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How To Throw The Perfect Christmas Party
Almost everyone would agree that Christmas is the perfect time to throw a party. However, planning such an event is sometimes a challenging endeavor. If you want to organize a holiday party but are feeling a bit overwhelmed, follow these simple tips to get you on the right track:
Create Your Christmas Guest List
Sending invitations in today’s modern age is one of the least difficult tasks you’ll ever do when organizing a party. This is because you can send paper invitations, email your prospective guests, contact people on Facebook or another social media site, or phone each guest for a personal touch.
Nevertheless, timing is an important part of this task that is often overlooked.
December calendars fill up very quickly. For this reason, even if it seems premature, invite your guests approximately four weeks in advance to your holiday party.
If printed invitations are your thing, you can find hundreds of inexpensive choices here.
Be sure to allow plenty of time for the snail mail to arrive.
Choosing Christmas Party Decorations
Fortunately, small decorations can have a big impact. Do not fall into the trap of thinking your home must rival Martha Stewart’s.
Using poinsettias or other Christmas flowers as centerpieces and strategically placing holiday candles or mistletoe and Ivy in various locations can quickly create the desired atmosphere.
There is no need to go over the top with decorations, as your home is likely already sporting a Christmas tree, wreaths and other holiday adornments.
Simply focus on the “finishing touches” and your decor will be a success.
Check out this year’s most beloved Holiday decor selections.
Three Suggestions For a Budget-Friendly Christmas Party
If you’re planning a holiday party on a budget, there are numerous things you can do to avoid sticker shock when you see your total bill.
You might consider these inexpensive items from Amazon to enhance your Christmas decoration theme.
Try one of the following three budget party suggestions.
1. Have a Christmas Potluck Party
As previously mentioned, a potluck party is always a fun option and it is a particularly nice choice around Christmas. This is because many people enjoy showing off their cooking and baking skills and therefore are more than happy to arrive with a covered dish in hand.
This makes the affair pleasant and casual, as well as easy on your wallet. Check out these fabulous Christmas potluck dishes from Tablespoon.com.
2. Go Generic on Christmas Party Items and Snack Foods
There is no need to purchase brand-name items when you are shopping for pretzels, chips, nuts, eggnog, or other party staples. This is because no one will be able to tell the difference anyway.
Going generic (store brand) on these items allows you to save your money for meats, cheeses, and other items where spending more has a bigger impact on quality.
Try ordering your dry snack trays in advance from Amazon and reduce your trips to the store.
3. Pass on the Fancy Christmas Invitations
Use a social media messenger or simply call your guests instead of buying fancy invitations. Most people expect invitations to come via cyberspace anyway, so you need not worry about offending anyone and you can save money in the process.
Use Canva to create the perfect email invitation or Facebook post. It is a FREE online design portal.
Check out this year’s most beloved Holiday decor selections.
Six Fabulous Christmas Party Theme Ideas
Once you have determined the type of party you want to have and have given thought to your budget, it’s time to select a theme. If you want your party to stand out from the other events your guests are attending this year, try some of these interesting ideas:
1. Hold a Christmas Masquerade
Virtually everyone enjoys a masquerade. Guests can go all out in a rented costume or simply dress to the nines and add a fancy, elaborate mask as the finishing touch. Partygoers usually enjoy the element of mystery, as well as coming up with a costume. Schedule an official “unveiling” at a specific time so guests can interact with each other as everyone’s mask comes off.
For a low-maintenance party that is still a lot of fun, try holding your own Christmas Film Festival. Ask each guest to choose his or her favorite holiday movie, put all the titles in a hat and pull out three to five at random for your Christmas flick marathon.
Remember that everyone’s eyes need not be glued to the screen the whole time. Your guests can simultaneously enjoy socializing, having cocktails or exchanging gifts as the movies play in the background.
The key to this kind of party is keeping it simple and casual. Of course, consider having some hors d’oeuvres or a few tubs of flavored popcorn to keep your guests satisfied.
2. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon
3. Christmas Carol Karaoke Night
Everybody likes to sing, regardless of whether they have any talent. This can make a very amusing holiday party theme.
Host your own Christmas carol karaoke night and allow every guest to sing his or her favorite holiday song. From Bing Crosby to Mariah Carey, there is bound to be a Christmas song for every visitor.
Just want to listen to the professionals singing your favorite carols? Find that perfect Christmas album here.
4. July at Christmas (not what you think)
Wait! Everyone has heard of Christmas in July parties, and most people have a good time at such events. Try something different this Christmas and pretend it is July during the holiday season.
A beach themed event in the darkest month of the year is sure to be a big hit. Use ocean themed Christmas decor throughout your home, serve picnic food and play beach music during your party.
Guests are typically pleasantly surprised, as such a party creates a welcomed contrast to the usual humdrum holiday gatherings
5. Spice Things Up With a Christmas Cocktail Potluck
Everyone knows what a potluck party is, but here is another spin on this timeless classic: ask friends to bring a favorite cocktail mix rather than a covered dish.
You will likely end up with every concoction you can imagine, from spiked cocoa or eggnog to candy cane martinis and of course that one special drink no one can quite identify. Consider serving some hors d’oeuvres so that your guests do not get too tipsy by the end of the night.
6. Christmas Gift Exchange With a Twist
If you are guilty of recycling gifts, you are a member of a very large club. For this reason, consider turning this somewhat tacky approach to gifting into something fun.
Have all your friends show up to your party with one of last year’s castoffs, whether a clip-on tie featuring an impossible pattern, a zebra print snuggie he or she will never wear, or that quintessential Christmas knickknack that will never be displayed. Instead of wrapping the gifts, however, simply have people draw numbers and one by one approach the display of rejected presents to choose the one they want.
Remember, a gift that one person would speedily return may be snatched up in short order by someone else. This is one of the easiest parties to throw and typically ends up being a hilarious holiday event.
Regardless of which party theme you choose or how much money you intend to spend, planning in advance is an important aspect.
With proper organization and a little creativity, you can throw the best party on the block this holiday season.
Check out this year’s most beloved Holiday decor selections.
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