With festive party season in full swing there's no better time to get creative with your table settings and one of the most fun ideas I've come across recently is adding something known as lagniappe (or lanyap if you prefer the phonetic spelling). It's a Cajun word that means 'a little something extra' which I learned about when I interviews party planner and founder of Houses & Parties, Rebecca Gardner, about how she creates wild and whimsical celebrations, for our Entertaining, Styled piece this month.
Rebecca says lanyap can be 'any little surprise that you can tuck onto the table'. That could be something unexpected like a miniature animal figurine peeking out from under your centerpiece, some luxurious candies scattered across the table, or party games or props to spark conversation and encourage 'a raucous good time'.
So whatever kind of party you're hosting for New Year and beyond, whether a sit-down dinner or a sparkling cocktail party, be sure to take a leaf from Rebecca's book and inject a little frivolity and personality with lanyap – the little extras that will set your event apart from the rest. I've selected some of my favorite pieces here to bring a touch of fun to your party table.
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