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When it comes to a watch party, realize there are right ways and wrong ways to host such an event. Whether it’s a binge-watching session of your favorite show on Netflix like I recently enjoyed for “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” or a live viewing of something like The Oscars to find out results together or a night dedicated to a timeless, classic cult comedy like “Mean Girls,” be sure to avoid some crucial faux pas and incorporate some equally crucial elements and rules.

To offer some general tips on this subject, we’ll use the Gilmore Girls revival watch party I recently coordinated as a frame of reference.

Do: Take into account how many episodes will be watched and/or how long this event will last when determining a decent start time.

You simply can’t expect guests who have a long drive ahead of them to sit through a five-hour binge-watching marathon if you don’t get things going until 7p.m. (especially if folks have work in the morning).

Don’t underestimate the importance of making it interactive.

Let’s be honest if you all wanted to just sit in silence, you’d just be lone couch potatoes. But this is a watch party! You’ve gathered to enjoy each other’s company, share reactions and thoughts and, especially in the case of this “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life,” get emotionally vulnerable. Activities related to what you’re watching keep everyone intently engaged and included in the experience together.

For my Gilmore Girls fans, I had everyone grab a Bingo card with all kinds of phrases, motifs, quotes and typical scenes described for guests to watch for and check off.

Do: Decide ahead of time and let everyone know the rule regarding talking.

Depending on how intense what you’re watching is or how intense your guests are, you’ll need to enforce a strict policy about when it’s acceptable to start offering commentary. Some like to banter throughout, but some have to pause completely when anyone is talking. Avoid confrontations or obnoxious “Sssshhh…” wars by establishing a designated time to chat.

At the Gilmore Girls Netflix party, we took time in between episodes to debrief, rehash or rant about what had just taken place so that everyone could share their thoughts and bounce theories off of each other. Don’t be afraid to use the pause button or replay pivotal moments together, though. Sometimes there are monumental revelations that simply require such and cannot be put off until the end of the entire episode.

Don’t be vague when it comes to the theme of the party. It may be a single movie or single show you’re watching, but you’ll need to narrow down what you want to emphasize or highlight.

With the Gilmore Girls watch party, we could have taken the approach of focusing on Luke’s Diner, Emily Gilmore and the DAR or The Dragonfly Inn.

We chose to hone in on the main two Gilmore girls – Rory and Lorelai – and  embrace their eccentric eating habits. Snacks provided were as random as you’d expect with popcorn, powdered doughnuts, French fries, Red Vines, Pop-Tarts, and obviously, coffee.

 Do: Tell the guests whether watching (if possible) ahead of time is allowed or not. If guests have the capability to know spoilers or view the movie/show prior to arriving to the watch party, you’ll need to inform everyone if this is a first-time viewing or if they can come prepared to re-watch together.

Make sure it’s clear who has or hasn’t seen it all so that things like in the Gilmore Girls’ case “the last four words” are not prematurely blurted out or discussed.

Don’t skimp on décor! Accessories, themed t-shirts or napkins, iconic memorabilia will mean everything. Oh – and don’t forget to take lots of pictures!

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While many are still enjoying leftover turkey in various forms of consumption and eating pumpkin pie for breakfast from their Thanksgiving feast, I was delighted to spend the weekend handling the decorations and overall event styling for a different occasion. A precious couple were celebrating and giving thanks for each other by exchanging vows!

I was in charge of creating a farm-to-table themed scene for the bride and groom’s rehearsal dinner, which was a fun and fresh concept to bring to life.

I used the season itself to influence the colors and inspire a crisp, rustic, fall atmosphere. I focused on cranberry and muted teals with yellows to capture the indoor autumn ambiance.

The dinner was held in McKinney at a hotel and fed dozens of family members and friends who were excited to honor the couple coming together.

The menu featured traditional southern, farm-to-table foods – such as pot roast, mashed potatoes and chicken-fried chicken. The staples you’d expect for a country spread.

Based on the bride’s preferences for the theme and some of her wedding colors, I selected different elements to make this memorable dinner organically come together.

Wishing this bride and groom all the best in the years ahead of them! Here’s to many more commemorative dinner parties that bring their loved ones to the table moving forward! Check out some photos below!

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It’s typical this time of year to hear people talk of their excitement to indulge in turkey and dressing, gather with family to watch football and overeat pumpkin anything! Oh yeah! – And many talk about things for which they’re thankful.

