Plan Ahead


Your home during a holiday dinner resembles a revolving door — a constant coming and going of guests, food, and drinks. Checklists are a must to get you through the night without missing a beat. Before the day of the party, make sure you buy the right amount of food and sparkling wine (rule of thumb is ¾ bottle per person). You’ll also want to plan out food storage in your fridge and defrosting schedules. Your future self will thank you. 


Planning ahead isn’t just about food. Make a playlist that appeases every guest. Combining punk rock and pop on one playlist never hurt anyone. Don’t forget the iconic holiday anthems.


Arguably the most forgotten tip of the holiday season: chill your sparkling wine before guests arrive. Too often, the first to arrive bear the brunt of lukewarm wine.



Set a Stunning Holiday Table

Set a Stunning Holiday Table

Layers, layers, layers. When it comes to creating the ultimate tablescape, layers are key to adding dimension and elevating your space. The first layer includes tablecloths, skirts, and runners. Whatever you choose, make sure you’re protecting your table. 


The second layer is all about height, which plays an important role in creating centerpieces. Too tall? No one can see each other. Too short? You’re left with a flat-looking table. This is where greenery can come in. Adding fresh greenery to your table, like pines or mistletoe, will set the mood for any holiday get-together and can last into the new year. Candles, candle holders, and cake stands of varying height are other ways to add dimension. 


The third layer is for place settings. Make sure you evenly space out guests and their plates. Chargers elevate any tablescape; they’re easy to reuse and create a beautiful layer. White linen napkins under plates instantly spruce up a table, and you can find embroidered ones to up the cool factor. Avoid clutter and set up a separate serving area.



USE WHAT YOU HAVE

USE WHAT YOU HAVE

Mismatched is in. Who says you have to go out and buy brand-new dinnerware sets for just one night? Don’t worry if you don’t have flutes to house everyone’s sparkling wine. CHANDON is delicious, no matter the way it's served. Coupes, tumblers, flutes - you're hosting your nearest and dearest. They won't judge you for getting creative.


When it comes to setting up chairs, feel free to use the ones you have around your house. Mixed chairs add visual interest to any space.


As for decor, you don’t always have to find something new and shiny. Centerpieces are where you can focus your creativity and make something truly unique. Upcycle empty CHANDON bottles and use them as candlesticks to make a statement your guests won’t forget.

Keep Your Guests Entertained

Keep Your Guests Entertained

Activities throughout the night will make sure that your holiday party has plenty of festive cheer—and lots of laughter. If you want to keep it simple, change wines every hour. When two people have the same wine preferences, it opens up a new avenue of conversation and friendship. Give everyone a chance to talk about what notes they can pick up on.  


For a more formal wine tasting, download one of our kits and give each guest their own tasting mat. We’ve lined up notes on the Étoile, Signature, and Reserve gift sets so your tasting can focus on sparkling wine and how it’s expressed across different grape varieties.

GAME IDEA: WHITE ELEPHANT


If you want (a good) chaos to ensue, opt for White Elephant. Here are the rules: every player contributes a wrapped gift to a common pool. As the host, it’s your job to let people know what kind of gift to bring or the price range. You draw a number to determine your turn and everyone sits in a circle around the presents. The first player selects a gift and opens it. The following players can choose to either pick a wrapped gift from the pool or steal a previous player’s gift. Anyone who gets their gift stolen in this way can do the same – choose a new gift or steal from someone else. Godspeed.


Happy Holidays From CHANDON


Relax — it's all under control. With our tips, this will be the holiday entertaining season that you enjoy just as much as your guests.