The holidays can be a very busy time, so be sure to begin planning your Christmas party well in advance, preferably 4-6 weeks before.
You’ll want to give guests plenty of notice since there are so many parties during this time period. Send the invitations early. Communicate clearly if you are having a gift exchange. Set dollar limits if needed. Make this optional for guests and consider a theme, such as gag-gifts. Your invitations should state the starting and ending time of your party and should mention the food you will be serving, whether it is light holiday fare or a traditional sit-down dinner. And don’t forget to include directions!
Planning the menu can seem like a daunting task, but with plenty of preparation, you can prepare a feast easily and quickly. Before you plan the menu, plan your budget, and stick to it. Choose a menu for which many of the items can be made ahead of time. Keep the appetizers simple. Skip the holiday hors d’oeuvres and set out meat, cheese and vegetable trays from the supermarket. Provide olives, pickles, crackers and dip. Opt for heavy finger foods instead of recipes that require dinnerware. Traditional Christmas goodies include: gingerbread cookies, eggnog, and roasted chesnuts. Anticipate the comfort of your guests. Set appetizers in the living room, on the buffet, and in other places that make it easy to nibble.
Consider having your Christmas party catered. Call your favorite restaurant or catering company with a list of food you will need for your party. The expense may be well worth the extra time and relief it provides.
Decorations are easy: Most likely you will already have a Christmas tree, Christmas lights, and stocking hung on the mantle. Set the mood by lighting a fire in the fireplace. You might also want to decorate your tree with miniature stockings that have your guests’ names written on them. Just stuff the stockings with candy that you can buy in bulk, and give them to your guests as party favors. Send yours home with a little something extra: a small ornament, a bag of cookies, even a candy cane with a bow is a sweet way to say happy holidays.
Plan a few activities to keep the party lively. Consider going caroling, baking cookies (for kid’s parties), and of course some traditional party games. Making the gift exchange into a game is also fun. Also make sure you have some great Christmas Party music. A lot of Christmas compilation CD’s are slower tunes, so look specifically for more upbeat party songs.
Of course everyone loves a visit from Santa at a Christmas party. Before you decide, keep in mind that small children may not be comfortable with a Santa. If you are hiring a Santa Claus to come to your party, make sure he has references or is booked through a reputable company. Ask how much experience he has. Will he pass out gifts that you provide? Candy canes? Read The Night Before Christmas or other story? Sing jingle bells? You may also consider hiring a family member or friend to dress up in a rented Santa costume.