure why I haven’t done this sooner, but having a bartender made the evening so much less stressful. With the signature cocktails that required a bit more mixology, it was great to have someone to serve these and take other beverage requests all night long. We found ours through a friend’s recommendation, but there are services like The Bash or Task Rabbit that will help you track down a bartender in your area. Sit back, relax and don’t worry about topping up everyone’s drinks!
See you all next year, same time, same place!
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Photos by Shannon Donnelly