The Newlyweds’ Guide to Holiday Entertaining

This post is sponsored by All-Clad. All text and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands who help make Broma possible!

For those of you who are unaware, WE ARE OFFICIALLY MARRIED! We tied the knot of September 8th, 2019. It was literally everything I imagined it would be, and more. I just wish we could do it all over again.

But alas, it’s time to move onto newlywed life. Which is pretty sweet, too. And since it’s our first year together as newlyweds, we’re doing all the boring adult things like buying a full set of matching cloth napkins and putting money away for retirement. But we’re ALSO doing all the super fun newlywed things, like holiday entertaining!!! 

Since I’m a cook (did you know?!) and Alex is a master entertainer, one of our favorite things is hosting our friends and family over the holidays. But it can be intimidating as a newlywed. What do you serve? And more importantly, what do you wear? 😉 

So without further ado, I’ve put together a newlywed’s guide to holiday entertaining. Hope you enjoy!

1. Embrace the eclectic

Unless you’re  the most classy newlyweds ever, chances are your serve ware is a little bit mismatched. A spoon from college, a serving platter from your mom from that time you realized you needed a serving platter and she felt bad for you so she just let you keep it… So embrace it! I love mismatching linen napkins so that each guest has a unique napkin, but all stay within one color family. And mixing wood servers with ceramic dishes is cute and beautiful. 

2. When in doubt, everyone loves one-pan meals

The last thing we want to do when guests arrive is have to toss a salad, grill steak, heat up the side dishes, and warm the bread. Omg it’s just too much work! So when in doubt, one-pan meals are great for dinner parties. For the holidays, a whole roasted chicken is our go to. All-Clad has a fantastic Nonstick Roasting Pan with a V-shaped roasting rack to perfectly cook larger birds, all the while collecting those beautiful juices at the bottom (hey there, gravy). And bonus: it’s dishwasher safe, aka less time spent over the sink at the end of the night! 

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3. Music is a must

Is it even a party without music? Alex is always our party DJ, making a playlist ahead of time so that once the party starts, he hits play and doesn’t have to worry about it for the rest of the night. A few of our favorite genres and artists for holiday entertaining are anything Motown, the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, James Brown, and Etta James. 

4. Easy entertaining is key

Who wants to scrub pots and pans after a long day of cooking and entertaining? Your goal as a host should be to make your guests happy AND make your life as easy as possible! One thing that we’ve been absolutely obsessing over? All-Clad’s line of Pre-Release non-stick pans. You can bake and broil right on them, without any need for greasing your pans or lining with parchment paper. And when I say there’s no need, I mean it. It’s remarkable how non-stick these babies are! For this shoot, we made crispy smashed potatoes in their Pro-Release Half Sheet Pan. While crispy smashed potatoes can so easily stick to whatever surface they’re on, ours came out perfectly with no stuck-to-the-pan areas.

5. Keep it casual

Let’s face it: we’re newlyweds, not full-on adults. And the most fun dinner parties are those where you feel comfortable, not formal. So keep everything casual, from the outfits you choose to the food you cook. It will make your guests feel at-ease and relaxed, which will lead to better conversation, more laughs, and a better night! 

6. Have apps ready when your guests arrive

Though I like to still be cooking when our guests arrive, having apps ready for when they walk in is a welcoming touch. Our go-to? A cheeseboard! It doesn’t take up space in the oven, can be made ahead of time, and who doesn’t like cheese?!

7. Play games

We love having an after-dinner activity, and games are a great way to get people in a playful mood. Some of our favorites are Cards Against Humanity, Taboo, and Telestrations.

8. Don’t forget dessert

Whatever you do, don’t forget dessert. It is such a perfect way to end your night. I’ve been absolutely loving making my Lazy Girl Boxed Brownies in the All-Clad Pro-Release Square Baking Pan. Simply mix and pour into the pan! They come right out without any shaking or cutting around the edges with a knife. 

Last, when in doubt, don’t take yourself too seriously. Have fun with it. It’s a dinner party, not a job interview. Relax, sip on a cocktail, and enjoy time with your friends and family.

Omg last last, if you’re a newlywed looking for bake and cookware for your registry to last you a lifetime, look no further than All-Clad. My mom bought me my first All-Clad pot years ago, and I cherish it to this day. And now that we have a full set, it’s like I never have to think about getting a new pan ever again! Pretty sweet 🙂

Happy entertaining, people! 

XO,

Sarah & Alex