Martha Stewart’s guide to holiday entertaining
At Paperless Post, bringing people together for lively get-togethers, delicious meals, flowing drinks, or festive holiday celebrations (or all of the above!) is our passion. And anyone who enjoys both hosting and attending a good party knows that the foremost authority on all things entertaining is, of course, the one and only Martha Stewart.
Martha Stewart has been a boundary-breaking cultural icon, lifestyle entrepreneur, media mogul, and best-selling author for decades. From cookbooks to magazines to television shows and beyond, Martha Stewart has brought her stylish flair, discerning expertise, and cheeky wit to every corner of the entertaining world—and now, to the world of online invitations.
We’re thrilled to introduce our new collection of invitations and cards from Martha Stewart—beautiful designs that evoke everything from cozy farmhouse dinners to elegant holiday soirées, for hosts who want to channel her impressive entertaining expertise for any occasion. For hosts who appreciate a thoughtful menu with curated seasonal ingredients, hosts who always serve a signature cocktail, hosts who decorate with flowers fresh from the garden, and hosts whose very first thought after the last guest has gone home is, “When can I do this again?”
We spoke with Martha Stewart about her inspiration for the collection, how she hosts impressive holiday gatherings year after year, and the best ways that hosts can channel her expertise when inviting guests into their homes. On the designs, she explains, “Each invitation is rooted in the spirit of ‘Entertaining,’ my very first book, which celebrates the art of welcoming people into your home with style and ease, and I’m excited to bring my book to life in a new way. Paperless Post designs are elegant, thoughtful, and beautifully executed, just like a well-set table.”
With the holiday season approaching, get inspired to throw your very own Martha Stewart-approved gathering with tips and ideas for hosting the best Halloween haunted houses, decadent Thanksgiving dinners, and sparkling Christmas parties that would make Martha proud. “I hope every host feels confident and happy to open their homes,” says Martha. She also encourages hosts to make a point to have fun with it all. “Enjoy yourself. The most important part of entertaining is truly connecting with your guests. Welcome them warmly, engage in conversation, and savor every moment.” Explore our full collection of Martha Stewart holiday invitations and designs to enjoy gathering with loved ones any time of year.
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Host a very Martha Stewart Halloween party
“I’m always inspired by the seasons, the occasion, and the people I want to celebrate with,” says Martha, on her hosting inspiration—and there may be no time more ideal for seasonal inspiration than when the air gets chilly and the leaves start to fall. Enter: Halloween.
As the long-reigning “Queen of Halloween,” nobody knows how to properly spook Halloween party guests better than Martha Stewart. First and foremost, costumes are a must. Dressing up in a clever—and maybe even homemade—costume is one of the highlights of the season! Whether you’re going full glam or creepy witch, add these touches to your Halloween party to turn your space into a true house of horrors.
1. Make papier-mâché spiders
For this creepy critter craft, blow up a larger and a smaller balloon to serve as the spider’s head and torso, cover it all in papier-mâché, use floral wire for the legs, glue the pieces together, and spray paint everything black. Hang these up around your party space for a perfectly petrifying ambiance.
2. Hang cheesecloth ghosts
Take things up a notch from bedsheets with two eyes cut out and decorate your spooky soirée with the ultimate Martha Stewart Halloween décor: hauntingly realistic DIY ghosts. Start with a styrofoam mannequin head (or, in lieu of these, any round object will do), and drape it with multiple layers of cheesecloths. In between each layer, cover the cloth in glue so that it sticks to the face and hangs freely below for a ghostly effect.
3. Serve lychee eyeball cocktails
Paired perfectly with any lychee martini or even the iconic pomegranate “Martha-tini” recipe, a hollowed-out lychee with a blueberry inside makes for a delectably terrifying garnish that adds a unique twist to any October cocktail party.
4. Bake a graveyard pie
Easily spookify any pie or cake by covering it in chocolate “dirt” made from crushed chocolate wafers, and decorating with cookie “tombstones” made from setting any round or oval-shaped cookies halfway into the top of the cake or pie, creating a graveyard that guests will be thrilled to dig right into.
5. Decorate with bloody candles
Start with classic white taper candles and secure them upright in a bowl or cup of sand to safely collect the wax drippings. Then, simply light a red candle and hold it above the white ones to create a bloody, dripping effect, perfect for eerie yet elegant dinner parties or decking out any haunted house.
Martha Stewart-inspired tips for Thanksgiving dinner
Whether you’re hosting the annual family Thanksgiving dinner or a festive Friendsgiving gathering, there are many factors that go into hosting a successful and delicious feast that everyone will be thankful for. Follow these practical planning ideas and Martha Stewart Thanksgiving recipes to guarantee your guests will keep coming back for seconds.
6. Make a detailed schedule
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be a daunting task, but with advanced preparation, meticulous organization, and thoughtful planning, you’ll be volunteering to do it all again next year. “A well-prepared host is a relaxed host,” says Martha. “Set the table the night before and prep your menu in advance, so you can enjoy your guests.”
Write out a timelined schedule for yourself, including tasks you want to check off in the weeks leading up to the main event, such as ordering the turkey and cleaning the house. Then, schedule when you’ll grocery shop, thaw the turkey, and prepare side dishes in the days prior. Finally, create a day-of hourly schedule to stay on top of cooking times for each item, freeing yourself up to actually enjoy the evening—you prepped perfectly, and you deserve a big glass of wine stat.
