Want to host a Christmas party this year? Whether or not you’ve already sent out the invitations or you’re just thinking about getting everyone together for the evening, we’re here to help!
Because Xmas party planning can get stressful. You’re all over the place trying to coordinate work schedules, when schools go on break, and wading through the crowds whenever you go food and gift shopping.
The least we could do is make sure you know what you’re doing, when to get it done, and how to make the process easier! But Christmas parties are supposed to be fun, for both the host and the attendees alike!
So without further ado, here’s how to plan a festive party occasion every guest will love.
Get an Idea of the Best Day
If you want as many of your guests to come along as possible, you need to know what their schedules are like! Don’t just make yourself guess here.
Pop everyone you want to invite into a group chat and then send out a poll. In the poll, write up a list of the dates you’re thinking of and ask everyone to respond with the best date for them.
Should You Have a Theme?
Some Christmas parties have a very clear theme to them. And they are a good idea, as they can be a lot of fun! For example, wear the ugliest Christmas sweater. Everyone gets to cast a vote on the ugliest sweater throughout the night. At the end, the winner gets a prize.
But you don’t strictly need a theme, if you don’t really want one. Christmas is a theme in and of itself, and you can put together a fine party just by going all out on the festive front.
Don’t sweat the theming of your party too much. However, if it’s sticking out in your head, all you need to do is make a quick list of the kind of decorations, lighting, and food you’d like to put out. To curate the best list here, think about your dream kind of Christmas and then fit items into that.
Do you imagine a cute, cozy cottage covered in snow? Then you’re definitely going to want to grab gingerbread decor and some fake snow! Similarly, if you’re more of a fan of a Lapland vibe, look into turning your house into Santa’s workshop!
Have Some Games, But Not Too Many
Christmas parties need Christmas games – it’s just a fact! Set up your hosting space for a bit of festive fun, whether you’re doing a quiz, bingo, or you’ve come up with a new set of rules for Xmas Twister!
Make sure you state on your invitations that you’ve got some games planned. But don’t stop there – make sure you also note what games are going to be played. You want your guests to know what to expect for the night.
Older and/or less able relatives and friends will need to know if anything physical is happening (like a race against the clock scavenger hunt), and some people just want to know if they need to brush up on their Xmas trivia!
And of course, if you have planned some games, don’t plan out too many! Give people space to breathe and do their own thing while they’re at the party. And let’s face it, fewer games to plan out means less stress to make it all work!
Set a Dress Code
You might not think a dress code is needed for a Christmas party. After all, it’s Christmas! People usually know what to wear to a festive event. But unlike the theming issue we mentioned above, a set dress code for your Christmas party might just be essential.
After all, if you’ve bought an amazingly silky and shiny designer dress from Couture Candy, and most of your guests turn up in Xmas sweaters and leggings, you’re going to feel a bit out of place!
And yes, the host gets to wear what they want. But you don’t want to be the only person following your idea of what you wanted your party to look like. So get it out of your head and make sure the guests know it too!
Make Food and Drink Easy To Eat
Unless you’re planning the kind of party where you mingle for a bit, then all sit down to eat together, you’re probably going to have a buffet table set up. What should be on it? Easy, snacky, finger foods.
If guests are going to be standing, sitting, and moving all over the place, food needs to be just as portable. It also shouldn’t be too messy, so try to keep saucy things to a minimum!
Set up a little sauce or dip space on the buffet table for guests to use as they like, but don’t make them have to handle cranberry dripping all over their outfits! And along these lines, make sure there are plenty of plates and napkins (and even some wet wipes) out on the table, just in case.
Plan Your Dream Christmas Party!
If you want to throw an amazing Christmas party this year, this is how! Get your date set just right, make sure you have a dress code everyone can clearly follow, and keep your food and drink easy (and not messy!) to eat.
Of course, when you attend a party there’s plenty to do, from having people to talk to, food to eat, and music to dance and sing to. But you’ll also want to have a few focused games for people to get involved with as well. Keep them simple but fun, and don’t overwhelm the party with them either!
Put all of these ideas together and see what you come up with. Whether you’ve got just a close group of friends coming along, or you’ve invited as many of the extended family as you could, everyone is going to find something to enjoy at your Xmas do!
