Page 8 - The Hunt Winter 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE
Consummate Hosts
As our dutiful “holiday entertaining correspondent,” Eileen Smith Dallabrida has been bouncing around the region chatting with some of the most credible sources on the topic. These highly skilled and creative experts have party-hosting down to a science. Or is it an art form?
Really, it’s a little bit of both—equal parts orchestration and inspiration. Chadds Ford’s Marie Cosgrove lovingly and meticulously assembled
the fabulous holiday table that’s featured in this month’s issue. And for a story in the November issue of our sister publication, Main Line Today, Dallabrida was privy to the trade secrets of Matthew Thomas Designs’ Matthew Wetzel and Don Thomas, who prep their Chester County
home for the holidays in mid-November, then quickly move on to party planning. “There’s a lot of talk about decorating too early,” Wetzel told Dallabrida. “But we usually have a party the first Saturday in December, and it takes a lot of time to work out the details. It’s also a lot easier to put up lights outside while it’s warm enough to work without gloves.”
For one pre-pandemic party inspired by the classic primetime
soap opera Dynasty, Wetzel and Thomas assembled a team to serve
80 guests. A pair of greeters welcomed revelers and whisked away their coats. Servers circulated hors d’oeuvres and topped off drinks. Among their proven party-hosting techniques: “We always ask our caterers, kitchen staff and greeters to arrive an hour or so early. This is when
all hands are on deck, lighting candles, prepping food and situating
cocktails,” Wetzel says. “We prep everything ahead of time so anyone working the party has a map of how things should flow.”
At any soiree hosted by Wetzel and Thomas, everyone dresses to impress. “It’s much more enjoyable when people dress up. “We always say on our party invites that black tie is optional,” Wetzel noted in his conversation with Dallabrida. “It elevates everyone’s spirits and the vibe of the party. The people become part of the ambience.”
And there’s never any parking issues at a Wetzel/Thomas bash. They hire
a driver to shuttle guests from a nearby lot. “The shuttle runs all night and is stocked with champagne Jell-O shots with gold flecks,” according to Thomas.
Talk about making guests feel special.
Hobart Rowland Editor-in-Chief
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ED WILLIAMS
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