If you didn’t know, I’m a transplant from Canada, and although I’ve called South Carolina home for several years, I’m still getting used to the amazing entertaining they do here. They just didn’t do anything even remotely comparable in my home country. Which brings me to a Christmas celebration (porch party, of course) that I had the opportunity to shoot. From the food down to the decor, the party was perfectly planned and not one detail was missed. Let’s get into how to do Christmas entertaining right in the South…

The Setting

I’m realizing having a photo-worthy porch is a must for any kind of entertaining in South Carolina. Okay, maybe not a must, but it certainly helps set the stage for a great event. 

This Christmas party in particular was thrown by a southern native who has a property on Myrtle Island which has been in her family forever. The property is sprinkled with several homes with great porches. The host got together a group of her closest friends, some she even works with, and hosted the party on one of her most beautiful porches overlooking the water.

You see what I’m getting at here? The perfect setting for a great party in the south = porch + your best friends & loved ones.

The Food + Decor

No true southern party would be complete without yummy food and styled decor. For this, the host enlisted the help of my favorite person, Geist Ussery. And just like any other party Geist is involved in, the decorations and food wowed the guests. 

First, food. This party was full of the classiest ladies, so champagne, wine and fruity mixed drinks were the offering here. Geist set up the cutest display with glassware that fit the setting and drink toppings, such as raspberries, that added to the aesthetic. I didn’t stick around for the whole meal, but I had a chance to check out the hors d’oeuvres: deviled eggs, Geist’s spin on shrimp cocktails, sausage and yummy loaves of bread with the sweetest spreads. To you, these may sound like typical party go-tos, but that would mean you haven’t tried Geist’s versions. 

Next, decor. What I loved about the style of this porch party is that it didn’t scream “Merry Christmas” meaning, it wasn’t full of tacky red and green decorations. Instead, Geist styled the party with an eclectic mix of pieces including some of the host’s items she has collected over the years. To play to the holiday season, there were subtle nods to Christmas throughout, such as a little Christmas tree that was given to the host by her mother-in-law and was about 100 years old. From the santa figurines, to the beach vibe furniture and seashells, to the bird topped place settings, everything just meshed. It sounds like a mix of things that wouldn’t go together, but each item had a place. The style made you realize you were enjoying a Christmas party at lived in and loved home containing beautiful things that were collected over the years.

Takeaways for your Holiday Party

It’s nearly impossible to replicate, or even come close to replicating, anything Geist does, but there’s a few things I took away from this for when I decide to do some Christmas entertaining. Maybe these takeaways would work for you too…

#1: To celebrate the holidays, you don’t have to go full blown holiday on the decor. I’m not about turning my house upside down with red and green decorations during the holidays, but when you’re planning a Christmas get together, for some reason you start thinking you need all those things. You don’t! Instead, I plan to sprinkle little nods to the holidays around my home. For example, a centerpiece with beautiful greenery and a few holiday scented candles will do the trick… and a Christmas tree of course. 

#2: As I watched the ladies enjoying the party, it reminded me the holidays are the perfect time to let loose a little and really enjoy those around us. So yeah, the party had to be a hit and the host could have been stressing, but instead she decided to kick her feet up and have a good time with her besties. Remembering this for the next time I host something!

#3: Last, but not least… the hors d’oeuvres matter just as much as the main course, so it’s okay to overdo it a little here. Think about it, it’s one of the first things people go for upon arriving and likely one of the first impressions. Make sure there’s enough to last until dinner is actually ready and be sure they’re yummy. I mean who knows, you may not even get to the main meal if everyone is having such a good time enjoying each other’s company over some yummy appetizers.

Do you do any Christmas or holiday entertaining? I’d love to hear about your entertaining tips or your favorite family holiday tradition! Share with me below 🙂