One Week Until Christmas! Get Goop's Holiday Entertaining Checklist

When it comes to whipping up delectable dishes in the kitchen and simultaneously acting as a flawless hostess, Gwyneth Paltrow seems to have it all perfected. And given her adoration for all-things entertaining, it seems only natural that her lifestyle site Goop would collaborate on a line of home items just in time for the holidays.

Recently, the site partnered with Bespoke Home to design an exclusive tabletop collection, featuring a line of monogrammed linen napkins and towels. And in honor of the abundance of entertaining happening this season, we asked them for their top tips on pulling off an extraordinary party in your own home. (They are the the experts, after all!) Follow this organized timeline to ensure an impressive evening.

One Week Before

Finalize your guest list. Consider interesting combinations of friends who might not know each other and or single friends that might connect.

Dream up the tabletop and décor. Visualize what you'd like your party to look like and decide what you need to get to achieve it. Maybe you need to order some lanterns to place in trees, candles for the table, or flowers for the centerpiece.

Music. Now’s also a good time to choose your tunes and create a playlist.

Three Days to Go

If you’re using linens, make sure they’re clean and pressed. (We love a monogrammed napkin.) If you’d rather skip all the posh stuff, roll up your napkins and tie them in a piece of twine, which you can also tie name tags to.

Figure out which cutlery and dishware you’re going to use for the occasion (if you have more than one option). Clean them and set aside so you won’t have to wash them last-minute. If you have some silver from your grandmother or your wedding and it’s been sitting in a drawer for the past year, now’s a good time to get it out.

Focus on the senses. Make sure your powder room has a lovely scented candle (we love Cire Trudon or Aerin candles), nice hand soap and clean and pressed guest towels.

Two Days to Go

Finalize your menu. Write down every ingredient you’ll need for each course, crossing out everything you already have so you know exactly what you need to get. To save time and effort, figure out what you can get delivered to your home – Ocado in London, Amazon Fresh in L.A. and Fresh Direct in N.Y.C. are all reliable go-tos. Once the menu is set, choose the wine to complement the food.

The Day Before

Wash, prep, and chop veggies the day before and place in a sealable container. Wash herbs and wrap in a paper or cloth towel so they are ready to use the day of. Now's also a good time to marinate any meat or fish that needs it.

Check inventory. Check that everything you will be using tomorrow is ready to go – wine glasses are clean, linens are arranged, and so forth.

On the Day

An hour before, lay out some nibbles, get wine or champagne on ice, and dim the lights.

About 10 minutes before, light a candle, start your playlist, and pour yourself a glass of wine.

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