Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party!

Best tips & ideas, from party theme, decor, and games to party food and drinks. Everything you need to plan your Holiday Party like a queen!

Let’s plan your holiday party… Yes! Let’s do that!! 😉

The holiday season is such a busy time of the year! Better be organized to fully enjoy it!

In this post, you’ll find the best tips to plan & organize your Holiday Parties…

With tons of things to do during this period, planning a Christmas party can quickly become stressful and a bit discouraging…

So, let’s take the stress out! 😉

This post ( guide!?) will help you plan & organize your Dream Holiday Party!… The Easy Way!

Absolutely all you need to know is right here… From when to send invitations to choosing a theme. And, of course, we will also talk about decor, food, and drinks!

 

 

Ready? So let’s jump into it!!

(I know there is a lot of info here, so, If you prefer to read it later, I suggest you pin it! 😉)

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

All you need to know

We will discuss:

• The theme; why choose one and how to pick it
• The invitations
• The costs
• Party food ideas
• Holiday drinks & beverages
• How to set up your house for a party
• The decor
• Party games
• Music and ambiance
• Your guests…

As you see, there are many things to think about, but believe me, it always looks worse than it really is!

The key is to plan your party and start preparing as many things as possible ahead!

And never forget to Keep It Simple!

Simple parties are usually the most memorable ones! 😊

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If you’re a little worried about all this planning, Good News! I did all the work for you!! 

Your DREAM Party is right here!

Let’s get back to your Holiday Party!

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

Pick a Theme

Having a theme will help you plan your party. It will make decor, music, food, and drinks easier, and it will definitely add a little something special to your event! 😉

But again, you don’t need to do too much here; it’s not a Halloween Party!

Pick a theme that will be easy for your guests to understand and easy for you to plan around!

A good theme should be:

–Funny and help you create a great ambiance.

–Simple so you can easily incorporate decor, food & drinks, or even how you and your guests will dress.

–Engaging to make sure your guests will instantly get it.

The goal here is to create the perfect mood for your party!

And, it doesn’t have to be “Unique” to be fun! It’s ok to pick a theme already used before; simply add your special twist to it!

Here are some popular themes, all easy and fun!

• Gatsby: Always so fun and glamorous. Sequins and feathers will be the stars of the evening!
• Western: Do I have to explain more here? Probably one of the easiest themes!
• Disney: I absolutely love to chat with Minie Mouse and Cinderella all night!
• Decade parties: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s, they are all fun, so choose whatever inspires you 🙂
• Las Vegas: A bit more organization here, but so fun! It will keep your friends busy, and everyone will surely enjoy it!
• Movie Night theme: Pick a favorite movie known by all and play around with it. Choose your decor, music, and food related to that movie… just make sure you choose an easy one! 😉

Browse Pinterest to find great ideas…

But it’s also ok to have no theme at all! After all, Christmas is a great theme all by itself…

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

The invitations

Obviously, knowing when and how to send invitations is essential.

You have to send your Holiday Party invitation early, so your guests can plan. We are all so busy at this time of the year…But on the other hand, your guests might forget if you send them too early…

I suggest you start talking about your party as soon as you decide on a date. But, send the invitations 2 to 4 weeks before the party. Don’t wait too much, or they will accept other invitations!

You could opt for the good old paper invitation cards, which would also be a great reminder for your friends. Although these cards are a little costly, they will create some bit of excitement for your party.

But feel free to send your invitations by email or even use an online service, such as FaceBook. You can create fabulous cards using the free design tool Canva.  Of course, they have a paid version, but the free one is perfect for this kind of project!

😉 Don’t forget to mention your special theme on the invitation so your friends can dress up accordingly if needed.

RSVP…

It would be so nice if everyone answered all the time… but it’s obviously not the case!

For some of your guests, you might have to follow up ( once or twice! ) a week or two before. Unless your house is quite big and you don’t mind making extra food… But, if you have to confirm with a caterer, I highly recommend you follow up!

*Don’t be surprised to have more… or fewer people on D-Day! Some of your friends might double booked their evening, while others will show up without telling you. But you know what? It is perfectly fine! The more people, the more fun! 😊

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…The Costs

Of course, hosting a big party will cost you… and maybe a bit more than you think!

