Winter Wonderland!

No one ever tires of the beauty and sparkle of winter.  If you’re planning a gathering, a Holiday Winter Wonderland offers all the joys of the season.  There are as many party possibilities for a Winter Wonderland as there are snowflakes!

Invitations:  For an easy DIY invite, cut out snowflakes, decorate with silver and blue glitter pens, and write the party details on the back.  Add a little sparkle to the invitation by throwing in a pinch of iridescent snow into the envelope.  Ask guests to bring the invitation back to the party and have a special place to hang all your invites as partygoers arrive. Voila! Now you have instant decorations as well.

Another creative way to make your own invitation is to take a picture of your family doing something in the snow (making a snowman, creating snow angels, catching snowflakes on their tongue) and attach a copy of the picture to a piece of heavy cardstock.  Decorate and write out the party details on the back.

Décor:  There are so many vast choices for decorations and party supplies that the hard part is picking the right ones for your Winter Wonderland.  Snowy whites, sparkling silvers, and breezy blues are the perfect color combo for this party, so use them for all of your decorations and party supplies.  Cover tables with blue plastic tablecloths and sprinkle snowflake confetti across the top.   Make a bouquet of balloons and use small snow globes or weighted mittens as balloon weights!  Or link blue, silver, and white balloons together to make a wonderful arch for your entrance or for over the buffet!

Ambience:  Hang a few strings of blinking, twinkling, white lights around the party space and dim the overhead lights a bit to give the room a winter glow.  Use decorative paper lanterns and snowflakes in winter hues hanging at various intervals to give the feeling that it is snowing inside.  Set up an area where everyone can take a fun holiday photo! You can set up a backdrop with winter scene setters and give everyone hats, scarves and mittens to wear in the pictures.

Menu:  Think warm comfort food as your main dish and sides to match the Winter Wonderland theme.  Here are a few ideas for your main menu: Fettuccine Alfredo, white pizza, white chili, or potato soup.  For dessert, keep the scintillating colors going by serving blueberries with white dipping yogurt or cupcakes with white icing and blue or silver sprinkles.  Another option is anything made with shaved coconut for that fresh, just-snowed look.  Serve hot buttered run with whipped cream as your drink.

For extra presentation, add these penguin appetizers as a fun display for your winter wonderland.  You can also make silverware bundles by wrapping silverware in napkins and then tying them off with blue, silver, or white ribbon.  

 

Favors:  Your guests will be thrilled to leave your party with their own presents.  A few ideas are popcorn balls, chapstick, mini snowflake yo yo’s, glittery candles, butter mints, or snowflake photo frame kits.  Tie a tag on the favor that says "Thanks for coming to frolic in our Winter Wonderland!"

This party color scheme is easily adaptable for other winter holidays such as Hanukkah as well.  Of course, a menorah and a Star of David are great traditional choices to add for a festive party of lights.  Set out a snowflake doily and a dreidel on top as each guest’s place setting at dinner.

  Have a wonderful time frolicking in your Winter Wonderland, and Happy Holidays!