The reality is not everyone has the luxury of gearing up for such festivities around the Thanksgiving holiday because some do not even know how to obtain their next meal, much less plan a feast with a uniquely decorative tablescape and trendy centerpieces.

This past Saturday, I was able to set the table for those who normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to sit down to such a spread and create an eventful experience with fellow volunteers in Downtown Dallas. It was special project with the organization CitySquare to provide a Thanksgiving meal for locals.

While I’ve assisted in the event styling and decorating for this noteworthy occasion for the past three years, to do so as a new business – Sarah Combs Events – this time around meant a lot to me. It is a re-commitment for me personally to make sure I’m continually giving back and sharing my talents in ways that benefit others.

I’m reminded of the message in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 that reads, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” In other words, God equips us with individual strengths that He expects us to utilize to serve and help others “for the common good.”

I’m not a professional chef and may not possess the gift of preparing a culinary masterpiece, but I can prepare the venue at which that meal will be hosted. Presentation is important too, right? 😉

I take great pleasure in setting the tone for a banquet and watching a smile spread across people’s faces as they step into the room and enjoy the little details of the décor. I have made it my profession to do exactly that. So, I’ve made a point to donate about five hours of my time and volunteer my decorating services to craft a holiday themed meal for people involved in CitySquare’s programs and have enjoyed doing so every time. It’s fun dressing the table; it’s rewarding to serve people their food; and it’s fascinating to visit with them and hear their stories.

CitySquare has a fabulous state-of-the-art facility with large rooms, perfect for holding large groups. The venue provides a great view overlooking Dallas, but I like setting a scene to provide a great view right across the table. It’s fulfilling to be part of an event that brings families together during a special time of year over a warm meal to escape their troubles and find encouragement if only for a few hours.

About CitySquare:

The mission of CitySquare is to fight the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy, and friendship. Find out more about the organization and the great programs provided at http://www.citysquare.org

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The term “myth” is defined as “a traditional or legendary story,” “any invented story, idea or concept,” or,  maybe the best description, “an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.”

With the holidays coming up and people in the midst of planning their parties to celebrate, I felt the need to address some falsities that many of you likely have heard or even circulated yourself. (Shame, shame.)

Before you follow any such unproved collective beliefs and use them to justify your next social affair, check out my list below and see which of these myths sounds familiar to you…

Myth 1: “You shouldn’t focus too much energy on the decorating or activities.”

Busted: Why this is false? While guests do indeed come to enjoy the food and your company, décor sets the tone of the event! Don’t discount the importance of having the appropriate placement (and amount) of accent pieces to create the ideal atmosphere for your occasion. Your guests will notice, and the right organized activities can lead to great memories.

Myth 2: “Don’t stress too much about working with everyone’s schedules. It’s just too hard; you should pick whatever date you think works best and go with that.”

Busted: This is why it’s best to plan adequately far in advance in order to make sure guests can attend your holiday event.

*You will reach a point when you have to make the executive decision and pick a date; however, you should work with those whom you want in attendance and try to coordinate with them to make sure they’re able to be there. Be courteous of your guests’ schedules and start planning with plenty of time to be flexible.

Myth 3: “You need to invite an excessive number of guests in the likelihood that some won’t even show up.”

Busted: Particularly for a personal holiday party at which dinner will be served, you should only invite as many people as you comfortably can fit and feed. The goal should be to ensure you get most all of your desired guests there, so plan around that. Know realistically how many people you can host and work with that number.

Myth 4: “You know what you want for this event; go with that vision and just make it happen. Worry about costs later.”

Busted: Bad. Idea. Preparing a major meal for a large group of people leads to expenses that add up quickly. You will need to plan it out and get creative to avoid feeling like your settling or sacrificing quality. The last thing you want is to be looking back at the receipts afterward, realizing how much you spent, and wondering if it was really worth it. Don’t let your holiday meals and parties be tainted by dollar signs and regrets! Strategize in advance and be smart with your budget.

Myth 5: “Don’t worry about having enough food; there will be enough! In fact, we usually have leftovers.”

Busted: You know what happens when you assume…
It’s CRUCIAL to make sure you have enough food for all in attendance. If you are hosting a potluck style meal, you should confirm who will bring what item/dish, at least a week beforehand. Organize a sign-up sheet so everyone can keep track of responsibilities and expected quantities. If you are making the entire meal yourself, be sure you have an accurate guest count and know how much to make of each dish!

May your events be merry and bright this holiday season, and may these myth busts help guide you in the event planning process!

Cheers!