It may be hot outside now, but soon we will be entering fall, and the season of entertaining. It can be stressful to host gatherings, but it shouldn’t be. Even if you don’t have the gift of hospitality, here are some easy techniques to help you navigate the world of fall entertaining.
Invitations and Beyond: One easy idea is to develop a theme. This is a fun part of event planning. Try using your theme as a guide for all decisions, including the color palette. And, be consistent with your selection of all of the elements—from invitations to party favors to the table décor.
Lighting: For indoor entertaining, neutral-toned candles in various sizes create soft lighting and enhance any décor. Hurricane lanterns are great options for outdoor dinners. Their shape and size make them the ideal light source. And, they add a glow for ambiance.
Cocktails and Mocktails: Provide a variety of interesting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including a sparkling punch, to make it easy for everyone to enjoy your event. Make sure that you use appropriate stemware for your wines—such as lead-free, thin-rimmed glasses—for optimal tasting.
Table Settings: For your dining table, try using vintage place settings, to create an eclectic look. Mix and match patterns for a more fun and casual dinner party.
If the gathering is more formal, where there is assigned seating, use different elements for your place cards. For example, if you have a wine-inspired theme, take a wine cork and cut a slit down the center to hold the name card. It’s unique and very cost effective.
Centerpieces: You don’t have to go over the top to create a stunning setting. Consider grocery store bouquets of roses or mums, with a few natural elements, like feathers and dried wheat. Use a burlap runner to create a more rustic feel.
Displays: For a casual feel, try using wood platters or wooden cheese trays to display your food. Cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and Blue are perfect to pair with dried apricots, cashews, and honey. Use mini-chalkboards to label the cheeses.
Ask for Help: Delegate certain responsibilities to good friends so that all of the work doesn’t rest on your shoulders. For example, let someone bring an appetizer to share and ask another person to bring the dessert.
Remember, the focus of entertaining is to gather friends and family together to have fun and should not be a source of stress for the host. Follow these tips, and you’ll venture into this fall entertaining season with enthusiasm!
Jennifer Basik is a wine consultant for the award winning Napa Valley winery WineShop At Home. If you are interested in hosting your own private in home wine tasting, contact Jennifer today at 334-467-6342 or jenswineshop93@gmail.com.
