How to Plan a Favorite Things Party

Produced & Styled by Courtney Wright
Photos by Mary Fehr

How the Gift Exchange Works

BEFORE THE PARTY

Invite each guest to bring three of one of their favorite things wrapped for swapping. It can be anything from a candle to a kitchen utensil to fancy hand soap, whatever they like. Set a price limit to keep things fair, but some people might bring more than one thing that totals the dollar amount.

AT THE PARTY

Upon arrival, have each guest write their name on three slips of paper and place them in a bowl. When you are ready to begin the exchange, have each person draw one number to determine the order in which they will open gifts.

Next up, the first person gets up and explains where she got her gift and why it’s her favorite, and then she draws three names from the bowl. Those three guests each get one of her gifts. If you draw your own name or the same person twice, you put it back in the bowl. In the end, each person should go home with three gifts.

Holiday Sparkler

Bring the holiday to the party with this festive, fruity and fresh recipe.

2 ounces vodka
1 ounce cranberry juice
½ ounce orange juice
Chilled champagne
Fresh cranberries, pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Combine vodka and juices in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake well. Pour into coupe glass or champagne flute, and top with champagne and garnishes.

Shop Local

Decorate for your holiday party without leaving villages close to home. Here’s where we sourced décor for this shoot.

Vietri serving platters and champagne glasses, cocktail napkins and wood cheese board- Bromberg’s
Decor including ivory and gold table runner, oversized ornaments and Christmas trees- Lamb’s Ears

Party Fare

Pimiento Cheese- Crestline Bagel
Baguette- Continental Bakery
Assorted Tarts by the Slice- Continental Bakery
Macarons- Continental Bakery
Breakup Cookies- Church Street Coffee & Books

Grazing Board Goods

Holmsted Fines Chutney
Assorted cheeses and cured meats- Crestline Piggly Wiggly

How to Build a Grazing Board

Start with at least three cheeses: something soft like a creamy brie, an aged cheddar (always a crowd pleaser), and something interesting like a truffled gouda or black pepper pecorino.
After your cheeses are “anchoring” the board, add anything that will be served in a small bowl or jar. Think honey, olives or even a spread like pimiento cheese or hummus.
Next, it’s time to fill in with the other goodies: a mix of cured meats (faves include prosciutto and capicola), fresh and dried fruit, nuts, olives, pickles, preserves, honey, a variety of crackers and fresh bread.
Finish it off with fresh herbs and flower buds for color and texture.

Find more grazing board tips and inspiration on Courtney’s Instagram account @savor_style.

Style Tip: Christmas isn’t just about reds and greens anymore. Pull in a palette of pastels with these trees and ornaments from Lamb’s Ears and colorful macarons from Continental Bakery.