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Photo credit: Deb Key Imagery
"Party time is 'pretty' time!"
-Holly Holden
With the upcoming holidays ahead, I have been asked to share a few more of my pretty party secrets!
Having a platter filled with glasses of champagne to serve your guests as they enter the house sets the scene for any party. It also alleviates the line at the bar, for those that wish to drink something other than champagne.
Consider repurposing a surface near the front door to have an additional platter of glasses pre-poured with wine. I open up a demilune (half-moon) table, which is normally against a wall under a window, to its fully open position for a larger surface in the front hall at Fox Hall.
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Placing a linen napkin under the glasses keeps them from sliding around on a silver platter.
My high boy by the front door also has a hidden “slide” which is a pull-out writing surface. Stuart will pull it out for our larger gatherings to place pre-poured glasses of wine.
My daughter in England has a chest on chest desk with a pull-out drawer which transforms into a leather topped writing surface. She pulls it out and either uses it to serve cordials after dinner, or she places a champagne bucket and bottle on it along with glasses for parties.
NOTE: A platter placed underneath is a must to contain the condensation from the iced champagne or from errant drops of wine!
Also, consider using a punch bowl or a large silver revere bowl to hold chilled bottles of wine sitting in ice, and decorate it by wrapping a big silk ribbon around the base!
Forbidden Faux Pas
No-no: To have opened bottles of wine with the cork placed back into the bottle halfway!