The swanky Edison House is not only a private club but also a stunning events venue. Between member events, rentals and private parties, its events team presents hundreds of events each year, which makes them pros by any metric. Amie Collier, who oversees events, and Lauren Boyack, Head of Membership and Marketing, share their top suggestions for creating the perfect holiday party.
Ask yourself, ‘What is the purpose of this party?’
Start by deciding what you want your guests to experience at the party. Do you want a big group with great music and lots of cocktails? Do you want an intimate dinner party with just a few people and great conversation? The purpose of the occasion will dictate what it looks and feels like.
From there, think about the mood and impression you want your guests to leave with. This will guide how you arrange your space and decor. “I try to imagine what I want the ambiance of the event to be,” says Amie. “Do I want it to be more of a sit-down event? Do I want it to be a little bit higher caliber? Or do I want it to feel more cozy? Do I want it to feel more inviting and intimate? Once I decide on the ambiance and vibes and the impression I want my guests to leave with, I select a space for the party and start thinking about decor.”
Get people mixing and mingling
The point of a party is to gather people together and get them talking and having fun. But tossing strangers together in a room can make for awkward interactions. As a host, think about setting up built-in chances for people to start talking. Surprise elements on the table will get people talking. “You have to start with the 30,000-foot view and work down,” says Lauren. “Something Amie often implements—that’s easy to replicate at home—is the idea of ‘surprise and delight.’ For a holiday gathering or any event, consider hand-writing and customizing place settings, having conversation cues on the tables, and thoughtfully arranging seating so guests can meet new people, learn something new and spark fresh conversations.”
Direct the atmosphere with music and lighting
Music and lighting are key to setting the tone of your event. Whether it’s light background music, a nostalgic playlist, a DJ or live entertainment, music is essential to help guests feel relaxed and encourage mingling. Dim lighting, sparkling holiday lights with brighter lamps at food stations all help the overall party atmosphere.
Use food to foster connection
Food is a universal connector. Think about family-style serving or themed menus to get your guests talking. “I think part of the human condition is that we bond over food,” Lauren says. “That’s where we share our stories. That’s where we make our connections. I think something simple that you can do if you’re throwing a dinner party at home is embrace family-style service as opposed to plated. You have to pass big platters back and forth. But that’s what we think of when we think of gathering around the hearth and bonding with our friends and family is that shared experience. It facilitates interaction.”
Set up different food and drink stations. It will get guests moving through the space. Which means more changes to mix up conversations. It will also keep guests from clumping in the kitchen all night.
Come up with fun winks to the theme of the party. Even renaming dishes or drinks can spark conversation. “We had one company that renamed all their cocktails as inside jokes. It was a great conversation starter,” Amie says.
Surprise with comfort foods
The holidays are a time for nostalgia and comfort. But for a party, elevate those traditional comfort foods or offer unexpected twists to dishes to delight guests.
Even simple meals can become memorable when presented with a twist. “Our Chef is very creative with our appetizers and finger foods at Edison House,” says Lauren. “While it’s a high-end, premier venue, we serve elevated versions of classic comfort foods. For example, offering an elevated take on pigs in a blanket at new member initiations is always a conversation starter—it’s unexpected in a luxury setting, but everyone loves it.”
If you don’t want to host your holiday party at home, Edison House may be the perfect place for a private gathering, small or large.
With everything from a speakeasy to a jazz parlor to a private karaoke room, with beautiful food and great service they can help you with the perfect experience for your guests.
See more stories like this and all of our culture and community coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah?
