Every year Dave and I host the Hollis Holiday Party, and every year it’s one of my favorite things of all. Last year I shared our pictures when our theme was Hipster Coffee Shop and I thought y’all might want to see this year’s photos. Our theme was… Apres Ski.
Apres Ski is French for “After Ski” as in, after we ski we head on over to the lounge for hot toddys and snacks by the fire. So this year we set out to turn our house into the Hollis Ski Lodge!
I’ve mentioned it before but I’m a big believer in a grand entrance at a party. I love that guests walk in and immediately go, Oh OK, this is going to be epic! At least that’s what I assume they say. When our guests entered this year they were greeted by a little vignette and the location for our food drive.
The holiday party food drive is something that was started by my parents years ago. Since so many people bring hostess gifts (like wine or baked goods) we ask our guests to forego those and instead bring non-perishable food items that we can donate to our local food pantry. It’s a great way to get everyone involved in something good.
We filled the boys’ red wagon with winter greens and holiday berries and it looked so cute!
Do you love this gorgeous photography as much as I do? Check out Rebecca Yale!
Also key at every party? Food and drinks!!
My favorite caterer Whoa Nelly helped design an incredible menu of appetizers, food stations, desserts and a trail mix bar!
At the end of the night I was huddled over this table of cheese and trail mix shoving food into my mouth like a happy little squirrel!
Now we have to talk about those drinks! I used the sweetest team at The Whaling Club to staff the bar and come up with incredible drink recipes for our 120 guests.
Signature cocktails included my famous Wassail Sipper (which is just my wassail recipe topped with champers) a blood orange margarita, a Moscow mule and a hot toddy!
Also incredible (and also my favorite part!) the decor was so much fun!! I worked with my sweet friend Erica at Twine Events again this year and the team at Of the Flowers did such a gorgeous job on all the centerpieces.
I mean… how incredible was the antler chandelier over the reclaimed wood bar?!
I love these lovely glass terrariums we hung everywhere.
Check out our tree this year! I swapped out last year’s jute ribbon in place of something that felt a little more like a scarf.
Other fun activities?? A favorite performance by our favorite local band The Getdown Boys who played a mix of holiday music and some of their songs. We also had a Photo Booth and a fire pit and s’more station!
Also, check out these cute invitations… I’m sorry. I know it’s so many teeny tiny details but teeny tiny details are my favorite part!
