Toast | Valentine's Day

The ultimate holiday of love is upon us and there is no better way to spend the day than with your loved ones.  We at P.O.S.H. Couture Rentals wish you lots of love on this holiday!

Image via Pinterest

For great ideas on decorating your Valentine’s Day table, check out how we use red here and here.

Posh 101 | Decode The Dress Code

Sometimes decoding the dress code on an invitation can be confusing.  No one wants to be the one person under-dressed or over-dressed, so it is important to know what attire is appropriate for an event.  Just as what you wear is important, it is equally important to have place settings that reflect the formality of your event.  Unsure of what this all means?  Well, here’s how to figure it out:

Images via Pinterest casual/resort chic/semi-formal/black tie

 

From Revelry House, we bring you more descriptive definitions of what each means:

Casual: What you choose to wear here is dependent on both climate and occasion – example: we wouldn’t suggest that your guy wear cargo shorts to a wedding.  For the most part, khakis or nice jeans and a polo shirt or casual button-up is fine for men.  For gals, we suggest a sundress, maxi skirt or nice jeans (no rips!) with a plain t-shirt or casual blouse.
Resort Chic (also referred to as Garden Party or Patio Attire): In most cases, this instruction is reserved for weddings and receptions. Here, your outfit should err on the dressier side of casual (above) with a dress or skirt. Embellished sandals or wedges are perfect for the occasion. Men should wear slacks and a nice linen top with loafers. Both guys and gals should avoid jeans.
Cocktail Attire/ Semi-formal: Here, guests are invited to accessorize according to the holiday or occasion (it’s “Festive” after all).  Ladies, the rules are the same here as with semi-formal attire (discussed below), perhaps just a bit more holiday-focused.  For the gents, its’ a little less formal.  Men can wear a blazer and slacks and can even consider a holiday tie.
Black Tie (also referred to as Formal): Gals are expected to wear floor-length evening gowns or an especially embellished and fancy LBD. Guys should stick with a black tuxedo with patent leather dress shoes. On some occasions, they could also wear tuxedo pants and bowtie with a white dinner jacket.

Entertain | Host a Dinner Party

Image via Pinterest

Does anyone ever need a legitimate excuse to host a fabulous dinner party? We think not!  It is a great way to get together with friends and family or can even become a staple in your calendar each week, much like a weekly Supper club.  With that said, knowing how to pull off a seamless dinner is no small feat.  It takes preparation and time to put together a guest list, menu, and setting that will make your guests wish they knew your secret to success. 

  First, we suggest putting together a guest list of about 10 people or less.  This number is not too big, nor too small.  It still makes the dinner intimate, but also big enough so everyone has a chance to mingle with different people.  Send out email invites or personally call all your guests to invite them well in advance so they can plan on coming.

Next, create a menu that everyone will enjoy.  Check out marthstewart.com to see menus for all occasions.  We suggest making a plan so you can prepare some of the food ahead of time, so on the day-of the dinner you can be more relaxed!

  Last, but certainly not least, our favorite part!  The best way to ensure your party is a hit is to make sure you have the perfect table.  Here is our P.O.S.H. guide to creating the best setting:

• Start with linens that create a blank canvas to build upon with decorations and place settings.  We suggest something simple yet, elegant.  Depending on the time of year and season; we suggest dark or ornate colors for Winter, whites or neutrals for Spring, warm colors for Summer, and oranges or browns for Fall.  This goes for table decorations as well, go with colors that represent what is appropriate for the season.

Images via Pinterest, fall/winter/spring/summer

•  Use your china!  It is something that doesn’t get used very often, so use it every chance you get.  If you don’t have china, come to P.O.S.H. and we will help you pick out the perfect pairings for your dinner.

• Make sure your table is properly set.  Check out our blog post that features a refresher on ‘Setting the Table.’

•  Most importantly, have fun with it! Create a table that reflects your personality and everyone is sure to be impressed.

For proper host and guest party prep see our previous blog post here.  Come into P.O.S.H. for all your needs when it comes to hosting a dinner party and we can help you create the perfect setting!