The holidays are a great time to host a gathering. But many people shy away from having a holiday party because of the sheer amount of planning and work that goes into a party. Here are some party planning and hosting tips that will make a party enjoyable from beginning to end.
Venue
There are many great places a person could host a party other than his or her home, including: reserving a room at a restaurant; renting a conference room at a hotel or having the party somewhere fun like a skating rink or sledding hill.
If it is preferable to host a party at home, here are some good tips to follow.
InvitationsBuying and filling out invitations and envelopes is a time-consuming and eco-unfriendly way to get the word out about a party. Instead, consider using Evite, a free online email party invitation service, to spread the word. This service is convenient because a person can easily track who is and isn't coming along with people who have not confirmed one way or the other.
When creating invitations, be sure to consider and specify the following:
- Time (a party with children invited typically will end earlier than one without)
- Dress
- Do guests need to bring anything (e.g. potluck, wine, gift for Secret Santa exchange)
- Directions to your home
- Children (will this be a family-friendly party or should guests plan to find a babysitter)
- Alcohol (will it be served, should guests bring their own or is it a dry party)
Food
Consider what type(s) of food to serve. Some parties feature appetizers, some offer full meals, some have a dessert display and a few may have snacks only. Keep in mind that if a party is planned in the evening, especially around dinnertime, guests may expect food to be served.
To make food preparation easy, host a potluck occasion and ask confirmed guests to bring a particular type of food. Another option is to prepare foods the night before so that the day of the party is not as hectic. Finally, an increasingly popular option for busy people is to buy prepared foods from a mail-order company such as Impromptu Gourmet. If ordering food, be certain to order it early enough to ensure it arrives in time for the party.
Decorations
While most people have seasonal decorations that are traditionally used to decorate their homes, consider choosing a theme (e.g. snowmen) or particular color scheme (e.g. red and green or silver and gold) to make a party fancier and more trendy.
One fun way to involve party guests is to have small favors or gifts for them such as a small dessert to take home or a tree ornament to enjoy. If children will be guests at the party, consider having Santa drop in to give the children gifts as well. Be sure to have a camera on hand so parents can be surprised with a fun photo of their child with Santa.
Plan to clean house a day or two before the party. If the house is especially messy, hire a one-time service from a local housecleaning company to make everything sparkle.
Time to Party
With some planning, the day of the party should be fairly relaxed. Set out the food a half hour prior to guests arriving and set the mood with music and lights. Be sure all cameras have extra batteries so lots of great photos can be taken and be sure to take the time to enjoy the party!
In summary, planning and hosting a great party doesn't have to be a lot of work...in fact, it can be fun! Simply follow the tips above. Merry Christmas!
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