7. Brine your turkey in advance
Brining a turkey in a saltwater bath is an important step that keeps your bird moist and flavorful. The day before you roast your turkey, create the brine solution and fully submerge it within a brining bag and container that you then set in your refrigerator or a cooler for 24 hours. Remove the turkey, pat it dry, and let it stand for one hour before roasting. If you’re not ready to roast it quite yet, rinse and pat it dry before refrigerating until it’s time to go into the oven. Bonus: if you still have any (unused!) cheesecloths lying around from Halloween, put them to good use by trying Martha’s classic cheesecloth roasting method as well.
8. Create a seasonal tablescape
A beautiful tablescape can make all the difference when it comes to Thanksgiving, elevating your meal from everyday dinner to awe-inspiring feast. Runners or tablecloths in brown and maroon hues, plaids or ginghams, or other fall neutrals set the tone, and centerpieces featuring gold-painted leaves, miniature ceramic pumpkins, and glowing candles give everything a celebratory yet cozy feel.
9. Nothing beats homemade pie
We all love shortcuts. But for a great Thanksgiving dinner inspired by Martha Stewart, never cut corners when it comes to the dessert course. Whether you’re going with old-fashioned apple, classic pumpkin, sweet pecan, or even one of each, Martha would advise that a homemade crust is always the way to go. You can also bake and freeze your crusts up to three days in advance to cut down on last-minute oven time. And of course, for a perfectly flaky pastry pie crust, the more butter, the better.
10. Prepare a Thanksgiving cocktail
Pre-mix a batch of Martha’s go-to Apple Cider Bourbon Sour, a festive seasonal mix of bourbon, apple cider, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, fresh ginger, and sliced apples as garnish. Spice up your presentation by dipping the rim of each glass in lemon juice and then coating with brown sugar. As an added touch, Martha also keeps these cocktails cold with balls of frozen apple cider in place of classic ice cubes, to avoid watering down any of the boozy fun.
Martha’s Christmas and holiday party hosting tips
To host a holiday party in the style of Martha Stewart, don’t be afraid to be as extravagant as you like. Martha Stewart Christmas decorations mean decking all of the halls: go to town with festive decorations, hang wreaths everywhere, and display a mantle full of greenery and holiday-themed knick-knacks. Some would say it’s overboard to have a Christmas tree in every room of the house, but we say the more the merrier, whether you prefer artificial pink glitter trees or freshly chopped firs.
In addition to festive décor, what makes for an ideal holiday gathering? “A leisurely meal, heartfelt toasts, perhaps a spirited game or two, and plenty of time to simply enjoy each other’s company,” Martha states.
11. Hold a cookie swap party
Martha’s annual cookie swap party has become one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season—and so can yours! Bring everyone together for a crowd-pleasing holiday potluck of sweet treats, and ask guests to claim their contribution by sending an open-ended Guest Question with your invitation. Set a cookie theme by asking everyone to incorporate a specific ingredient, like peppermint, or require that the cookies all follow a red-and-green color scheme. Play Christmas music as you all sample each other’s creations, and send everyone home with plenty of extra cookies to enjoy for the rest of the season.
12. Make your home smell like Christmas
The most welcoming holiday hosting environment, according to Martha? “A warm home with evergreen garlands, candlelight, and something delicious in the oven.” Fill your holiday party with festive fragrances that make everyone feel right at home. Simmer a pot on the stove with pine needles, berries, and other wintry spices to infuse the air with warmth and cheer. Light candles in seasonal scents like cinnamon, citrus, and clove. Hang wreaths of fresh and fragrant greenery such as eucalyptus and rosemary. And of course, nothing beats the smell of freshly baked gingerbread wafting through the air.
13. Lighting is everything
Nothing ruins the mood of a party like offensively bright overhead lights, so be sure to use intentional and soft lighting choices to create a cozy holiday vibe, both indoors and out. Decorate your exterior with festive white or multi-colored string lights and paper bag lanterns lining the walkway, and place plenty of candles, string lights, tea lights, or flameless LED candles throughout the interior as well. Guests will feel so comfortable in your space, they may even fall asleep right then and there (though, that might also be the spiked eggnog’s doing.)
14. Add personalized table settings
“Thoughtful touches like personalized place cards make guests feel special,” Martha advises. Place a (preferably green) linen napkin at each place setting and fold it into a Christmas tree shape. Then, set a star-shaped cut-out at the top of each napkin with the guests’ names handwritten on each star, creating a thoughtful and adorable seating arrangement.
15. Don’t forget the eggnog
Rich, creamy, and strong eggnog is a staple at any Martha Stewart holiday party. Make it pack a punch like Martha’s classic recipe, which contains bourbon, rum, and cognac. Combine the alcohol with egg yolks, sugar, milk, and cream, and garnish with nutmeg. “Happy Holidays” is an understatement with this stiff drink in hand—enjoy!
Host impressive parties with Martha Stewart for Paperless Post
The holiday season may be the most magical time of year, but with a little inspiration, you can host stylish gatherings for any occasion that make guests feel like they just stepped into a professional magazine photoshoot. From glitzy pool parties in the summer to beautiful birthday celebrations and more, explore our full collection of Martha Stewart invitations and cards now.
“Paperless Post helps celebrate life’s milestones and everyday moments with style and intention. I hope these invitations inspire people to gather often, celebrate generously, and create lasting traditions of their own,” says Martha. Host parties all year long with the help of Paperless Post and Martha Stewart—it’s a very good thing.
Tips, ideas, and recipes courtesy of MarthaStewart.com.
Invite guests to mix and a-mingle with festive designs you can email, text, or share.
