A Holiday Party Like No Other

Holiday parties are expected to be full of Christmas Lights, tinsel, and fake snow piled up on a window sill. Naturally, planning an elegant Holiday party for a corporate group at a private home in Alamo, California, we avoided all of that and really stepped out of the box for a Holiday party like no other!

Though we definitely kept every aspect of this Holiday party elegant, unique, and beautiful, we did want to keep it feeling personal and intimate by incorporating some of the clients Christmas decor. Thankfully, the clients decor went really well with what I had envisioned for this December party! 

While envisioning this event, a Holiday party for a small group of the top sales people for Microsoft, I envisioned all things opulent, fun, and unique for this group. Being that the party was hosted at a private residence, I had a lot of flexibility with both the planning and the set-up which made my job a lot easier. With most of my events, I like to find an inspiration piece that I use to set the tone for the decor and overall ambiance. For this particular party, I was inspired by white faux shag fur cone trees that I had never seen before. I loved how they were a really unique twist on a traditional Christmas tree and since they were all white they allowed me to incorporate all of the additional colors that I wanted for the rest of the decor. 

Keeping with my overall feel for the  evening, I wanted the colors and decor to feel rich and very lush! From the green velvet linens to the faux fur stockings with silk ribbon draping down them to the stunning floral arrangements, it all was so elegant and beautiful. Pleasanton Rentals had stunning linens in green velvet and a crushed champagne velvet that covered all of the tables from cocktail tables to the various food tables throughout the space. One of my favorite decor moments of the event was the breathtaking standing floral arrangement and candles that flanked the clients modern fireplace and helped to tie-in the greenery and candles on the mantle. The floral arrangements, created by Jennifer of Busy Bees Floral Design, were made with blush, burgundy, white, and an abundance of green. Jennifer also tucked in the most beautiful little details like hand-painted tiny gold pine-cones and gold-sprayed berries and fern.

Besides the decor being as spectacular as it was and setting the tone for the evenings festivities, the fun and the beauty didn’t stop there! The food and beverage offerings were just as elaborate and unique. 

Guests were greeted with passed cocktails upon arrival, featuring the clients two signature cocktails that they chose for the evening. At the bar the guests could choose from a variety of wines and liquors for the bartender to create any cocktail that they wanted.

The clients didn’t want to provide a formal meal for their guests since the party was a 7 o’clock start but they wanted to ensure that their guests had a lot of delicious food to choose from. With an exceptional grazing table by Charming Fig offering everything from a variety of cheeses with crackers and assorted nuts to upscale crudite with multiple house-made dips and stuffed endive, the table held a plethora of delicious food for all of the guests to pick and choose from. Julia, owner of Charming Fig creates a true masterpiece with food  that isn’t only pretty to look at, its all so yummy to eat, too! Julia incorporates jams and chutneys, fresh fruit, and even little sprinkles of dark chocolate to appeal to every appetite. 

Although the grazing table was the main attraction and the primary source of food for the guests, I had this idea to offer them something that they likely hadn’t seen before but I was certain they would really get a kick out of; fresh oysters, but with a twist! We hired Oysters XO for the event not just for the delicious oysters that they offer but because it also served as an interactive entertainment for the guests to enjoy, also. Oysters XO are a mobile oyster caterer who provide skilled servers who shuck fresh oysters for each guest and offer a myriad of sauces and toppings for them right then and there. Fresh oysters exactly how you like them and served fresh to you? I don’t know about you but that screams amazing to me!

Once all of the guests were full with the great variety of savory food we provided them, guests were offered dessert and coffee. Keeping in theme with the rest of the evening, though, the dessert and coffee was unlike anything the guests were expecting! We hired the famous local Tuckers Ice Cream to bring in their mini ice cream cart to offer a select variety of their house-made ice creams as well as a selection of toppings. Although their sundae toppings were good, I provided holiday-themed toppings to elevate the guests sundae topping options!

While enjoying their build-your-own ice cream sundaes guests could choose from a wide selection of hand-crafted coffee drinks at the mobile coffee bar that we hired for the end of the evening. The barista from Espresso Bar Catering, offered not just standard coffee and espresso drinks but also seasonal coffees like an Eggnog Latte and Peppermint mocha. If guests weren’t wanting coffee, the barista also provided a variety of hot teas and decaffeinated drinks, as well, to finish off their night!

The guests were overjoyed by all that the hosts had to offer them for their annual Holiday work party. No detail was forgotten throughout the evening and every guests noticed! This holiday party was like no other that they had attended and was an event to remember.