A Valentine's Day Wedding

Vanessa emailed in looking for inspiration for a Valentine's Day wedding. Not planning a wedding? Some of these ideas will work perfectly well for a Valentine's Day dinner party too.

- Modern and fun take on a cupcake wedding cake [via SocialDesign]
- Cute red flats by Stuart Weitzman [via snippet & ink]
- Calligraphy by Tara Jones
- Chilled tomato soup with white crème fraiche hearts
- This red drink entitled Aphrodisiac is perfect for a signature cocktail
- DIY jam is sweet favor
- A gorgeous bridal bouquet of red Gerber daisies
- Red table runners, rose petals and menu cards adorn this red and white tabletop
- kate spade dinnerware in red and white polka dots
- Fit the groom with a red tie and red floral boutonniere [via snippet & ink]

Elegant Appetizers

You can never have enough appetizer recipes, especially around the holidays with multitude of parties and get-togethers. Consider serving a few of these delicacies at your upcoming holiday gatherings.

- Tea Smoked Chicken

- Lemon Grass Salmon Canapes

- Shrimp with a Chile-Cilantro Rub

- Asparagus, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Galettes

- Spanish Tortilla

- Grown-up Ham and Cheese Finger Sandwiches

- Vegetarian Dumplings

- Miniature Sweet Puffs

Christmas Table Details

Adorn your Christmas tabletop with lovely place cards or place setting decorations. Here are several DIY ideas to inspire your holiday tablesettings.

- Paper plate angels
- Crepe-paper bells
- Vintage scroll with holly
- Christmas tree place cards
- Green bow napkin decoration
- Holly jolly place setting
- Candy cane place cards
- Paper tree place cards
- Tree-shaped napkin rings

A Glamorous New Year's Dinner

There's nothing quite like the elegant combination of black and white. It's sophisticated, timeless and, in the right setting, so very glam. So, what better combination than black and white for an extravagant and glamour-filled new year's eve dinner.

The images above all come from a 1940's inspired home collection by Ralph Lauren. (via Toast and Tables)

Handmade Hanukkah Inspiration

As time passes by, we are getting closer and closer to Hanukkah and Christmas. Today, I thought I'd feature some homemade elements to add to your Hanukkah celebration. All from Martha Stewart, these ideas are sure to add to you holiday fun.

- Paper chains and dreidels made of light blue, silver and white construction paper
- Glittered dreidels make a great centerpiece or decoration (made from plain wood dreidels with colored glitter)
- Craft your own stylish gelt wrappers
- A glittered Hanukkah dessert of sufganiyot (or jelly doughnuts)
- Assemble your own menorah made of water glasses, silvers beads and blue candles
- Dreidel gift card holders could also serve as a place card or as invitations

A Good Will Cookie Party

Cookies are a delicious and fun part of the holidays. I have many memories of spending time in the kitchen with my Mom learning to make our family's favorites. Cookies seem to have a way of bringing us together and are a perfect theme for a holiday party. You've probably heard of a cookie exchange party (where everyone brings a different treat to share) but why not take that concept and help spread joy this holiday season. Invite friends to bring a few dozen cookies in addition to supplies for making cookie packages. Group a few different cookies and spend time together wrapping them up in creative bundles or boxes. Then, target a group of people, whether you know them or not, and hand them out. Imagine the fun you'll have with your friends, in addition to helping make the day of those you give an out-of-the-blue gift of yummy cookies.

Above are a few new favorites from Martha Stewart to add to your recipe box. Pictures and recipes can be found here. Below are some suggestions for lovely ways to present your cookie packages (also from Martha Stewart).

Christmas Lunch Menu

Today's post features a menu for Christmas lunch. Consider the delicious recipes below for your holiday gathering.

- Aromatic Spiced Ham
- Goat Cheese Mashed Potato Gratin
- Christmas Chutney
- Winter Salad with Toasted Mustard Seed Vinaigrette
- Poinsettia Cocktail
- Black Pepper Biscuits

A Classical New Year's Gathering

For this New Year's eve consider looking backwards instead of forwards (in your theme at least!) Gather some classic and golden elements to throw a glamorous old world fete for your closest friends and family.
- Gold brocade placemat and napkin from Crate and Barrel
- DIY round favor boxes filled with sparkly costume jewelry also serve as table numbers or place cards [via Matthew Mead]
- Decorative gold wall decor [via Matthew Mead]
- DIY varied old world gift or favor tags [via Matthew Mead]
- Golden mercury glass candleholders from West Elm
- Marie Antoinette ornamental gold border dinnerware by Raynaud

