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"Inviting them with advance notice ensures the guests you really want there are available," she says. Pieter recommends sending invites via an online invitation service, which is faster, easier, and cheaper than sending invitations by mail. Get together with friends in your neighborhood for a progressive dinner party, which is similar to a potluck party except for each course of the meal is served at a different home. This will give guests the opportunity to enjoy each host’s Christmas decorations and build up an appetite between courses with strolls through the neighborhood. Here are some tasty and easy one-dish potluck ideas any guest could manage.
Hire a karaoke DJ and host a night of singing popular Christmas songs. Get ready for multiple versions of “All I Want for Christmas is You” and put Mariah Carey to the test. Serve some Christmas themed-cocktails to help with nerves, don Santa hats, and you’ll have a Christmas karaoke party you’ll never forget. Have enough large tins so everyone to take one or two of each cookie home.
Skip it: Making all the food from scratch
For a quick craft that's also sweet, candy canes easily transform into the tails of festive mice party favors. Most of these crafts take mere minutes or less to complete, which means you can deck the halls and make things merry in speedy fashion. Be sure to relish this time, though—it isn't every day that you get to make something beautiful with the people you love most. Loved ones thrive on traditions, and if you’re throwing a holiday party, most people expect certain activities, food and decor.
Dr. Scott and I met in med school, and Jack is considering becoming a doctor someday.” You can also use one of these interesting conversation starters. In large groups, offer name tags and/or name cards at each place setting to help guests get to know one another. Don't get us wrong, we love carbs—but this is a special occasion. For festive wow factor , we always look to meat and fish over pastas and pizza. The key is to pick a recipe that you don’t have to babysit, so you can simply pop in the oven as you get yourself ready. This rack of slow-roasted ribs with apple and onion is way less intimidating and expensive than it looks.
Do it: Build in a prep day and a de-stress day
From eggnog to wassail, traditional holiday drinks are often of the alcoholic variety, but a good host won’t forget to include an equally nice selection of non-alcoholic beverages , says Sokolosky. And just like with the food, it’s also worth the time to put the drinks in a pretty punch bowl, pitcher or arrangement. Fill pastry bags fitted with a piping tip with homemade white royal icing so it’s easy to apply. Make a few fun colors by adding a couple of drops of food coloring to extra icing; pour into squeeze bottles that the whole table can share. The same goes for cocktails, notes Joe Moller, owner of Joe Moller Events.
For example, if you have an “ugly sweater” party, you might want to incorporate colors like red, green, and yellow into your decorations. Consider the preferences and dietary restrictions of your guests, and try to offer a mix of savory and sweet items. As for drinks, consider providing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Here is how to host a Christmas party at home that your whole neighborhood will never forget.
Dress Up as a Christmas Song
"This should free up some time that can be reinvested in decorating your holiday table and bar." You can approach this Christmas party idea in a couple of ways. You could make it a DIY party and create holiday cards by recycling old cards or using craft supplies to fashion festive designs. Alternatively, you can turn what is oftentimes a solo activity into a group effort and host a get-together to write Christmas cards.
"It ends up being a crowd favorite and a conversation starter every single time," she says. From planning the decorations to preparing yummy delicacies, a Christmas house party should make your guests feel cozy and casual. Similar to a scavenger hunt, this photo hunt is all about being the first to find the given items. Create a list of different object and decorations around the space to have guests snap pictures of. Whoever takes a picture of all the items wins a prize! This is a great Christmas party game to get everyone involved and having fun.
Brunch is always a good idea—and it’s even better when it’s Christmas-themed. When celebrating with friends, brunch is a great alternative to a nighttime party and takes some of the party pressure off. Head to your local brunch spot, or host it at home with a mimosa party, Christmas playlist, and muffins/bagels from a local shop. Kids love crafts and activities during holiday parties, especially when they involve getting Santa Claus to their house. Have the kiddos create their own bag of reindeer chow for Santa’s furry friends on Christmas Eve. Set up a table with the materials; uncooked oats, different color sugars, and plastic bags with other craft supplies to decorate.
Before you do anything else, make sure you’re adorning the table with tons of tapered candles. It can be anything from an oversized vase to a ceramic stoneware pitcher to a polished metal fruit bowl—just be sure it breaks things up by drawing visual interest from the dishes below. Two big party attractions are the food and beverage tables.
"Open your cabinets and repurpose old items and incorporate your family history." Before guests arrive, set out individual gingerbread houses for each person attending. Make them from scratch, take a shortcut with a kit, or use graham crackers for cute mini houses. Search for holiday albums by your favorite contemporary artists and prepare a fun mix-and-match music list. Make cleaning up that much easier by strategically placing small waste cans throughout the party area—one by the buffet, one by the bar, and one in the restroom, suggests Moller.
And don't be afraid to put the end time on the invitation. "You don't want to start too early, and you may not want to go too late," says party planner to the stars Christopher Mills. "Whoever you are inviting, look at them as a whole and see if the group is a great mix," says Mindy Weiss, a top Hollywood event planner who counts the Kardashians and Biebers as clients. "It's nice if you have the option of creating chemistry in the room." Says Hilton, "In addition to my usual favorite staples of turkey and ham, one of my favorite hacks is to bring in Popeyes chicken and biscuits and put them in my antique silver serving pieces."
Prior to your party, hide the elf somewhere creative and the first guest to find it wins a special prize. Preparing your menu ahead of time means less time in the kitchen and more time mingling with guests. Some ideas include easy-to-prep quiches, easy and tasty breads for guests to nibble and savor, slow cooker dishes that stay warm throughout, and party punches that knock it out of the park.
Check out these 26 Christmas & Holiday Cocktail Recipes. Once you have a clear idea of what you need for your Christmas party, create a shopping list of all the necessary decorations, supplies, and groceries. This will help you stay organized and ensure you don’t forget anything important. So grab a pen and paper, and get ready to take notes. With a little planning and some holiday cheer, you’ll be well on your way to hosting the best Christmas party at home.
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