Life of the Party: David Tutera

There is a reason why this time of year is called the happiest season of all. From the moment the turkey is carved to the second the ball drops in Times Square, each weekend is jam-packed with friends, family and festivities, which is where party-planner-to-the-stars David Tutera comes in. “For over 22 fabulous years,” Tutera has been designing fetes for everyone from Barbara Walters and Al Gore to Elton John and the Rolling Stones—he even planned Star Jones’s high-profile wedding.

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Here, this entertaining expert divulges how to make your next holiday soiree a five-star affair.

What is the first step in planning a holiday party?
Decide what size and what kind of party you want to throw. Do you want a cocktail party, a sit-down dinner party or a dessert party? Will you be inviting a few couples or the entire extended family? This will set the stage for the rest of the event, including date, times, menu and décor.

What are your favorite holiday themes and color schemes?
For the holidays, I love to use gold as a base color—red and gold look great together—and add a little crystal and sparkle. This look can be made modern or opulent depending on the design.

Any tips for hosting a nondenominational holiday party?
Focus more on winter-inspired festivities. Let whites and off-whites be your guide, and incorporate them into everything from the linens to the flowers to the signature cocktail. Invite friends and family over to commemorate the end of a year and the start of a new. Again, this can be done modern and sleek, or rustic and casual.

How can a hostess set her party apart from the rest?
Make your event personal. If you infuse your own tastes and personality into each detail, from the menu to the place cards, the party will no doubt be memorable. Another idea…is to keep it casual. Give guests a break from their cocktail attire and create a more loungelike, informal setting for your party. Smaller details include focusing on plating and presenting foods and condiments, and creating a signature drink for your event and passing them out as guests enter.

How far in advance should people send out their invitations?
Invitations should be sent out at least four weeks prior to your holiday party. Everyone is so busy with their own holiday preparations and traditions, and it’s important that they know of a party in advance so they can fit [it] into their holiday calendar. Another idea is to host a dessert party. Have it start later on in the evening, and let guests know that they can drop in between other soirees. This allows guests to attend more then one party that night and alleviates the pressure. A dessert party is a sweet way to celebrate the holiday season.

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How do you calculate how much food is necessary per guest?
The rule of thumb for appetizers is to allow five to seven appetizers per person at a dinner party and 10 to 12 appetizers at a cocktail party where no main course is being served, with more food available if the party is during regular dinner hours. And don't place everything out at once during a cocktail party—bring out something new every 30 minutes for the first couple of hours. For entrees, a good serving size for meat, fish or poultry is five to six ounces per person. This should be accompanied by several sides including vegetables and starches. Make sure to take special dietary requirements into account by serving vegetarian and nut-free foods, if needed. Most of all, know your guests and plan accordingly.

What is the No. 1 rule of being a gracious host?
[Don’t] stress out. Plan ahead or hire help so you will be able to greet and socialize with all your guests. It’s imperative that you acknowledge all your guests and take a few minutes to talk with each of them. Be sure to introduce your guests who may be unfamiliar with the crowd that you invited. A good host/hostess is the first person a guest sees and the last prior to leaving. If you are attending a holiday party, what should you bring as a gift to the host?
Take a personal gift that fits the host/hostess—something that you know he/she loves. [If] it's a special bottle of Champagne or cordial, make sure to pick up a special wrap or packaging and not the standard silver sleeve from the liquor store. Tell me about your favorite holiday party.
Every year, I host Christmas at my house in Connecticut. Each room in the house is expertly decorated with its own tree and individual look. The trees range in height from three feet to 18 feet, and I like to cut these myself at a local tree farm. We decorate with ornaments that we’ve collected on our travels over the years or that have been given to us by loved ones. In some rooms, we decorate the tree with unique trimmings like hundreds of individual hand-painted butterflies or chandelier crystals and fake show. It has become a family tradition for people to arrive early in the week to participate in decorating. The smallest tree is left for the kids to decorate with manageable ornaments that they can appreciate. On Christmas morning, the whole family gathers at the main tree, and we celebrate a perfect, traditional holiday together from opening presents right through dessert.

What five things can’t this party planner live without?