Facebook Pixel

Throwing a Great (and Stress Free!) Holiday Party

By HERWriter Guide
 
Rate This
Mental Health related image Photo: Getty Images

Everyone (me!) loves a great holiday party and they can be done inexpensively or lavishly – check your wallet and take your pick. But not all parties end up being filled with fun and games. There are a few do’s and don’ts that can make your party one that’s talked about well into the New Year – and in a good way!

Do send out invitations and request an RSVP a few weeks in advance of the big day so you can prepare and people can pencil it in. Be prepared to have to grin and bear it as you call non-responders to see if they can make it. Be friendly but don’t apologize for the call; they should be embarrassed for not sending a quick email to let you know if they can attend! Allow everyone to bring a date if they wish. If they ask if they know anyone coming, be sure to tell them. People like to know if they'll have familiar faces to chat with.

Do stick to your budget but do not ask guests to bring a dish. Holiday parties are not company potluck lunches. If you are going to host, then host. If you can manage baking your own goodies then go ahead, otherwise head to places like Costco that have bulk offerings (and delicious foods) at a good price. Wines and spirits are an expensive addition. If people are kind enough to ask if they can bring anything (and many will), suggest they may like to bring a bottle of wine or beverage of their choice. Since it’s nice to bring the host a gift anyway, this can combine as a gift and a great way to cut your own cost. Otherwise have both alcohol and soft drinks for your guests (based on religious or cultural preferences).

Keeping food to hors d'œuvres is just fine. Everyone loves a wide range of goodies to eat, both savory and sweet. This makes things easier for the host and Christmas parties don’t need to include a sit down meal unless the number is very small (under eight people) and you feel up to it. Make sure your party states what will be offered. Our recent holiday party was a festive “cocktails and hors d'œuvres” night so people knew to come hungry but not to expect a five course extravaganza. Take note of allergies or diet preferences so everyone has something good to eat.

Do allow your guests to mingle amongst themselves and ease up on party games unless guests are interested. This is an adult party, after all, and many people cringe at having to play games and listen while rules are explained. Allow guests to amuse themselves but if you see people a little off to the side, make sure you spend time with them and introduce them to your friendliest guests. It’s fine to ask a good friend to take a shy-type under his or her wing without fear the guest will feel suffocated in the process.

Have your guests enter a clean home! Get toys and other stuff out of the way, decorate a little and make sure there are plenty of bathroom supplies and clean towels. Put on some great music and encourage singalongs if guests are into it. If guests make a bit of a mess (and they will) laugh and tell them it’s a sign of a good party! Don’t constantly clean up during the party. You’ll make guests feel they are inconveniencing you or that they should help. Turn down offers to help by telling them you’ll have it all done in an hour in the morning and you yourself want to enjoy the party. It took us four hours to get our home back to normal after our cocktail and hors d'œuvre evening and it was worth every minute of it. A good host will act like throwing a party is the easiest thing in the world (you can grumble about all the prep and clean up the next day!).

And lastly – do enjoy your own party. The work is before and after. But while the party is on, relax and mingle. Eat something, drink something and while making sure your guests are taken care of, don’t be fussy. A host who really enjoys her own party is far more likely to have guests who do the same.

Have a happy holiday season and don’t forget to lose yourself in the fun of it all. It’s good for you and for those around you!

Tell Us
Are you hosting a holiday party or did you already? How did it go? Do you have other tips to share?

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
SusanC
Supporter
HERWriter Guide View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.