Ten Steps to Hosting the Perfect Christmas Party
We’re in the midst of December’s glitz and there’s no better time for merry celebrations with our nearest and dearest.Many of you will have fast-approaching social events planned with friends and family. If you happen to be hosting one such event, there’s nothing unusual in feeling pressure to make your party a success; but fear not. From hilarious party games to delicious recipes, we’ve got some hostessing tips that’ll blow the festive socks off your guests. Follow these simple steps, and you might well end up throwing the most memorable Christmas bash of the year.
Send Dazzling invites
On the scale of enticing invites, sending a text message is about a zero, while a glittering and enveloped card is much closer to ten. After all, your invites need to be, well…’inviting’! Even if you also create a Facebook events page for your party, you’ll want to give guests a physical invite to hold and admire. Employ a bit of DIY magic, or pick up a sparkling card set to do the job for you. Beautiful paper invites will make guests feel special and leave them in no doubt as to the sophistication of your event.
Set a Dress code
Whether you asks guests to come in elf costumes or simply request everyone wear a bit of glitter, setting a dress code will make the event twice as fun. Costumes double up as talking pieces and will have people snapping photos all throughout the party. A more glamorous dress code,meanwhile, will have people feeling stylish and in the mood to party. Either way, the right fashion will help make your event all the more festive.
Prepare Seasonal Food
There’s no shortage of Christmas food and dessert inspiration out there – so just take your pick! ‘Pigs in blankets’, cheese and crackers, sweet potato wedges; there are so many seasonal trademark snacks with which to grace a party buffet table. Our only advice is to take into account any dietary requirements of guests before stocking up on party nosh. Beetroot and goat cheese rolls will be a hit amongst vegetarians, while salmon cakes are great for any gluten-free guests. Once you know your guests’ food preferences,you’ll be in a better position to prepare.
Offer Delicious drinks
Cinnamon, cardamon, orange; all these warm Christmas flavours make for great beverages. Warm up some mulled wine or, if you want to make drinks with seasonal spirits, create bourbon and whiskey-based cocktails. For less spicy drinks that are cream-based, there’s of course Baileys and Irish coffee. If you’ll be hosting guests who aren’t drinking, try simple and delicious alcohol-free recipes for eggnog or candy cane punch.
Break the Ice
No, we’re not talking about the icicles that have formed outside your window. We’re talking about the kind of ice that turns an atmosphere stale. As host, it’s your job to make sure all guests are comfortable and introduced to one another. Initiate conversation between guests, and look out for anyone awkwardly lingering about so that you can draw them into a conversation. One great way to break the ice is through sociable activities or fun games, which brings us to our next point…
Plan Party Games
Nothing gets people laughing faster than an outrageous party game. Depending on whether you’ve invited just a few friends or a huge crowd, different games will be appropriate for the occasion. For smaller crowds, try classic table games like ‘Pictionary’ or ‘Five Card Stud’.For bigger crowds, games like ‘Charades’ or ‘Forehead Detective’ might be better. You can find a list of popular Christmas games at PlayFrank, including instructions on how to play riotous games like ‘Wink Murder’ and‘Back to Back’.
Play the Right Music
It’s a Christmas party – so you’ll play Christmas music, right? Just keep in mind, however, that there’s not a restaurant or shopping mall over the past week that hasn’t been blasting the very same tunes every hour of the day. If you want to give your guests a break from some of the more overplayed Christmas hits, why not include some lesser known seasonal songs in your playlist? Esquire have a great list of festive songs that are played considerably less frequently than the classics, so mix things up with some alternative tunes.
Go wild with decorations
Creating the perfect Christmas ambiance will put guests in a jolly mood and help make for an unforgettable event. Pick a theme and stick to it – silver and snowflakes, red and gold stars, or evergreen nature vibes; no matter your choice, guests will appreciate you going that extra mile in decorating your home according to a Christmas theme. However you’ll also need to consider which activities you’ve planned for the event.Dancing, mingling, board games – all these require you to optimise your space appropriately, which could mean rearranging some furniture. Above all, make sure guests have easy access to food, drinks, the entrance to your home, and the bathroom.
Arrange end-of-night transport
Drinking or not, nobody wants to drive home late on a cold winter’s night. Discuss possible taxi services with your guests so that all after-party transport is organised well in advance. This will give guests a peace of mind so that they can relax at your party.
Give a token of thanks
‘Tis the season for giving, and chances are your guests will be turning up to your party with Christmas presents. Why not show your gratitude with your own little gift for each guest? From sugar-coated pecans to tree baubles, there are plenty of little gifts you can treat your guests to before they go home. This is a great way to leave them with a lasting impression of your top notch hostessing skills, and an unforgettable night of festivity.
Ready to host the most fun Christmas event of the season? Of course you are, so flick on the stereo, hang up the fairy lights and brighten up the winter of all your guests with luscious food, gorgeous decor, and laughter a-plenty.
