Chic And Cheap Valentine Party
Whether you're single or attached, you can host a fun Valentine's Day dinner party for six or eight people without going into debt.
Celebrity party planner Colin Cowie shows you how on The Early Show Wednesday.
Setting the Mood
Create a more casual and intimate environment by using a large coffee table as an alternative to a conventional dining table. For seating, use chair cushions or pillows covered in red pillowcases. Dress your table with a red remnant fabric or sheet and add red plates and glasses.
Cover clear votive candles with red cellophane and lace - adding red faux fur to the base. Tie all the elements together with lovely vase and or bowl centerpieces filled with red-colored water and floating candles.
Avoid using too many flowers, especially red ones, given their heightened expense around Valentine's Day. After all, the color red signifies love! If you want a floral element, use Gerbera daisies and or carnation petals - sold at much lower prices. For a personal touch, use the menus to write a love note.
The Welcome Drinks & Hors d'oeuvres
Cowie suggests you jumpstart the party - and the weekend - with a festive red cocktail. Welcome guests with a tray of champagne-based drinks, perhaps a Kir Royale, to get the appropriate red hue. Since the champagne will be diluted, it will allow you to use a less expensive choice.
Along with the welcome drinks, serve "aphrodisiac" oysters on the half-shell to get everyone in the mood.
The Food
To keep your dinner simple and inexpensive, ask each guest to bring a dish. One can bring the appetizers, another the dessert, and so on. Guests who cannot bring food may help set the table.
Another option to save time and expense are pre-cooked store-bought meals served chilled. This way, little or no cooking is involved. You can prepare them ahead of time and stay focused on the presentation.
Keeping with the Valentine's theme, Cowie recommends the following foods that can be eaten by hand - adding to the wonderfully sensual and sexy mood.
Appetizer - Shrimp Cocktail in Avocado
Entree - Chilled Lobster with Russian Salad & Basil Mayonnaise (Store-bought precooked lobsters are one-third to one-half of the restaurant cost; ask for lobsters to be split at the seafood counter to save prep time)
Dessert - Chocolate Fondue served with
Assorted Fruit & Biscotti
Post-Meal
Following the meal, serve scented steamed towels to all your guests. Simply wet towels, add scent of choice, wring, and heat in microwave. Not only is this ideal for cleaning hands after eating, but guests will enjoy the rejuvenating feeling.
As for the guests, Cowie advises them to come with a good attitude. You may also want to inject some fun into your Valentine's Day Party with a dress code. Inform your guests to wear either PJs or red-themed attire.