5 Reasons to Host Your Holiday Party with Walters Wedding Estates
It’s never too early to start planning your holiday party. Yes, even though summer is in full swing, the festive season will come by in a flash, and the best way to guarantee a seamless experience is to plan your event ahead of time — starting now. Ready to get the bauble rolling? You’ve come to the right place. Aside from showstopping weddings, Walters Wedding Estates’ venues are perfectly suited for throwing one-of-a-kind corporate holiday parties — plus, we’ve got the right team of event-planning extraordinaires to bring the magic of the season to life.
“From stunning venues and full-service planning to exquisite catering and joyful seasonal details, we make it effortless for clients to host a holiday party that’s polished, personal, and unforgettable,” a Walters Wedding Specialist says. (Bonus: If you book your event with Walters Wedding Estates before July 31, you will get a free appetizer in your culinary package.) From orchestrating decadent dinners and festive, easy-sipping cocktails to on-theme decor and extra-merry entertainment, our experts know how to help you host a holiday gathering that’s full of wonderful surprises.
Where even the most unlikely guests embrace the magic of the season, only at Walters Wedding Estates.
No. 1
Wonderland-Inspired Venues
First things first: You will need the right venue to turn your vision into reality. Whether you’re looking to host an elegant giving-back corporate event for a local charity, or gather your employees around the dinner table in their most over-the-top, ugly holiday sweaters, you will find the perfect space for your celebration. The Olana Design Center, for example, offers several different options for upscale events — including The Jolie Room and The Versailles Room. Both are appointed with a stylish, European-inspired panache: crystal chandeliers, beautiful windows, and distinctly Parisian crown molding. In other words, it’s a perfect setting for a sophisticated, winter-wonderland-themed fête.
For venues that strike the perfect balance between the rural and refined, consider The Terrace at Highland Lakes. Boasting an indoor-outdoor design, the venue allows you and your guests to enjoy dramatic Hill Country landscapes as the backdrop to your holiday gathering. Remi’s Ridge at Hidden Falls also features scenes of Texas at its finest and offers a nature-inspired reception hall with a built-in stage — ideal for a welcome speech, a holiday-themed awards ceremony, a holiday concert band, or a game show. Alternatively, if you’re envisioning a more modern affair, Jennings Trace’s modern-industrial venue in Houston houses a sleek, minimalist reception hall complete with a striking skylight, floor-to-ceiling windows, steel beams, and dramatic lighting. (But of course, there are so many options; explore all of our event venues here.)
No. 2
Creative Festive Fare
Whether you’re celebrating with family and friends or fa-la-la-ing with your co-workers and employees, nothing gets people in the holiday spirit quite like a good meal. That’s why, when it comes to planning your bash, culinary offerings should always be front and center. At Walters Wedding Estates, our in-house catering team excels at dreaming up exceptional dining experiences. Interactive food stations, for example, are a fantastic way to get guests mixing and mingling. “Most of our holiday corporate parties love our stations,” a Walters Wedding Specialist says. “It keeps people moving around the room, and it helps with come-and-go events!”
To start, every holiday gathering needs a centerpiece roast. Our catering team can set up a carving station, with one of our chefs carving and serving up slices of perfectly cooked prime rib, glazed ham, or turkey in front of your guests. Another crowd-pleaser? Mashed potatoes. Our culinary crew makes it more fun with a self-serve station. Using mashed potatoes as the base, guests can select toppings like gravy, sour cream, cheese, chives, bacon bits, and more. In addition to food stations, passed appetizers are a fantastic way for attendees to fuel up while standing and chatting.
No. 3
Spirited Drinks
A well-crafted beverage menu is right up there on the list of holiday party musts. Give your guests something to clink to by greeting them with a champagne tower upon arrival. “We love adding garnishes like cranberries or rosemary sprigs for a festive feel!” a Walters Wedding Specialist says. Then, expand your cocktail repertoire at the bar with on-theme libations. Think: a warm and spiced bourbon cocktail with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, a boozy take on hot cocoa, or a spiced cranberry margarita. For something a little more interactive, you can never go wrong with a smoked Old-Fashioned station.
To make sure that there’s something for everything, our team has no shortage of ideas for guests who prefer spirit-free drinks. A build-your-own hot chocolate bar, for example, will allow attendees to customize their own beverages with different toppings like marshmallows, syrups, and candy canes. A hot cider station is another alternative that’s perfect for the season. For an extra layer of customization, attendees can personalize their cups through our wedding stationery experts at Lyons Paperie.
No. 4
Joyful Decor and Florals
Decking the halls with decor and florals makes the holiday experience that much more magical. Whether you’re going for a cozy, whimsical, or sophisticated feel, our team goes all out with festive trimmings, depending on your theme and vision. Leaning toward a classic-but-elevated aesthetic? We can transform any space with lush winter greenery — think: fresh fir and juniper, plaid and knits, and woodland-inspired decor that will make your guests feel as though they’ve stepped into a Christmas storybook.
Favor a more modern approach? Our team can incorporate rich metallic accents like gold, silver, champagne, and rose gold into your decor, while weaving in lush fabrics like silk and velvet. Minimalists will appreciate a more muted scheme, full of neutral tones and modern, sculptural trees. When it comes to festive arrangements that tap into the warmth of the season, our floral experts at The Design Haus can dream up sophisticated looks using seasonal favorites — whether you’re looking to stick to a traditional aesthetic or get creative with your blooms.
No. 5
Cheer-Worthy Entertainment
The last (but important) main ingredient to getting your guests in the holiday spirit? A perfect holiday playlist full of Christmas favorites — and even more importantly, a professional DJ who can select the right, high-energy songs and seamlessly mix tracks that keep the crowd moving. “We recommend a hype DJ to keep everyone on the dance floor!” a Walters Wedding Specialist says. “Our award-winning DJs at CoHost Entertainment are professionals at keeping the music flowing and mixing between songs.”
Orchestrating all of the details above (and other smaller, but still important, items) is no easy task. That’s what our planning team is for. Our planning team begins by understanding the client’s vision, then customizes each detail — from layout to timeline — to reflect their style and goals. “We manage everything from in-house vendor coordination to last-minute touches, ensuring a seamless and joyful experience from start to finish,” a Walters Wedding Specialist says.