Party Decorating Ideas for Every Occasion
A CHIC COCKTAIL PARTY
Use clear acrylic boxes with removable tops as pedestals for simple nibbles such as olives and nuts. Fill the boxes with water and orchids, and your appetizers will seem as if they're floating on top.
-- Ingrid Hoffman, host of Food Network's Simply Delicioso
A HOMEY GET-TOGETHER
Bring the outside in by setting a fall-inspired table. Fill glass bowls with pinecones, acorns or mini pumpkins and place along the length of your table.
-- Jennifer Gilbert
Serve Fondue-Stuffed Mushrooms
A SPONTANEOUS SOIREE
For a quick centerpiece, get corner-store carnations and cut the stems 2 inches below the flowers. Keep the arrangement tight -- each bunch will look like one big bloom.
-- Jennifer Gilbert
Serve Pear-and-Goat Cheese Crostini
A CLASSIC DINNER PARTY
Sending invitations by mail sets the tone. Choose a chic design, like a black invitation with a white chandelier, to convey the evening's elegance. Use black-and-white decor to pull the look together on the night of the party.
-- Anna Fieler, vice president of marketing for Tiny Prints
Serve Stout-Braised Short Ribs
A BOISTEROUS BASH
An old-school activity, like hitting a candy-filled piñata, will bring out the silly side in anyone. You'll be surprised by how much fun adults can have and, better yet, you won't have to break the bank on entertainment.
-- Catherine McCord
Serve Bananas Foster Split with Bourbon Whipped Cream