How to Go All-Out Hosting a Fancy Holiday Party

There are two types of people that emerge during the holidays: the guests and the hosts. Guests, an essential part of the equation, are happy to show up to eat, drink and be merry, but it’s the hosts who are the superstars of the season. Hosts not only open their homes to friends, family and casual acquaintances, they are the ones that make the sparkle and magic happen.

Executing an extravagant holiday party is not for the faint of heart — the expense, time spent planning, attention to detail, and energy spent smiling and swanning around can drive you to the brink of madness. But it’s a sweet sort of madness. If you approach extreme entertaining like a creative project, rather than a chore, the process itself can be just as satisfying as the accolades you’ll undoubtedly receive (and there’s no shame in reaching for those accolades — renown within your social circle is part of the payoff). As Martha Stewart, undoubtedly the patron saint of home hospitality, wrote in her 1982 handbook, Entertaining: “To entertain at home is both a relief and a rediscovery — of rooms and settings, of your favourite things, and particularly of your own tastes and ideas.”

Treating guests to the finest is undoubtedly an act of generosity, but it can also be a vehicle for personal expression. Breaking fancy — or intentionally taking your shindig from mere “party” to “event of the season” — looks different for everyone. Going old-school with the finest wines, ostentatious gourmet food, classic table settings and formal dress codes brings an air of gravitas to a soiree. Conversely, a new-school approach would involve that same level of detail, though with trendier food and beverages, relaxed socialization, and a less-structured flow.

Whether you’re aiming for a multi-course dinner or cocktails and canapés, traditional customs, or conspicuous consumption, going all-out is a radical act of hospitality. Take this as your permission to let that flag fly and live out your most-grandiose Champagne wishes and caviar dreams this holiday season.