Tips for Hosting a Holiday Party
Tips for Hosting a Holiday Party
With the holiday season quickly approaching, many people are planning to gather with family and friends. If you are hosting a holiday bash this year, you already know how much preparation you must do. You can make your party the highlight of the season when you follow a few simple steps. An essential thing to remember when planning any party is to stay organized. When you have a solid plan, you can face any challenges that arise when planning your party. Consider these five tips for making your party one to remember.
Choose a Theme
Creating an atmosphere for your party is the key to making it memorable. Determine what the theme for your party will be, and remain as consistent as possible with it. For example, if you are hosting a New Year’s Eve party, you might choose a blue and white theme. You can frost all the windows and glass doors in your home with a layer of fake snow and frost your beverage glasses with a rim of sugar to mimic snowflakes. When you add these special little touches to your party, you are sure to impress your guests.
Create the Guest List
Before you can do food preparations, you must decide how many guests will attend your event. Create a guest list that does not overwhelm you, especially if you are hosting the event in your home. To ensure no one is left off the list, have your spouse or a close friend look over it. If you are planning on an adults-only event, make sure you make that clear on the invitation. This way, guests can make childcare arrangements well in advance of the event.
Send Out Invitations
Most etiquette sites state that you should send out your party invitations at least three weeks ahead of the event. However, the holiday season can be a busy time, so you may want to let your guests know sooner than that. This way, everyone has time to fit your party into their schedules. Your invitation should match the theme of your party, as it is the first glimpse that guests get of the event. Start gathering addresses ahead of time so you will not be rushing at the last minute, and save them for next year! Alternatively, you can send out e-vites for a paperless option.
Gather Supplies
Ask your guests to RSVP at least a week ahead of the event. This way, you will know how much food to buy and prepare. Decide what type of food you wish to serve. Depending on the size of the gathering, you may choose to do appetizers only. If the party is only for your closest friends, you may cook a whole dinner. Depending on your kitchen skills, you may choose to have the event catered. Although this option typically costs more, it can save you a lot of time and stress overall.
Set a Timeline
On the day of your party, you do not want to be running around your house with no direction. Instead, carefully plan so that you know what to do on that day. Go ahead and prep anything that you can in the days leading to the party so that you can focus on the finishing touches before the guests arrive. Create a schedule for when you need to start preparing the food so that time does not get away from you. When you have a timeline planned, the day will be much less stressful.
Hosting a Christmas or New Year’s party can be a lot of fun. When you plan well, you can enjoy the event with minimal stress. Start brainstorming today for what you want the theme of your party to be, and have fun picking out all the decorations. After your successful party this year, you might find that it turns into a much-anticipated annual event!
