How To Throw A Christmas Party
Planning To Throw A Holiday Party This Year? Better Read This First
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You might have heard them already. They will creep into your brain, as they do every year, right around mid-November. Who among us will ever forget "Silver Bells"? Or "Jingle Bells"? Or "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing"?
Christmas returns again. As memorable as Christmas music is, more memorable is the Christmas party. Maybe it's your turn to host the office Christmas party this year or maybe you just damn well want to host an event during the holidays.
We're not going to quibble on the whys. We're just going to tell you how to do it right. These guidelines will keep you on top of the planning for holiday parties, with minimal stress and tons of success.
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Christmas Party Invitations
It’s not a party until you have people attending, but that requires planning and executing invites. To put your guests at ease, be super clear from the outset about who is invited. Don't force them to ask you an awkward question -- or leave them to assume the worst! “Communicate whether partners, friends, children, pets, and so on are welcome to party it up, or if not, be specific about who should attend. But c'mon, it's the holidays... and nobody likes a Scrooge!” says Melissa Elders, Founder of Nibble+Squeak.
Ideally, you'll do this two to three weeks in advance of the event. Send your invites by e-mail, unless it's somebody you feel needs a more personal phone invitation (like, say, the new hot girl at work). Also, remember your married friends might need more advance notice than your bachelor buds.
But before you press "send," be sure to include the following information in the e-mail:
- The date and time of the party
- The location
- A description of what the party will be like (food, music, gift exchange)
- The fact that they need to RSVP
- Your complete contact information
- What the guests need to bring
Note: if you don't hear back from your guests, resend the invitation a few days before the shindig.
Party Invitations
Christmas Party Venues
The party needs to happen somewhere. If you need space, you might want to think about renting a room. Sometimes it makes perfect sense to rent out your condo's party room or the corner of a restaurant you know and love. Hotels often have a wide range of rooms that are available for many different kinds of events. Be sure to book these rooms early on if you're thinking about hosting the party elsewhere.
Unless you live in a tiny apartment or at home with your parents, there is a good chance that hosting the party at your place is your best bet. While this opens up a lot of possibilities for what kind of party you can host, it also puts the onus on you to make this thing great. So, get out the cleaners and scrub brushes. Clean every room in the house and get ready for your party.
Christmas Party Prep
Establish a start time and an approximate end time for the gathering. “Include that information on written invitations and mention it during all verbal invitations. Keep the guest list manageable for the amount of food prepared or bought and for the location of the gathering. Neatness is next to godliness, so straighten up the place. Any area that will be seen by guests should be clean and neat. Stock the restroom with plenty of soap, toilet paper, and paper towels,” says Tangela Walker-Craft of Simply Necessary Inc.
Febreze
Food is up next in our guide on how to throw a Christmas party...
- Bachelor Pad Dinner Party Better Man Holidays