Thanksgiving is a perfect day to gather friends and family. Being Cuban-American, Thanksgiving is very important to me because with my busy life its hard to get together & catch up and this is just the right day to do so. Thanksgiving is an American tradition and not celebrated in other countries especially Cuba. As much as my father would love to have pork & rice and beans on this giving day, he has adjusted to the American way by eating turkey, mash potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn muffins and we can’t forget the apple pie.
At a party, people cherish the personal touches, the relaxed time together, and most of all family traditions. What a better way than to spread a little joy by adding personal details to make guests feel special. There is no right or wrong way to throw a party. Entertaining is not about money or finding the most expensive decorations or serving caviar, it’s about the people you invite and how they make you feel. Many ask me what does it take to throw a lavish party and where can they find most of the decorations they see on my IG and Face Book pages. Well, it’s very simple. There are no rules! There are just some basic elements that are essential when throwing a party you want your guests to talk about for weeks without spending a lot.
I personally like to send out invitations in the mail when hosting a dinner party because it’s personal and creates a sense of excitement, however I understand that in today’s world many have opt to paperless and prefer to send electronic invitations. If you prefer to send out electronic invitations don’t forget to add a little creativity to it by creating a theme. When hosting a dinner party at home, create a theme on the invitation so your friends and family don’t have to guess what to wear. It’s not a wedding they are attending to. For my Thanksgiving dinner party, the theme was “A Candlelight Affair under the Stars”.
Picking the right music for your theme is just as important. It should fit the mood of your event. My Thanksgiving dinner party was quaint and romantic so it deemed to have a romanic and jazzy feel. However, keep in mind that if you are throwing an outdoor event, check with your local sound ordinances or bring the party indoors. You do not want to create a disturbance to your neighbors or have the police knock on your door and end your party.
To create a dramatic look, I love candles! You can’t go wrong with candles however you need to be careful if inviting children to the party. That last thing you want is for your party to catch on fire. There are two other alternatives I recommend if you want candles or a candlelight dinner. Buy string dimmer lights which you can find on amazon. Tie the outdoor string lights to a tree or post and you have yourself a magical night under the stars. Buy faux flickering candles that you can use indoors and outdoors.
When tying a theme to your even, garnish your table with fresh flowers that you can buy from your local supermarket, Trader Joes or nearby florist shop. Nothing compares to fresh flowers to create a beautiful center piece. And lastly, use your favorite china and not paper plates, plastic utensils, paper napkins, & cups. If you do not have china, go to the Dollar Store. They have white plates, clear wine glasses, utensils that will create the look your looking for without spending a lot. If you do not throw dinner parties all that time, then make it a habit to place your best table top once a year if you can. It will impress your guests.
Throwing dinner parties even if it is for your own family is a lot of work however, the final result of what you accomplished will be worth it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
xoxoxox, Maria