With Thanksgiving over and Christmas just around the corner, it’s that time of year to gather your loved ones and share stories, seasonal joy, and holiday cheer. But in order to make this time memorable for everyone, you need to pull out all the stops for a glorious holiday get-together.
Whether you’ve hosted a lot of holiday parties in the past or if this is your first rodeo of the season, planning such a party can be a massive task. With that being said, it is not impossible to throw a holiday shindig that offers something to enjoy for everyone.
Want to know more? Here are essential tips for hosting memorable holiday gatherings.
Make a Party Budget
Before you send the invites and bring out the good china, you need to put together a budget for your holiday party. This helps you understand how much money you have at hand for catering, decor, and entertainment. Additionally, it allows you to make adjustments to traditional expenses to bring down your costs. From cooking your own food to starting Christmas cross-stitch projects, you can take a lot of steps to throw a great party without undue financial stress.
Suggest Themed Clothing For Everyone
Make this holiday one to never forget, and have every guest come dressed to the theme. Whether this means breaking out your ugly Christmas sweaters or holiday movie costumes, having a theme to dress by can bring lots of laughs. If you want to go a step further, you can play into this theme with masks, red Rudolph noses, and headgear such as Santa’s beard or deer antlers for your guests to wear and get some great holiday photos.
Cook Seasonal Dishes
If there’s one thing that people remember about parties, it’s the food. If you have the budget, look into serving seasonal dishes that invoke warmth in your guests while also entertaining their taste buds to their liking. You can hire a caterer or go with options such as a vegetarian holiday meal kit to cook food at home. With mouthwatering food, you can increase your chances of throwing a memorable party.
Plan a Gift Exchange
Gift exchange parties with ideas such as the Dirty Santa game or My Favorite Things arrangement can be a huge hit for people. If you don’t want to burden your guests with the obligation to buy expensive presents, you can also choose a more niche approach, such as suggesting plants for gifts. This gives your guests something to take home, which lets them have something to remember your party by for years to come.
Play Group Games
Holiday parties are not just a chance to eat and drink to your heart’s desire. They are also a great opportunity to reunite with loved ones while also getting to know new people. By introducing group activities such as board games and party games, you can give your guests the chance to have a fun time while also creating lots of great memories together. This can be as simple as buying a tabletop air hockey table for the party.
Put Up a Movie
While holiday parties are great for socializing, you can also make amusing memories through the magic of cinema. Whether you like humorous or heartwarming holiday movies, putting up a seasonal flick can help keep everyone occupied in a good way. This can also lead to humorous discussions, such as what animal is Stitch or why Olaf is annoying to adults. If you break out movie snacks, such as retro popcorn tins, it can add another layer of enjoyment to your party.
Get a Photo Booth
Nothing creates lasting memories like a picture can. While your guests may very well use their phones to snap quick images of their time at the party, photo booths add a certain charm to it. Look into getting a photo booth set up at your party. Remember, these booths can cost a pretty penny, so you can always make a homemade photo booth.
With these suggestions, you can throw a great party that will make this holiday get-together one your loved ones will never forget. You can also use these tips year after year to establish yourself as the greatest holiday host in your social circle.
