How I Brought Christmas to Fat Hen Brewing Co.

Christmas time is an exciting time for many reasons: One in particular being that it's the sole time of year you can be surrounded by pine greenery, twinkling lights, and your favorite ornaments and decorations. It's a very satisfying feeling bringing Christmas cheer to everyone by adding a touch of whimsy to every corner of your home. Once I was finished decorating my home in Connecticut, it was time to start working on bringing that same feeling into Fat Hen.

For those who don't know, my husband Steven started a brewery and restaurant in Exeter New Hampshire with his brother Doug and their friend Steve. Fat Hen Brewing Co. - which opened in late October - has garnered an overwhelming amount of praise and support from the local community. So this Christmas season, we wanted to our guests a charming and cosy holiday feel to their new pub. 

When it comes to Christmas decorations, I say that live plants and trees should always take precedence over anything synthetic. So I started my Christmas shopping with a trip to Churchill's Garden Center for a pine wreath and a bow.

When Sarah Ford from the Redfin blog asked me for my favorite wreath tip, I said:

“When it comes to wreaths, there’s nothing better than real pine, real pine cones, and real berries. Decorate with your favorite ribbon, and spray with a little water every day to make it last as long as possible. Sure, you may have to sweep up pine needles by your front door, but it’s always worth it for that festive aroma.”

If you want to see more tips on wreaths from other bloggers, check out Sarah’s article here.

On the topic of live plants, I also sourced a lovely boxwood tree to serve as our Christmas tree this year. If you've ever shopped for a real mini pine tree for a table display, you may have noticed how sparse they typically appear. So when I found decorated boxwood trees at Beach Plum Flower Shop in Newburyport, I knew it would be the perfect alternative for our side table. The boxwood shrub maintains a lovely full shape similar to a full-sized pine tree, while also giving a fresh and vibrant look to your table. The boxwoods are recommended to be watered from above, so all of the decorations and ribbon are waterproof. 

And no display at Fat Hen would be complete without a gorgeous arrangement from Cymbidium Floral. This is their latest Classic Christmas design. They have become our go-to florist not just for the brewery, but any event.

While at Churchill's I also picked up some lovely garlands for the inside and outside of the store. Their wonderful bow-making mavens Claire and Gisella made some gorgeous bows for the centers, which really made them special. Steven's mother commented that on a cold New Hampshire night, the garlands and lights over the pub give off a look like a Dickens scene.

I wish every garland and wreath in the brewery could be real, but in lieu of that pine scent, I burn the candle "Welcome Wreath" by A Cheerful Giver. I always purchase our candles from Winfield Foote House Antiques in Stratham.

Steven and I have a growing collection of nutcrackers in our home that truly make us smile every year. And we couldn't wait to start sourcing nutcrackers for Fat Hen. While at Churchill's, I found a fantastic Oktoberfest nutcracker, sporting an overflowing beer mug as a hat. He's currently sitting above the bar next to some of our Toby Mugs and decorative steins. 

One of the first architectural finds that the space acquired was their gorgeous two-arm sconces that line the walls and give a lovely glow to the evergreen walls. So in order to bring some attention back to them, I made some bows to hang on them, using ribbon from Churchill's. 

With just a few more weekends of service before Christmas, we hope that those of you who will be in Exeter this holiday season will come in and enjoy the decor, the comfort food, and all of the great times to be had by our Fat Hen community. 

I hope that these tips inspire you to decorate not only your homes this holiday season, but everywhere that you spend your time. Merry Christmas! Until we meet again!