Dominoes, dessert wine and seriously great decor, here’s how to party like a PR pro.
Professionally, Pitt has turned this love of entertaining into an artform with events for huge brands including Tinder, REVOLVE, Rachel Gilbert and Penfolds. But running an agency is just one of her gigs, she’s also mum to two little girls, Parker and Paityn, and a content-creator-come-influencer in her own right. Lady is busy. So when she gets a chance, she and her husband Nick like to host a games night, something that’s a fairly new tradition. “I’d never tried games evenings until the first lockdown when we were forced to get creative with our nights after burning through Netflix and every online quiz. We were living with my parents during that period and started passing time with long games of Uno. What started as a lockdown pastime appealed in a post-pandemic world. “It’s a great way to relax and not be thinking, or talking, about work, the kids or life admin,” she says. Plus, a little competition is good for the soul, right? While Montarna would like to say she’s a chess person – “I was into Queen’s Gambit last year, but in reality I don’t have the patience for a long old game” – dominoes is more her vibe, “We can get through a game in less than an hour and it’s packed away in a beautiful box that looks great on my coffee table!”
“With everyone hosting more at home now, a games night is a good way to theme the evening and bring everyone together,” says Pitt. Here, she shows how to throw one like a PR pro in her gorgeous Paddington home.
Home essentials
- Q.Who’s the cook at your house?
“I love entertaining. Any excuse for a fabulous table setting, fresh flowers, good food, a tune and friends over – I’m in, but my husband Nick is the chef in our relationship. When we have people over, I’m in charge of everything else – deciding on the menu, table décor, music and the drinks.”
- Q.Go-to drink order?
“For dinner, a crisp glass of Chardonnay. If it’s on the menu, Perrier-Jouët’s Belle Époque Champagne is my bubbles of choice. For disco, I’m partial to a vodka, lime and soda.”
- Q.What do you always have on hand to drink at home?
“Chardonnay, Champagne, and beer for Nick. When people come over, I always start with Champagne, then what we drink will match the food, but I love a dessert wine to finish a meal.”
- Q.Best thing to do on a kid-free night?
“It’s heaven having the house to ourselves if the girls are staying with their grandparents. Nick will usually cook me dinner, I’ll make some drinks, and we’ll have an evening just the two of us.”
- Q.What makes a great event?
“Good food, wine, music and a great bunch of like-minded people.”
- Q.What are your top tips for party planning?
“Because of work, planning is my forte and I’m all about a timeline and to-do list. I’m a bit more relaxed when it’s my own party, so I’ll start organising things a few weeks ahead gathering things for the table styling and putting a food and drinks menu together. I’ve learnt from experience which elements of an event can be time-consuming and I’ll usually work with a florist to create arrangements reflecting my theme (rather than making these myself). I’ll keep drink options small but perfectly formed, so usually one or two wines and one hero cocktail. Nick loves cooking for our dinner parties, and if it’s more of a drinks thing I’ll brief a caterer to create canapés that we can heat at home. And I always book a cleaner for the following morning!"
- Q.What’s your tablescaping style?
“I love so many styles I often find it hard to choose. I’m fortunate enough with what I do that I get to work with lots of talented creatives who are able to bring my ideas to life. If I’m just hosting at home, however, I like to create unique tablescapes by using different glassware, quirky flowers (often Australian natives work well), and playing with tablecloths and linens depending on the mood."
- Q.What are your failsafe table styling tricks?
“Either keep it simple, with luxe white table linen, elegant glassware and neutral candles. Or go all out on clashing items, think plaid tablecloths topped with vibrant plates, colourful glassware and whimsical florals. You should always have a special set of cutlery for entertaining – something a bit more luxe than your day to day. Linen table napkins with a design reflecting your style. Sophisticated wine glasses. A statement water jug.”
Notable mentions
- Q.All-time favourite event that you’ve hosted?
“I’d like to think I keep out-doing myself! Professionally, hosting the REVOLVE Around The World events in Australia was a career highlight; we staged media and influencer events in different locations across a week to place the brand on the map in Australia. Personally, I recently hosted a birthday party for my husband in our backyard which I loved to do. We transformed our courtyard into an Italian piazza and had Chef Orazio come and cook our families a big Italian feast. It was an incredible menu, and after being in lockdown it felt so precious to get together again. I’m looking forward to hosting a birthday party for my older daughter this year, as thanks to COVID we’ve not been able to throw her a proper event yet.
- Q.Q. Best restaurant you’ve ever eaten at?
“This is constantly changing the more places I visit, however best in the last six months would have to be Ursula’s in Paddington. My pick of the menu is the Moreton Bay bug pasta (with a side of brioche to finish off the sauce), into the chicken as a main with a side of mash, and for dessert their golden syrup dumplings. I always start off with a glass of Louis Roederer champagne and then move onto a Chardonnay. I’ll often end on a Montenegro.
Let’s plan... a couples' game night
- Q.Who’s coming:
“Some of our closest friends and their partners (who are also our friends) will be there. It’s always interesting to see who’s the most competitive in a couple!”
- Q.The guest brief:
“Bring your best conversation and competitive spirit.”
- Q.Drink on arrival:
“Champagne. Can’t break tradition.”
- Q.The main event:
“Our Paddington home has a lovely flow to it, going from the dining room to the kitchen and out into our leafy courtyard – I love starting the evening at the dining table and ending up outside with a nightcap. We’ll play games in the dining room, have Chardonnay, Champagne and I’ll serve luxe finger food like freshly-shucked oysters, arancini balls, a cheese board with breads and pickles, pretzels, crisps and sweets.”
- Q.The games:
“A few of the classics – chess and dominoes for those who want to get started ASAP and then we’ll all get into a card game like Rummy or Uno."
- Q.The decor:
“I’m going for a monochrome theme with fresh white florals mixed in with the chessboard and dominoes. Simple white crockery and serving plates with pops of colour from bowls of oranges and green leafy stems. I’ll have a mix of glass sizes out so guests can help themselves to wines or something a little stronger from the drinks cabinet. I’ve also mixed in styling elements to reflect the games night theme – tarot cards, backgammon and playing cards”
- Q.Key to having fun at a games night:
“Not taking it too seriously.”
image credits: Sophie Brockwell
