Holiday Entertaining Trends Boston and Newport

The 2017 holiday party line up in Boston and Newport are among the best we’ve ever seen.  We are honored to collaborate with some of the top meeting planners and corporations in the country. Since the Longwood goal is to have your guests raving about your party long into the new year the pressure is on to bring you the latest and greatest in holiday entertaining.  Our team has hand-picked just a few of their favorites this season that are sure to make your soiree a success.

Jewel Tones

The hottest hues for holiday parties are rich tones like plum, ruby, jade, and sapphire.  Although bold and playful, jewel tones bring an air of elegance to your event. If you are not sure how to incorporate these hues, we recommend mixing them in with florals, linens, soft seating, and signage.

Copper Accents

A new metallic has taken over.  Copper is everywhere this holiday season from gift wrap to accessories so why not weave it into your décor? Copper brings a refreshing and multi-dimensional twist to the everyday silver and gold.  An easy way to add copper to your holiday party could be through flatware, the ever popular Moscow Mule mugs, or even bar back shelving.

Plaid  + Fur Accents

What better way to ring in the holiday season than with timeless plaid accents?  From linens to paper products, there are endless possibilities to use this as an accent.  Fur is a great way to create warmth in a space.  We have seen everything from fur table runners and chair coverings to hanging taxidermy in our spaces.  This is an area where we say more is more.

Garland Centerpieces

Mixed greens and leaves bring natural raw elements indoors.  Greenery pairs well with any tablescape since you can incorporate seasonal greens like pine, cedar, and fir. Their scent adds to the nostalgia of the holidays.  Jess Ann Kirby, a Newport-based blogger, posted about holiday entertaining and featured the above tablescape with greenery done by one of our trusted partners, Kim of Greenlion Design.  We can bet that you will be seeing this trend throughout all of winter.  Another way to incorporate your garlands is to hang them from the ceiling or suspend them above your tables.  This creates a romantic and whimsical vibe that will help immerse your guests into the aesthetic you are aiming for.

Unique Lighting

Enhance your reception space with jaw-dropping lighting options like neon signs and chandelier installations.  Custom neon lights are great to spell out names or hashtags on photo backdrops to add a hint of edginess to your event.  If you would rather forgo the backdrop, giant marquee lights are a showstopper as well and easy to install in any venues.  If it is the drama you are looking for, chandelier installations will never fail you.  You can have them hung in the entryway to set the first impression, above the dance floor as a statement piece, or over top of dinner tables for a romantic ambiance.  There are so many ways to use a production team to step up your lighting game and make your event shine.

Live Entertainment

Surprise your guests with a special performance by Elan Artists.  This a one-of-a-kind corporate and wedding entertainment company specializes in unique soloists, ensembles, and dance bands.  You can hire classically trained dancers to waltz around while you dine or an orchestra to treat your guests to an intimate performance.  The artists will help elevate your holiday party and bring the event’s creative direction to life.

Inventive Menu Items

Create memorable moments throughout the party by using food and beverage as art and entertainment. This holiday season, we suggest, bringing excitement to your menu with unique spins on the classic party dishes.  Chef David Blessing has a few personal favorites he is working on with meeting planners who are looking for something a little different:

  • Porchetta Style Roasted Turkey Breast
  • Warm Blue Cheese and Fig Dip with Port wine and homemade Potato Chips (bonus points if you have them waiting for your guests like we did in our annual leadership meeting in the image above)
  • Deep fried Brussels sprouts with bacon Dijon Aioli
  • Lobster Corn Dogs with Chardonnay Mustard Dipping Sauce

Chef also suggests turning the classics into gluten-free options.  Instead of serving potato gratin to your holiday party guests, try root vegetable gratin with rutabaga, celery root, parsnip and sweet potato.

One-of-a-Kind Food Stations

Chef David Blessing also suggested upping your holiday party game with one-of-a-kind food stations that will entertain your guests.  A great idea would be to try a Slider bar with Garlic Aioli, Truffle Caramelized Onions, and Exotic mushrooms.  We also love seeing a Tater Tot bar paired with sweet and regular tots, Cheddar cheese sauce, Smoked Bacon, Blue Cheese, Lobster meat, and gravy.  Both of these displays will excite your party goers and leave them wanting more.  Try ending the night with a Warm Cider Donut bar or Churros bar with ice cream, Chocolate Ganache, Salted Caramel, Peppermint bark, and various candies.  Your holiday party will be the talk of Boston until next year rolls around.

Share this story