How to Throw a Chic and Cheap Holiday Office Party … Right In Your Office!

If anyone knows how to throw a party, it’s celebrity party planner Mary Giuliani!

So when she visited our show to teach us how to make two bite-sized appetizers fit for the yummiest of holiday parties (can you say Carbonara Doughnuts and Lasagna Cupcakes?!), we HAD to get a glimpse into her recent holiday office party (so we could steal her tricks, of course).

Watch the video above to see how Mary transformed her office into an elegant -- yet inexpensive -- winter wonderland for her co-workers.

And go ahead and copy her tips below!

NO. 1: TRANSFORM YOUR OFFICE INSTEAD OF RENTING A SPACE

Instead of buying out a restaurant or a hall, Mary simply turned her office space into a party area by moving desks and furniture around (and by repurposing those pieces for the festivities).

Here's the space she was working with (and boy did she use it wisely!): 

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For starters, her favorite trick for dressing up a room or an entryway is to hang fabric. It creates the illusion of a real party room and can cover up eyesores in the office!

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For her soiree, Mary rented a "pipe and drape":

Hint -- It looks like this: 

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Pro tip: Renting tends to be cheaper than buying -- which is a major plus when you’re on a budget -- so contact your local event rental company for a quote!

NO. 3: REPURPOSE WHAT YOU HAVE

Mary turned her office bookcase into a bar and dressed it up with a strand of pine garland.

"Whenever you can bring the outside in," Mary says, "I say go for it."

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Doesn’t it look adorable?

NO. 4: FOAM LINERS ARE YOUR FRIEND

Mary uses these underneath her tablecloth to protect the tables (after all, you will need to work on them again eventually), to prevent glasses and plates from clanking and to make the tablecloth stay in place.

So smart!

NO. 5: MAKE FOOD & DRINK YOUR CENTERPIECE

No centerpiece? No problem!

Mary made a Sicilian Mistletoe (AKA an Italian margarita) in a massive punch bowl and used it as her centerpiece.

So clever!

Here's what you'll need to make it yourself:

- 2 bottles of tequila (silver and gold)
- 1/2 bottle of Aperol
- 1 gallon fresh grapefuit juice
- 1 gallon fresh lime juice
- Handful of fresh basil

She also had her extra-long flatbread double as a table runner. Yum-o!

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And for an Insta-worthy touch, she built a champagne tower -- but she made it a JELLO champagne tower to avoid a mess.

Good. Call.

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NO. 6: DON'T FORGET TO ADD ELEMENTS OF FUN

The celeb party planner taped two strands of metallic streamers to a white wall in her office -- and in seconds, she had a photo booth backdrop.

The best part? It cost her less than $7!

She also added an element of surprise to the table by tying confetti-filled balloons to each chair -- along with a set of pins -- so all the attendees could pop the balloons during the party and dress the room up even more!