‘Tis the Season for Holiday Catering with LUX

At LUX, we’re obsessed with festive celebrations, especially around the holiday season. There’s no better way to spread holiday cheer than through holiday catering; there’s something so festive about a tasty mixologist-crafted cocktail paired with a delicious farm-to-table dish, don’t you think? Whether you are gathering family, friends or colleagues, holiday parties are the perfect way to bring everyone together and end the year on a jubilant note.

After planning hundreds of holiday parties in Salt Lake City and beyond, we’ve picked up a few tips and tricks. The main tip we want to share is that it’s never too early to start planning your holiday party. Perfect holiday parties are those that are intricately planned for weeks or months, not days. Thinking through each tiny detail from the venue to the menu to the décor that brings the celebration to life—it’s important that each of these factors is carefully curated for a well-executed, unforgettable celebration.

LUX can help when planning seems to become overwhelming. As a full-service catering and events company, we’re able to help you from vision to design to execution, ensuring every detail is just how you imagined in your head.

Whether you’re envisioning a cool all-white winter wonderland soiree or a warm traditional fete with a cozy fireplace roaring, the four steps to planning the perfect holiday party are the same. Here’s how you can plan your perfect Salt Lake City holiday party, step by step.

The first piece to any holiday party is a date!

Consider whether it’s a social or corporate holiday celebration. If it’s a social event with friends or family, selecting a date that is closer to the holidays is appropriate, as that’s when we usually have the time to spend with family. If you’re in charge of planning your company holiday party, think about planning it for early December or even possibly in January as an end-of-year celebration and a kickoff for the new year.

The choice is yours! But your date will decide more about theme, venue, menu and more.

Events are like a work of art, and the venue is the canvas. Selecting the right venue for your event is key, as it’s the foundation for your event! If you’re looking for that cozy, traditional feel, think about the Brick Room with its rustic red brick that could be accented perfectly by rich holiday greenery, or Kimball House at This is the Place with its warm, historic charm. If you’re looking for a sleek, modern venue to transform into an icy wonderland, think about 15^th Street Gallery or 4U Ranch.

LUX works with so many event venues in the Salt Lake City area, and our team has an eye for pairing the event vision with the ideal venue. Just reach out and we can chat about what options may be a good fit for your Salt Lake City holiday party—we know the options can be overwhelming at times!

At LUX, we offer a variety of catering options with service styles that we customize to meet the needs of every event. Each holiday event is unique, so the menu should be as well, right? Our team is full of creative epicureans who love to experiment with colors, flavors and ingredients to ensure that no menu is created equal—and they have a soft spot for delicious holiday catering.

Along with the menu creation comes deciding what type(s) of service you’d like to offer at your event. Whether you want to offer a heavy selection of hors d’oeuvres and small plates for dinner or a buffet teeming with dishes to choose from, there are options that fit every group.

Here is a quick sneak peek at service styles that may work for your holiday party:

Buffet

One of the most traditional styles of food service for a holiday party is a buffet. Setting up a variety of appetizers, main courses, sides and desserts makes it easy for guests to enjoy and admire the bountiful setup!

Plated

For holiday parties looking for an elegant touch, a plated meal is always a perfect option. Our chefs work diligently to plate each meal to perfection, pairing bold flavors with impeccable presentation.

Small Plates

Variety is the spice of life! Allow your guests to have a taste of a few different dishes. From carne asada tacos to baked brie atop a pastry with local jam, there are so many flavors your guests can experience in one holiday event.

Family-Style

Not interested in cooking holiday dinner this year? A shared meal with all the traditional dishes your family loves could be just what the doctor ordered.

Chef Action Station

Liven up the celebration with interactive stations like pasta served from a flaming wheel of parmigiana, fresh sushi rolled right in front of guests or a caprese carving station with infused oils for drizzling.

Food Stations

A perfect way to get people mingling is to spread out the food with tasty stations like a slider bar or a curry bar with toppings like veggies and nuts—with a side of naan, of course.

Butler-Passed

Single-serve bites are the perfect way to get any holiday party started. Consider festive options like red and green Caprese skewers or ahi tuna on a wonton crisp topped with tobiko wasabi.

Roaming Cart Service

One of our clients’ favorites each year is the roaming cart service. With bountiful charcuterie perfectly displayed on an elegant gold bar cart, we’ll wander the floor to allow your guests to nibble throughout the night.

Regardless of what style service you choose, it’ll be a memorable holiday celebration!

Once you have the date, the venue and the menu, now it’s time to bring it all to life! The best way to do this? Floral and décor! As a full-service catering and events company, we have floral designers and event designers who offer a keen eye for bringing unique event visions to life. From setting the mood with lighting to adding the scent of the holiday season with Frasier fir centerpieces, they’ll help you create an environment that exudes the spirit of the season just as you imagined it.