The first step in planning a great Christmas Party is to take some time to pause, relax and think about Christmas Party Ideas. On a quiet evening when the boys are out my husband and I like to sit down with a glass of wine and just talk about how we want the party to unfold. It's a great way for us to connect with a project we can share and get excited about.
Key Decisions
Think about these questions:
- What - Yes, it's a Christmas Party but what else do you have in mind. Do you want to have a theme for your party? What else will make this years party unique?
- When - Check your calenders. If you have kids check theirs too. Make sure you pick a date where there are no conflicts with work or school events. It's also a good idea to get your invites out early. It's common to send invites around the first of December but if you want to have a good turn out I suggest you get your invites out earlier. I like to send mine the first week of November.
- Where - Is your house big enough and appropriate for a party? Are you OK with the clean up, pre and post party? Last year our youngest was almost 13 and we wanted to maintain the family theme. We soon realized the kids were too big and our house was too small for that kind of rambunctious crowd. So we checked with our local rec. center. While the kids had a pool party the adults enjoyed cocktails and Hors d’œuvres in the lounge. This year we're going adult only.
- Why - Really! Often we plunge into things without taking time to ask why? What are you doing this for? There are plenty of reason for throwing a Christmas Party - are you longing to reconnect with family and friends? How about making new friends? A Christmas Open House is a great way to get to know new neighbours or how about getting to know the parents of some of those kids yours hang around with? Throwing a party out of obligation or becaise you think you 'should' is never a good reason. Party with a purpose! Supporting a charitable cause is another great reason to have a party. We ask everyone to bring an unwrapped gift to donate to the local toy drive.
- Who - Make a list and check it twice! As you're writing out that guest list be sure to think about common interests - likes, dislikes. I am amazed at the parties I have attended where none of the guests have anything in common. Then the hosts are surprised when the party turns out to be a flop. Again, take some time with your partner or a close friend to discuss who you want to invite and how they might mix. People really do make the party so this is an important part of your plan.
Dinner or Dance? Cocktails or Feast? Catered or Pot Luck? Your Christmas Party Food needs to be consistent with the rest of your party and plan. Setting out a budget before hand will also help give your food plan direction. Our favorite continues to be a Pot Luck Cocktail Party. Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it!? Seriously though, a relaxed cocktail atmosphere with a variety of finger foods makes a lot of sense. It leaves you free to socialize and enjoy your own party while giving your guests a chance to share their favorite hors d'oeuvre or sweet treat. I think everyone enjoys themselves more when they feel they have contributed.
Party Decoration Ideas
Busy, busy, busy! Everyone is so busy these days it's common for people to just throw up a tree and consider it decorating. I am amazed at the number of homes that don't even have Christmas lights anymore. By committing to a party you have a great excuse to get those decorations out and around the house. If you're like me your tree decorations have expanded to a point where you could decorate a dozen Christmas Trees and still have boxes left over! Rather than hiding your unused decorations in the basement pull them out and put them around the house. I prefer a solid colour for the baubles on my tree. That means I have many rejected colours left over. So, the ones I haven't chosen for the tree I put in some large flower vases strategically placed around the house. Baskets are another great place to display unused tree decorations. For some more Party Decoration Ideas just click on the heading.
Party Favor Ideas
Wikipedia defines Party Favor as, "A small gift given to the guests at a party, as a gesture of thanks for their attendance or as a memento of the occasion." Party Favors have always been a tradition at weddings but are now gaining popularity at all kinds of parties. Giving and receiving is a Christmas tradition. We break bread, drink wine and share the gift of friendship. So, why not end the night with a special little gift of thanks? An idea I came across for this year is a CD for my guests to take home. You may be thinking, "That sounds expensive." But I've discovered a little trick where you can give a unique and useful gift for just pennies a person. And it's legal! Just click on the heading above to discover my secret!
Enjoy planning and hosting your own Christmas Party this year and be sure to check out more ideas Here.
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