But, as I said earlier, Keep things Simple! You really don’t have to hire a DJ or rent a fairy tale decor! They are tons of ways to save on costs and still throw a fabulous party.

Food, drinks, decor, and gifts are usually the most expensive… but no worries, I have good tips to help you save on little a these… So, keep on reading; I will share all these great tips shortly!😉

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

Food Ideas

My favorite part of all!

Remember that it’s not a formal dinner but a party. I usually like to serve a buffet later in the evening. I mean, a simple buffet! A few hot dishes and some cold ones that will please all of your guests are all you need! I could talk about buffets forever, but instead, I suggest you check right here to find the best tips and ideas for the perfect buffet! I also propose 10 easy make-ahead recipes for your simple buffet. All easy and simple recipes! 😉 Because most of them can be prepared ahead, they will save you time on D-Day.

A potluck could also be a great option here! Not only will it allows you to taste plenty of great dishes ( which I love! ), but you would also save on costs…and I mean, A LOT!!  Find out everything you need to know about potlucks right here, where I help you plan and organize the perfect potluck!

The most popular for any buffet is definitely sandwiches! All kinds and shapes of sandwiches! And, of course, any bite-size appetizers. So make sure that you have a lot of them!… but sandwiches take more time to prepare, that’s why I usually order my sandwich trays from a caterer. I do all the rest, but I love the time I save with the sandwich trays!

Another essential thing to consider…

Keep in mind that most people won’t sit to eat, so make sure you are serving them easy food: easy to make, easy to heat, easy to serve, and easy to eat! 😉

Of course, it’s nice to offer variety to your guests, but don’t do too much; surprisingly, people usually don’t eat that much; I guess they’re too busy chatting with Minie Mouse!  haha!

I  like to serve mini-pizzas, mini-eggrolls, sliders, mini-meat turnovers… the list is so long! Ensure that everything you selected has the same cooking time and temperature…

And please, don’t forget about dessert! 😊 Again, any bite-size would do. I like having two or three; a chocolate dessert, vanilla and a fruit one. Christmas cookies are also perfect for Christmas parties and, of course, any dessert made from eggnog! So traditional, but so good! I have a whole post about them! The Best Dessert Recipes with Eggnog, and believe me, they are all so delicious that it’s hard to choose only one! haha!

And before we finish this chapter, think about leaving a few snacks here and there, such as chips, peanuts, or pretzels… your friends will be happy to have a little something to eat all through the evening.

*Please, don’t feel guilty about ordering your entire buffet from a caterer. That would save you so much time! Believe me, no one will complain!

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

The Drinks!

A party without drinks is not really a party, right?

But drinks are also kind of expensive. So, what can you do to save on costs?

You can ask your friends to bring their own beverages, that’s what I always do! Of course, I have some too, but I don’t buy everything available on the market! 😁 Usually a few bottles of wine, beer, and never more than 2 or 3 favorite spirits, such as rum, vodka, or gin.

Of course, you will also have to provide soft drinks, tonic water, ice cubes, and glasses! So, make sure you have enough of these.

And because you don’t want to bartend all night, ensure your guests have easy access to the bar! 😉

A great idea to save on costs and make your friends feel welcomed is to prepare a big festive Punch bowl. The Holiday season is the perfect time of the year for a Christmas Punch!  Look here for the perfect punch ideas and a fabulous Holiday Punch Recipe!

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

Set Up Your House

It’s important to make your house as friendly as possible. Here are a few things to think about:

• You might need to move or remove some furniture or carpets.
• You will also have to make sure you have enough seating place for your friends
• Ensure that you have room for coats and boots
• That your buffet table is close to the kitchen and that all can access it easily
• The bar area should also be easy to access

And of course, you will have to clean up your house before… and after! 😉 I suggest you do a big clean-up 7 to 10 days before and do touch-ups only the day before… keep your energy for your big Holiday Party!! You want to enjoy that party too, right?

I highly recommend that you accept any help your friends offer! You just can’t do everything by yourself! So say yes without feeling guilty! Most people like to help, so why not take advantage of that? ha! ha!

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

The Decor

Honestly, I don’t waste too much energy and money on decor.

