We’re over a week into December, which only means one thing: Christmas parties are just around the corner. People will be attending work events, family gatherings, soirees with friends, and more. Heck, you might even be throwing a party yourself. It’s certainly the season to spend with friends, family, and acquaintances, but putting on your own Christmas bash is a lot of work.
That’s where we come in.
We’re going to give you five, easy to follow steps to throw the best Christmas shindig ever. The details will be up to you, but if you follow our advice, people will be begging you to throw a Christmas party every year. Now that we mention it, maybe don’t follow all of our advice…
Get your drink game on point.
I’m a firm believer that drinks are the centerpiece to any good party, and that doesn’t just mean the alcoholic kind. When I was about 8 years old, I went to a Christmas party with a homemade fruit punch, and I still think about that tasty beverage from time to time. The trick with the drinks is to make something; don’t just put out some 2 liters of cola and call it a day. After a quick Google search, this punch sounds pretty awesome. Whatever custom concoction you decide on--eggnog, punch, juice, or otherwise--put some time into it. Your guests will notice.
Nobody ever had too many hor d'oeuvres.
I might have been a bit hyperbolic here, because I’ve certainly eaten too many hor d’oeuvres at a party. I’m not proud, but there it is. The point isn’t whether folks like me, who possess no self control around food, can eat too much or not. The point is that you should have enough for everyone no matter what. Similarly to the drinks, making signature dishes should always be preferred. Meatballs, hummus wraps, chicken wings--the choice is yours! Just make sure you prepare plenty!
Lights, lights, and more lights.
Christmas and colorful lights are basically synonymous. If you’re throwing a Christmas party, having shiny lights is essential to establishing the appropriate ambiance. Depending on the type of party, you can be creative or traditional, but you must have lights either way. Here’s an example: if you’re throwing a beach themed Christmas party, you can get little Corona Lights instead of traditional string lights. Be creative, have fun, but most importantly, light it up!
Decide on your gift exchange.
No Christmas party is complete without a gift exchange. There are a few different options that you have for the gift exchange, but the most important thing is to set clear guidelines beforehand. It can be pretty discouraging if you go out and spend $50 on a nice gift, then someone gives you a joke gift of a piece of gum and old tube socks. Make sure you set a minimum AND maximum budget in order to prevent those little disappointments. Finally, decide how you want the gift exchange to work. You have options, so do some research and have fun!
Make sure parking is accessible, clear, and ample.
I’m going to tell you a personal story about a Christmas party last year that infuriated me. My wife was invited to a Christmas party for her work, and we were both planning to go. The home was a pretty massive one on top of a mountain in a well-to-do neighborhood. When we got to the house, the driveway was full of cars, and the street parking was nonexistent. We drove around for about 15 minutes looking for parking and found none. I eventually just dropped my wife off at the party and picked her up later. Don’t do that to your guests. Make sure that you have enough parking for all of your invitees, and make sure that they know exactly where to park. It’s common courtesy, and after all, a party isn’t a party without the guests!
So there you have it! If you follow these 5 major party-planning steps, you’ll be setting yourself up for an awesome Christmas party that everyone will love to attend. Remember, these are only the big hitters, and the details are totally up to you! Have fun, be creative, and make sure you have plenty of parking! I can’t stress that enough.
