Holiday Tips

Holiday parties are a great way to celebrate the season with friends and family.  But in the quest to put on a fantastic event, it’s easy to quickly go over budget.  Cameron Mitchell Catering offers 10 tips for throwing an elegant holiday party guests will love while staying under budget. 

“Guests come to Cameron Mitchell Restaurants for an elegant dining experience with friends and family,” says Jamie Kline, Cameron Mitchell Catering’s Executive Chef.  “They want simple ways to recreate that experience when hosting their own parties.”  Cameron Mitchell Catering offers the following tips so anyone can join in the holiday festivities no matter what their budgets:

10. Keep beverages simple – Pick one great feature drink to serve instead of offering a full bar.  Give your drink a fun name and use festive glasses and garnishes.

9. Work as a team – Share the cost of entertaining by hosting a party with a few friends.

8. Decorate with what you have – There’s no need to purchase expensive decorations when you can use items from around the house.  A clear vase filled with oranges or cinnamon sticks looks elegant – plus you can cook with the fresh produce later.  You may also use existing candles around your home or office to create beautiful and festive candlelight.

7. Send budget-friendly invitations – Use simple notes you can make on your home computer or save on postage by sending e-mail invitations using an online invitation Web site.

6. Pick a theme – Make your party extra special by picking a fun theme like “Old Hollywood” or “Around the World.”  Be sure your invitations match and have your guests dress the part.

5. Don’t stick to tradition – Instead of offering your guests a full open bar, opt for ending the evening with a hot beverage “bar.”  Serve coffee, hot chocolate, mulled cider, hot toddies and a selection of loose leaf teas.  Offer toppings like whipped cream, cinnamon and nutmeg to make the drinks extra special.

4. Send guests off with a smile – Tie notes of wishes for the New Year to candy canes or make up small bags of homemade cookies to share as party favors.

3. Play a game – Ask guests to send childhood holiday photos to you a week before your party and play a guessing game to see who can identify the most pictures correctly.

2. Follow up – Take digital pictures of your guests and create an online picture book to e-mail a few days after the party.

1. Serve all hors d’oeuvres – Forget a traditional sit-down dinner and serve your guests an array of hors d’ oeuvres.  Cameron Mitchell Catering offers a variety delicious hors d’ oeuvres like Ginger Chicken Cake, Black and Bleu Micro Kobe Beef Burgers, Carolina Crab Fritters, and Mac and Cheese Spoons.

Cameron Mitchell Catering can help clients make the most of their party budgets with their wide array of hors d’oeuvres, salads, entrees, beverage stations and displays.  “We offer everything from traditional favorites to innovative dishes to seasonal features,” says Melissa Johnson, Cameron Mitchell Catering’s director.  “If our clients have strict budgets, we can work with them to choose the best menus to fit their service and style needs and make their events extraordinary.”