It’s the holiday season. Are you ready?
Here come the Christmas lights, carols, peppermint mochas, bustling crowds, department store Santas, and a slew of holiday parties, including the one you host.
Between Halloween and New Year’s Eve, we typically host at least three large parties, if not four, and that’s if we don’t throw our dog a birthday bash too.
What? I go to your kids’ parties; you can come to mine.
I digress.
At this point I have hosting down to a fine science and I would like to share my tips with fellow hosts and hostesses to help forgo the stress and focus on the fun!
Decide What Kind of Party You Should Throw
Thankfully holiday parties come with built-in themes. But you should still determine what kind of party you would like to have – formal dinner, cocktail, or open house. I’ve undertaken them all, and I believe the open house style is far and away the most successful and least stressful, especially since it allows guests to come and go as they please.
*Bonus Tip: Send invitations as soon as possible because calendars fill up quickly this time of year!
Do What You Can a Day Ahead of the Party
Clean your house, decorate, set up food and beverage stations, make a playlist, and get a good night’s sleep!
Relinquish Some Control
What? Let someone else have control? Never!
Okay Martha Stewart, just take a step back.
If you don’t accept some help, you are going to go insane. Or get a migraine. Possibly cry. You get the idea. I’ve had a hard time with this in the past, but I’ve learned that it really does make a difference in your ability to enjoy your own party!
I find it easiest and most helpful to delegate some food duties. While I do make a main dish (my famous chili!), I ask guests to bring an appetizer to share, which is appropriate given the informality of the open house. Plus, most people enjoy bringing dishes and goodies to share anyway!
Another idea would be to splurge on a caterer!
Provide an Assortment of Beverages
Decide whether you’re going to serve wine, beer or cocktails. If you plan to offer all three, assume 50% of your party-goers will drink wine, with beer and spirits going to the other 50%.
Create one or two holiday cocktail options. Prepare them ahead of time and place the libations in large labeled beverage dispensers. Feel free to class it up with real martini glasses or provide candy cane garnishments for a festive embellishment.
Fill a party bucket with ice and brewskies, or have a keg available for your beer drinkers. Take the party outside by placing the beer station next to the fire pit.
Visit my guide to choosing wine for your next party for an in-depth determination of what wine to buy.
Don’t forget to offer non-alcoholic beverages! Try whipping up a mocktail, and make sure soda and fruit drinks like lemonade are available too. Your guests will appreciate having tasty alternatives to booze.
*Bonus Tip: Always have extra ice on hand. Always.
Be Generous in Your Gift Giving
I’ve got one firm rule at my Christmas Open House: No one leaves without a present! Last year I gave out homemade grape jelly and juice wrapped up in ribbons and bows. In years past I’ve gone with small treats like hot cocoa and chocolates.
The size of the gift isn’t important. It’s the simple act of giving that will make your guests feel remembered and special.
Another option is a white elephant gift exchange. If you’ve never participated in one before, the idea is simple: Everyone brings an inexpensive wrapped present and places it on a designated gift table. Everyone sits in a circle and the first person chooses and opens a present. The next person chooses a present, and they can either open it or exchange it unopened for the first person’s present (known as stealing a present). And so on and so on, with more presents to steal as the game continues. Such a fun activity and nobody leaves without a gift!
Don’t Forget to Enjoy Yourself!
It can be all too easy to neglect your own sense of enjoyment while you’re busy taking coats, topping off drinks, and making sure your guests are having fun. Hosting can be very gratifying and I take a lot of pleasure in it, but sometimes I still need to remind myself to engage in the conversations around me and join in the general merriment. This can be difficult when you feel pulled in several directions, but parties do have a way of working themselves out. Plus, you threw the party; you deserve to relax and have fun too!
Try this: instead of saying, “I’ll get it, I’ll get it,” when someone spills a drink, say “the towels are in the kitchen under the sink.”
Gasp! The party continues and you get to finish your conversation!
Hopefully by the end of the evening you’ll be able to take pride in the event and satisfaction in the outcome, even though you may be tired and glad it’s over.
I hope after reading this you are relieved and excited, knowing that this year you have it in you to throw the party of the season without getting mired in stressful details. Just focus on the possible, follow my tips and it will come together without a hitch!
Happy Holidays!
Leave a Reply