Holiday Host & Hostess Gifts

Ready yourself with some great host and hostess gifts for all the holiday parties you will attend this season. Here are a few new suggestions for any price range:

- President Brie and Camembert- great for any gathering, delicious gourmet cheeses and crackers can act as a contribution to the party or as a treat to be enjoyed afterwords by the hosts.
- Monogrammed colored glass cocktail shakers are a festive and personalized gift for the mixologist.
- Photo coasters in a wooden holder are perfect a family of hosts who want to showcase favorite pictures.
- Slightly more expensive but definitely a thoughtful and lasting gift, the hot sauce of the month club would be fitting for the experimental chef (For more cost-conscious giving, assemble a basket with a few select sauces instead.)
- Cute and clever, these number wine charms are the helpful hostess gift that allow every guest to know which glass is theirs.
- Holiday hand-dipped strawberries are an easy and delicious gift for any host or hostess.
- This lovely wine decanter is a luxurious but affordable gift for the wine connoisseur.
- Thinking outside the box is always appreciated. Subscriptions to food and entertaining magazines, such as Bon Appetit and Gourmet are a year-long gift for the ultimate host.

Holiday Cocktails

The holidays are a time to get creative with your cocktails! Play up the different flavors, color schemes and elements that are part of Christmas traditions. The cocktails shown above not only look delicious- they have equally enticing names.

- Gingerbread Apple Crisp
- Kentucky Egg Nog
- Two Turtle Doves
- Nutcracker Sweet
- Mistletoe Kiss

A Very Merry Christmas Party

Today's post is for a very merry Christmas party! Invite friends and family to celebrate the holidays with an evening of deep red and vibrant green Christmas spirit.

- Stunning centerpiece from Pottery Barn combining fruits, florals, candles, trees in shades of deep red, bright green and shiny silver
- Place setting consisting of birch dinnerware (ties in to the birch candles in the centerpiece) and an ecru place card adorned with deep red ribbon
- Holiday themed favors are fitting - consider this peppermint fondue wrapped in dark red
- Attractive and tasty, this cranberry punch is texture-rich and flavorful
- Bright green foil tray is a great solution for transporting appetizers, drinks or dinner dishes

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you have a marvelous Thanksgiving!

[Image via Matthew Mead]

Holiday Tabletop Inspiration

Today's post shows some lovely holiday tabletop ideas from Pottery Barn. They have a great Holiday Centerpiece feature that includes the images below as well as links to purchase individual items so you can replicate the look.

A Blue & Gold Thanksgiving Dinner

For Thanksgiving this year stray from the traditional Fall hues to consider a light blue and golden dinner theme.

- Clever light blue wishbone napkin rings
- Golden pumpkins adorn this tabletop decor made of blue linens, gold and blue dinnerware and a unique white charger [via Martha Stewart]
- Shimmering Calvin Klein dress is perfect for the hostess
- Pillar candles with a golden line design combine with Mercury glass balls
- Glazed crackle platter for elegant turkey presentation

Thanksgiving Family Dinner

Hello and happy Wednesday! You may notice that today's post isn't part of the regular Wedding Wednesday series. I have decided that, though Wedding Wednesday has had a wonderful run, it's time for some fresh and new series, special features and theme ideas. Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks and months for Holiday gift guides, budget-based entertaining features, the next edition of Entertaining Reads (with a GIVEAWAY!) and much much more. I have loved showcasing wedding themes each week and will certainly continue to provide wedding-based inspiration. So keep coming back to Tastefully Entertaining because I promise some exciting months ahead!

Thanksgiving dinner parties are a time to showcase the rich hues of fall as well as the main symbol of the season - leaves.

- An embroidered leaf table runner and mahogany dinnerware unite on this Thanksgiving tabletop from Crate and Barrel
- Sweet-gum-tree spurs make for a unique and textured place card (via Martha Stewart)
- Tall candlesticks with golden-orange tapers and vine adornments to line the center of your table and cast a warm glow (via Martha Stewart)
- Leaf plates are perfect for serving bite-size appetizers or desserts (via Crate & Barrel)

A Hanukkah Dinner Party

I know it may seem a little early for Hanukkah dinner party inspiration but if you're throwing an event in December you better get invitations out now. As in every month, there are only 4 weekends available so your guests' schedules are probably already filling up.

- Stylish menorah Hanukkah invitation from FineStationery.com
- Cutely packaged, this batch of Hanukkah cookies would make a great favor
- Modern menorahs are lovely as part of the dinner party decor
- Tabletop made of navy and silver place mats, navy napkins with star adornments, and shiny navy dinnerware
- Fun and stylish silver dreidel place card holders