WINTER ENTERTAINING

Winter needn’t be an opportunity to tuck yourself in for the long haul and throw out the social calendar. Lodged between Christmas and glorious February parties, June, July and August deserve a mid-year airing, and what better way that a winter wonderland soiree.

Pulling off such a theme is simple. Cue the cold weather and add white as the hue of choice. Then amp up the rustic, dust in a little glitter, warm up the food and stiffen the drinks!.

Keep in mind that winter is often confused with Christmas. Of course winter in Australia is never Christmas time (unless of course you’re throwing a Christmas in July) so avoid the cliché of reds and emerald greens, pinecones and stars.

Winter offers an opportunity to be a little more creative with your seasonal decor. Fill your vases up with bunches of purple, green and white cabbage flowers, artichokes, hellebores or rosehip as a wintery approach to your floral design.

Line your tables with clusters of pears, apples, quinces and oranges spiked with cloves, and add candles and lanterns for a soft centrepiece. Woods and matted silver are great complementary materials but keep the table decorations low and dense (rather than high and stark) to create a cozy and intimate ambience.

Think opulent when it comes to winter food and drinks. To warm the heart, consider serving spiced mulled wine or hot cider. Fill decorative baskets and bowls with mixed bread loaves and winter salads (and remember pork is very on trend this year).

As winter lends us very little natural sunlight, make lighting a feature of your event. Hang storm lanterns from the trees and ceiling, and layer the table with candles. Recycled glass jars filled with tea lights look amazing on mass, or string together a variety of tall pillar candles for a dramatic centrepiece.

Be prepared for Mother Nature to roll in and quickly become a vexing guest at your event and make sure that you’re armed and prepared. Being uncomfortably cold is a risk at any winter event, so keep your guests happy by supplying goodies like blankets, raincoats, gumboots partnered with buckets of dry socks, and umbrellas of course. Don’t forget heaters, and make sure there is always enough room inside to house everybody.

Don’t be afraid of throwing your event in the winter months. With a bit of cold weather and early darkness, the atmosphere is often much more intimate and rich!