Pretty flowers definitely make a party more festive!

The great thing about throwing a party is that it can be as simple or extravagant as you want it to be. By definition, a party is a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking and entertainment. This includes a weeknight dinner or a bigger event like a wedding or gala. With a few little details, you can delight your guests and take your event to another level. Here are seven tips for you to throw a festive party.

Select a theme.
Choosing a unifying theme can ensure your decor connects throughout your event details. For example, you can simply choose colors (like my pink and gold brunch), base it around a book or movie, center it around a specific food or choose a category (like this travel party). Telling your guests ahead of time gets them excited and ties them into the party elements.

Of course a Halloween Party REQUIRES costumes!

Request guests wear costumes.
Does your theme involve costumes? Costume parties are always fun to see what your guests come up with. Have them dress in a specific color/pattern, decade or wear a costume like this Alice in Wonderland Party.

Add color with tablecloths, napkins, plates and utensils.
Easily spice up your party with color. Try a patterned table runner or wrap your silverware in colorful napkins. Don’t forget to match your theme!

Pick up some flowers or create a centerpiece.
Flowers or a creative centerpiece can brighten a room, especially when the celebration is centered around a dinner table or buffet table. Even a $4 bouquet from H-E-B will spice up the setting. For non-flower centerpieces, try succulents or candles. This is also a good way to tie in your theme. Here are 21 non-flower centerpiece ideas for you.

Hang a banner or lights.
Remember the confetti-themed DIY party? A confetti banner floated above our heads and we made fun banners to use. Hanging decor lengthens or breaks up the room a little, depending on the space. Also try fabric garlands or pom-poms.

For one girls’ brunch, we made flower crowns.

Plan a fun activity.
Depending on the crowd and party purpose, your event can involve an activity like a game, DIY project or dancing. Yes, eating can be an activity! Potluck, anyone?

Cupcakes? It’s a party!

Eat cake/dessert or pop champagne.
How do you say no to dessert, especially it it’s topped with festive sprinkles? Serving a fun dessert or popping champagne gives a sweet touch to an event. You can easily use this as part of your decor. Check out these beautiful cakes and cake toppers!

How do you make an event more festive? Comment below!

The post 7 Simple Tips to Throw a Festive Party appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This past weekend, I headed out to “the country” (ok, so it was only about 25 mins from downtown Austin), to indulge in food, drinks and fun at the 3rd Annual Wine & Swine event, which the Austin Food & Wine Alliance did a great job putting on. 

Twenty-one different chef/restaurant teams put on quite the show for all our senses: seeing whole pigs being roasted, smelling the charcoal fire pits, hearing ourselves ooing and ahhing, getting our hands dirty with all the bites, and of course, most importantly, tasting all the delicious swine-themed creations.

My favorite dishes included: The Carillon’s spare rib, Ramen Tatsu-Ya’s Chili Cheese Ramen, Swift’s Attic‘s Inside Out Pork Tacos, Franklin Barbecue’s South Carolina Style Whole Hog Sammies, Congress’ Brioche Beignet with Banana Pastry and Cream, and Jeffrey’s Deconstructed S’Mores. Unbelieveably and very sadly, we somehow missed trying the winning dish, voted by the crowd, Jason Dady’s Thai-inspired dish.
(Lacking many food photos because I was too busy eating!)

I didn’t indulge in the alcoholic beverages but there was also a wide selection of wineries, breweries and cideries in attendance.

Although it was a short drive out of town, Ceres Park Ranch was a great place to host the event. There was plenty of room, parking was easy, and the pavillion was a beautiful set-up.

The clever décor didn’t go unnoticed. Twinkle lights and chandeliers decorated the ceiling. Country chic bouquets of cotton and wheat, horseshoes and antlers decorated the picnic tables and all had a pizazz of pink to tie in the swine theme.

Completing the event were an awesome photobooth with swine props by Max Photography, a low-key and entertaining band, and a merch table.

Overall, it was a well-executed, seamless event with plenty of delicious food and drink, seating and space and creativity!

The post Wine & Swine 2013 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.