Christmas time is here and 'tis well and truly the season for eating and drinking. How many of you are hosting festive soirees this year? I don't know about you, but I always struggle to find enough elegant glasses and pretty serving platters to use when I have guests coming over. This is definitely something to consider when you are putting together your wedding gift list. Planning ahead for future dinner parties and cocktail evenings will help to ensure you've got every item covered. So with that in mind, we're sharing our favourite festive party pieces from The Wedding Shop, to help you start compiling your perfect guest list and get us well and truly in the mood for Christmas!

Glassware

If you're providing guests with a variety of drinks, then you'll need the matching glassware too. Consider champagne saucers as well as flutes - it just feels more decadent to drink your bubbles from a vintage inspired vessel. Beautiful tumblers are perfect for short drinks. We've opted for the Islay tumblers by LSA, solid, heavy and sleek - they felt more appropriate for our contemporary styling, but The Wedding Shop also have an excellent range of crystal decanters and cut glass which would look gorgeous on an opulent Christmas cheese table. Don't forget a classic Champagne cooler to keep the fizz chilled, we love this elegant one by Alessi. And a glass drinks dispenser for cocktails instantly makes a get-together feel more refined and will come in handy for countless occasions in the future.

Presenting Your Food

For a cocktail soiree, you want food to be easily seen AND easily accessed by guests. We love glass domed cake stands because they look elegant and keep food covered up while allowing people see what delights are available. Just make sure you leave enough space on your table for people to place the lid while they cut into the food. Display crackers, bread and nibbles on platters made from slate, wooden and marble - not only do these look beautiful but the natural colours of these materials work beautifully together so you can easily create that 'effortless thrown together look' (you know, the one that actually takes a good hour of faffing)...

Plates & Linen

Pile plates at the end of the table - mismatched is fine here and remember it's easier to hold a side plate and return to the table for more, than it is to carry around a dinner plate loaded with food. Make sure you add some lovely linen napkins to your gift list, it's at occasions like this that they really come into their own. Using proper tableware and napkins instantly makes a party feel more sophisticated and Christmas is most definitely the time to be fancy.

Your Wedding Gift List

When you're compiling your wedding gift list, thinking about hosting dinner parties and soirees really is a great way to make sure you're including all the items you'll need to truly make your house a home. Start your wedding gift list today with The Wedding Shop and it really will feel like all your Christmases have come at once!