Of course, I like to add some pieces here and there related to my special theme or some Christmas ornaments, but really, I suggest you keep it simple once again. Christmas light garlands or candles ( electric ones, of course! ) are the best to create fabulous decor. They will add that festive touch you’re looking for and also allow you to dim the lights 😉

Your buffet table will be one of the highlights of the evening: I suggest that you use lovely tablecloths and add some decor to it… same with the bar.

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

The Fun Part!

Now time to talk about the ambiance! Music and games will create the mood of your party.

Of course, you don’t have to keep your guests busy all night with tons of games! But sometimes, having one or two will help break the ice…

There are so many ideas on Pinterest! You should find one that inspires you among these 30 hilarious party games!

Games are fun, but please, respect the ones that prefer not to play 😉

And how about music?

Do I really have to tell you that music is THE most important part of your party?… well, ok, maybe not the most, most, but still…

Music is the heart of your party! You have to create a playlist that will please everyone. Christmas carols and hard rock are great, but… So, I suggest you pick a good mix of trendy hits and some good old classics.

The sound level shouldn’t be too high to allow your guests to chat a little; you don’t want them to shout all night, right? 😉

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

Your Guests!

Obviously the most, most important part of your party!!

It’s your role to make sure that all enjoy their evening.

Take the time to chat with each of them, and make them feel welcome.

But, it’s also your role to invite the right people!  Don’t feel bad about not inviting certain people if you think they won’t fit in well or might cause trouble with your other guests… you better have fewer people but quality people. You certainly don’t want your evening to turn into a disaster!

My best piece of advice here?  Make sure you invite people that will blend well together!

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

Tips to help you save

Here is a recap of the best tips to help you save on costs!

1-Keep it Simple

• I can never say that enough! Your guests are there to have fun, not to sneak on your decor or meal! Don’t do too much…

2-Food

• A light buffet at the end of the evening will cost less than serving a formal dinner. Choose simple dishes; you can easily cut costs without cutting quality!
• Pasta or rice salads, mini-pizzas, devil eggs, or eggrolls don’t cost much, and they are usually the favorite ones! Don’t be afraid to serve big plates of them 😉
• Start to buy non-food and dry food in advance; that will help you spread the costs.
• Again, don’t make too much food; Choose variety over quantity!

3-Potluck

• As I said earlier, potlucks are the best way to save on costs! All will be happy to bring and share their famous dish!
• Have a look here to plan the perfect potluck!

4-Drinks

• Don’t be shy to ask your friends to bring their own drinks.
• Provide soft drinks, tonic water, or juice, but let them spend on alcohol!
• Make a big Holiday Punch Bowl. That will add a festive touch to your party and save you money!
• Have on hand a few bottles of wine, beers, and liquors, but don’t spend too much here; you really don’t need to carry everything that’s on the market!

5-Decor

It’s so easy to get carried away by the decor!

• Make your own DIY decor! It’s amazing all you can find in dollar stores!
• You could also make your own tablecloths; I’m sure you’ll find great bargains in any fabric store.
• Repurpose things you have on hand.
• Be creative! 😉

Pinterest is a mine of gold for party ideas; it is worth spending a few hours on it to find all the great ideas you need for your dream party!

 

 

Let’s Plan Your Holiday Party…

To conclude

There are a lot of things to think about, but it really is easier than you think!

Whether you choose a particular theme or not, make a plan and stick to it! That is the best way to throw a successful party!

Keep in mind that hosting is not a competition! You have no one to impress! Your only goal is to have a fabulous evening with your family and friends! 😊

You now have all you need to plan a So Perfectly Simple Holiday Party!!

I hope this post was helpful and you now see party planning differently! I know it might look like a big mountain to climb, but it’s really not that bad! 😉

I’m sure that your next Holiday Party will be the best party ever! Feel free to invite me; I promise to bring food and wine! ha!ha!

Like always, I would love to hear from you! 🖤 Please, use the box below for any questions or comments… or even better! Use that comment box to tell me about your best holiday party tips. I’m such a curious girl; I can’t wait to hear it!

*And if you liked this post, let your friends know! Please share it! 😊

Talk to you soon!

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-What The Best Hostesses Do That You Should Do Too!