Holiday Party Planning Guide

Don’t stress over party planning. Here are the basic elements that you need to give a fabulous holiday party.

 

the budget

Decide how much you want to spend on your party upfront. This is important because creating a budget will help you from over spending on items that you don't need.  Use our party budget calculator to set up a preliminary spending plan for your party.

the theme

Fabulous parties always have a theme. Since its the holidays, the theme is the season, but you can add other ideas to give your party a personal touch.  For example, have a tree trimming party and incorporate your favorite childhood activity, like stringing popcorn for the tree or making ornaments. How about a '70s holiday party. Dust off the old aluminum tree and lava lights. Have your guests dress in '70s threads and boogie to your favorite '70s tune. Can you stand the Bee Gees for an evening?

the invites

Great parties begin with a great invitation. Your invitations should reflect the theme of your party and get your guests excited about attending. Send your invitations at least four weeks before the party (even e-mail invites).

In addition to your traditional holiday decorations, you can add to the ambience by placing candle votives, tealight candles and twinkle lights around the party area.  

Note: If children will be present, do not use the lighted candle votives. Try battery-operated candle votives and tealights.

Battery Operated
Votive Candles in our
Holiday Party Store
 

the food

Food, glorious food. Everyone looks forward to great food at a holiday party. Create a self-serve buffet with scrumptious appetizers, decadent desserts and include fruit and vegetables.

How many appetizers per person?  If you are only serving appetizers, plan for 5-7 pieces per person.  When serving a main dish, plan for 3-4 pieces per person for the first few hours of your party.  Provide four to five different varieties of appetizers and make sure you include veggie only appetizers.  

Tip: Stock your refrigerator with ready-to-bake appetizers for friends and family that drop by during the holidays.

Holiday Party Favorites
from Appetizers To-Go

the drinks

Design a signature drink for your party. Chocolate martinis are always a big hit. Or offer the traditional holiday drink, eggnog. If it’s cold outside, greet your guests with a mug of hot cider spiced with the flavorings of cloves and cinnamon.

Invite your guests to bring a favorite bottle of wine for an informal wine buffet. If you are purchasing wine, buy 60 percent white wine and 40 percent red wine. Plan for two glasses of wine per guest and estimate five glasses per bottle. Remember to have plenty of water available. For an alternative to alcoholic drinks, offer fruit nectars blended with sparkling water.

Drink Recipes: Chocolate Martinis - Purple Passion Champagne Punch
Peach Champagne Punch  

Tip: Help guests keep tabs on their drinks.  Use removable Glass Stiks decals. Have each guest select a decal to place on their glass. Order Glass Stiks decals at whatisblik.com. Price: $4.50 for package of 12 - 42 decals.

Tips for Hosts: Guidelines for Serving Alcoholic Drinks

the music

As your guests arrive, play holiday music to set the mood for the party. As the party progresses play a mix of your favorite music and holiday tunes.

 

   Harry for the Holidays from Amazon.com

Have a bowl of wrapped candy canes at the door that your guests can grab as they leave. Or you can have wrapped holiday cookies or a holiday chocolate puzzle as a parting treat. 

Holiday Chocolate Puzzles from Beaucoup -