ET LØFTE EVENTS

A WINTER THEMED EVENT?
DO IT CHARLES DICKENS STYLE

If you're planning a winter themed event or wedding and the thought of glittery Christmas trees and "winter wonderland" themes make you want to gag, consider hitting the books...literally.

Nothing shouts "winter" or "Christmas" more than Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. And with just the right touches, your wintery event or wedding can be the stuff that Christmas carols are made of.

THE LOCATION

Host the event or wedding at a historical mansion (think Graydon Hall or Heintzman House here in Toronto).

THE ATTIRE

For weddings top hats, tails, ascots and canes are must-have's for the Groom and Brides can don a beautiful muff, cape or stole. Young Ring Bearers would look adorable in a pea coat and knickers. For general events, dress up waitstaff similarly or for a more fun, interactive element, invite guests to dress up as their favourite (or any) character from A Christmas Carol.

THE DECOR

• A Christmas Carol lends itself to endless possibilities when it comes to decor as you can pull different elements from the era itself (like town square) to specific scenes from the movie (like Fezziwig's party, etc). Some of This Planner's ideas?
• Candelabra or lanterns hanging from stands adorned with ivy and winter florals to line walkways and aisles
• Old fashioned street lamp props decorated with ivy coupled with street signs
• Set up food stations as classic store fronts. Label the stations as they'd be seen in town, like Bakery, etc.
• Rectangle tables set up "commune" style and dressed in ivory and rich browns
• Large lanterns set in the middle of tables and decorated with evergreen branches, fake holly and pine cones

THE DETAILS

• Travel via horse and carriage or offer horse and carriage rides to guests
• Turn a top hat upside down and use it to house mini scrolls upon which guests can write their holiday wishes for the host or Bride and Groom.
• Tie mini scrolls of quotes from A Christmas Carol to table cards for guests to take
• In lieu of table numbers, name tables after characters from the book (Scrooge, Cratchit, Fizziwig, Tiny Tim...well you get the idea)
• As a takeaway for your guests, offer copies of A Christmas Carol, mini pies or even gingerbread men shaped like a ghost (to represent the three spirits). For a more traditional take on the era, give away bite-sized boxes of fruitcake

ENTERTAINMENT

• Have carolers dressed in period clothing sing carols during the cocktail hour or, if a cocktail party, have them roam the room and sing to clusters of guests.
• Have a dance instructor teach guests how to waltz on the dance floor
• Have a photo backdrop with a wide variety of top hats, canes, gloves, large Victorian hats, etc. for guests to pose with and have their photo taken

FOOD

• Go traditional with your edibles! Serve classic turkey with stuffing and cranberries and mashed potatoes family style at each guest table. And for weddings, display a traditional Bride AND Groom cake
• Offer comfort food that will create that warm-and-fuzzy feeling for your guests. Think soups (like butternut squash, pumpkin or tomato) in shot glasses alongside finger sandwiches
• Serve spiced wine and hot buttered rum during cocktails
• Forgo the traditional late night munchies and offer hot chocolate and egg nog stations, a gingerbread house from which guests can pick and a station offering a variety of pies from classic apple to more obscure like Tourtierre (meat pie).