Whether you always throw the best social gathering of the festive season or you’ve been roped into holding one for the first time, planning a successful holiday party is a lot of work. When you’re thinking of games to play, decorating the house, creating a killer playlist, and putting together a menu – even Santa isn’t this much in demand.
Fortunately, and like a certain troupe of reindeer, Zazzle is here to lighten the load. Below are our favorite tips for throwing a holiday get-together you can actually enjoy, too, allowing you to flop onto the couch mid-party, content that everything is going exactly as planned!
Bright Budgeting
This might not seem like the cheeriest subject, but trust us, it’s an important consideration! Nothing causes stress like a ballooning budget, though there are plenty of ways to keep costs down and the mood up. For example, host your party at home to put less pressure on your finances (and recruit some of Santa’s Little Helpers). Factor everything in at the start – food, décor, favors, costumes – and overestimate the price of each to hopefully net yourself some surplus cash later on. For more budget-friendly suggestions, read our article on “Budget-Friendly Holiday & Christmas Party Planning Ideas.”
Twinkling Themes
True, Christmas and the holidays are already their own kind of theme, but having something more unique can draw every element of the party together. Choose a particular color scheme, say – as per the Pinkmas trend – and suddenly everything becomes easier to organize (pink baubles, pink cocktails, songs by Pink). Or, finally decide on your favorite holiday movie, and take that for your inspiration. Then guests can arrive dressed as John McClane, the Wet Bandits, or even a Gremlin – and you won’t forget that night in a hurry.
Glittering Guest Lists
Before you finalize your venue, and while you’re thrashing out your theme, work on your guest list. The number of attendees can determine the style and tone of your party – whether you’re hosting an intime soirée or a blowout holiday bash. Pick a number you can accommodate with no problems, and focus on those friends, relatives, and coworkers you won’t meet at some other event in November and December. When you send on those invites, allow ample time for people to make arrangements and RSVP. Having a catch-all holiday party instead of a purely Christmas-oriented affair can also keep things inclusive.
Vibrant Venues
If hosting the party at home seems like too much for you and your helper elves, you can look externally as well. Have your guest list to hand and make contact with your favorite restaurants, bars, or hotels – do they have a function room you could hire? Availability in December can be limited, but these vendors do come with a lot of benefits in terms of food, drinks, décor, and the unenviable clean-up job. Remember that this will probably be more expensive, and you won’t have the same freedom to recreate scenes from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) in a hotel lobby. It could still be worth it for a hassle-free holiday party, though!
Magical Music
What’s a party without music? A decidedly downbeat event, that’s what. You don’t have to hire a DJ, and for an at-home party, this may be impractical anyway. Simply spend some time before the party on Spotify or Apple Music, putting together a playlist of holiday classics. For quick and easy results, ask your invitees to send you suggestions, and keep the playlist lengthy enough so that people aren’t stuck in an endless loop of “Jingle Bell Rock.” You can also sprinkle a few non-Christmas songs throughout the setlist, so feel free to drop in some Dua Lipa or tee up some Taylor Swift.
Merry Menus
When it comes to filling those hungry bellies with bowls full of jelly on the big night, there are three options. You can plan and fulfill the menu yourself, whether you’re hosting a casual finger food buffet or a sophisticated sit-down meal. The more dishes and entrées you can prepare in advance the better, to prevent ducking back-and-forth to the kitchen during the party. A caterer, on the other hand, will bring their professionalism and top-class cooking skills. They may require more notice and a fee, but you’ll be able to relax and mingle in peace. Our favorite idea is the potluck dinner, though. This is an easy way to minimize the workload and give everyone the chance to contribute a dish of their own choosing.
Gleeful Games
We’re almost there; the preparations are nearly complete! To liven up any party, select a couple of games or activities to encourage conversation and entertain guests. Round up some questions online and become the host of a holiday-themed quiz, or remind everyone to bring their ugliest sweaters so you can vote on the best (um, worst). A white elephant or Secret Santa gift exchange is also a fun way to pass the time and should provide some hilarious photo opportunities. Imagine their face when they open another ugly sweater, hee hee. Finally, for more of these ideas, check out this article on “The Best Holiday Party Games and Activities.”
Dazzling Décor
Music and games are essential for evoking that festive atmosphere, but so is Christmas décor! A couple of thoughtful touches can make all the difference, helping your party and venue to stand out in a crowded social calendar. Make your table shine with a colorful holiday tablecloth or runner, decorated with seasonal reds and greens. Stock up on paper cups, napkins, and paper plates, and then display some buoyant banners, ornaments, and Christmas stockings. You can even DIY your own décor in the lead-up to the party, which will save you some money and get you so much extra glitter.
And there you have it: holiday parties made fun and stress-free, thanks to Zazzle. At the end of your jolly jamboree – yes, we do love alliteration around here – pass out some Christmas favors, or follow up in the coming days with a thank you card. Your guests will appreciate the Zamazing effort you put into every aspect – and you’ll be grateful that it went off without a hitch!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
