The Planner’s Trellis

It’s time to start thinking about holiday entertaining! From intimate dinner parties to larger open houses, hosting guests in your home can be both oh-so-fun and a bit overwhelming. We recently co-hosted a fabulous evening of cocktails and conversation on Chicago’s North Shore, to offer tips and tricks on welcoming family and friends into your home for a seasonal soiree.

Together with Tiffany Erickson (TE Style), Babs Beitzel (Babs Bashes), and Margherita Lutz (Hinsdale Table), we led a panel on topics ranging from gathering guest preferences in advance, to the placement of glassware on a table, to what to outsource and what to make, to how to fondly wish your guests farewell.

A few of our favorite tips:

Ask for allergies in advance, instruct on parking, assign seats at dinner.

Consider offering a warm welcome and a fond farewell: Have a drop zone for coats and a plan for boots (winter). Put out a delicious takeaway (cookies, granola, sea salt caramels, donuts) on a table by the door, or ask the valet attendants to leave one in each vehicle.

Be honest and clear with guests about attire.

Start planning early. Now is the time to create your guest list.

This was our second collaborative event, and we plan to host one quarterly in 2025 (they are so fun!). If you’re local to the North Shore and would like to join the invitation list, sign up to be included.

And if you’re thinking about hosting a holiday party, we’re here to make the experience easy and enjoyable. Just send us a note and we’ll be in touch right away to chat more!

All photography by: Sarah Sunstrom Photography

October 25, 2024

Pearce Events