A Midwest Christmas Party
A midwest christmas party
*this story was originally published on December 17th, 2018.
Photo by Kaylea Moreno of K.R.Moreno
My new years resolution every year is the same: More time around the dinner table with loved ones. With jobs that require travel and two little ones with their own agendas, I admit that it doesn't always happen and when it does it's almost never pretty. Still, my husband and I do our best. When we decided to move back to the midwest after ten years in California, a driving force was our desire to be nearer to family, for our children to grow up with their cousins and grandparents and a tribe. And around the holidays, we are committed to prioritizing family time above all else, especially around the dinner table.
As an event designer, I always begin with the same question: How do we want guests to feel? And it's no different when I am designing for my own family. For this dinner party, I wanted to create an environment of festivity, warmth, inclusion and a hint of nostalgia to kick off our first holiday season back in Michigan.
From the smells of Grandma's pot roast in the oven to the hand-written place cards inviting each guest to their seat, I wanted everyone to feel welcome from the moment they stepped in from the cold. Light charcuterie and champagne were served as guests arrived. The dinner table was lined with lush, monochromatic florals and gray taper candles, giving the scene an unexpected step away from traditional holiday decor. After dinner we further embraced the at-home theme by sipping whiskey from a local distillery and nibbling on the sweetest treats from our favorite local patisserie. This night of family and festivities left us feeling like we had absolutely made the right decision to move back and were exactly where were supposed to be!
Love the holidays? Come celebrate b.e style!
Story Details
Photography by Kaylea Moreno of K.R.Moreno
Event Planner, Cassy Anderson of Cassy Rose Events
Calligraphy by Ciarra Rouwhorst of Ciarra Claire Fine Art
Florist, University Flower Shop
Patisserie, Sweet Heather Anne
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