Hosting a Christmas Party at Home

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Christmas Party Ideas You Can Use At Home

Throwing a successful Christmas party at home is easy as long as you plan ahead. Keep your guests entertained throughout the evening with these Christmas party ideas and tips from your friends here at GiftWonk!

  • Begin by picking a theme. You’ll want to let your theme dictate everything you do; Christmas party decorations, food, and activities. Your guests will enjoy it way more that way! 
  • Make sure that your party is not too crowded. If the house seems packed, you’re doing it wrong. Not enough party space can greatly affect the fun factor, so make sure to account for a few extra bodies than you expect to attend.
  • Set aside time to clean and spruce up the house party. Make this a pleasant part of the party, and keep your guests in wonder as they walk around your home.
  • Don’t skimp on delicious food. Make sure you offer enough food for everybody that’s coming to your house! You also want something that can wrap around everyone’s tastes and also be easy to eat in a timely manner. Also, it’s best not to offer the same food throughout the hour or two of your casual holiday party – pick different food for each course.
  • Keep the music fun! Music can be a key factor in having a successful Christmas party. If you choose an upbeat song, you’ll draw in your guests with excitement. 
  • Don’t forget the Christmas party games! Games are crucial for any party and they also make the party go by faster. Think of a game that everyone can play that’ll keep everyone entertained.

Let us help you plan your Christmas activities with the special people in your life with some of these ideas:

Hosting a Christmas party at home is a way for us to show people that we care about how much we appreciate them and how grateful we are for having them in our lives. 8

Christmas party planning may seem daunting when you think about all the tasks that need to be taken care of. Whether it’s cleaning, preparation, or shopping, there are plenty of things to worry about.

While we have some stress-free tips for you that’ll help you achieve the perfect Christmas party, you also need to remember that the most important thing is to relax and enjoy yourself.

Make Your Plans Ahead Of Time And Choose Your Dates

Choose a Christmas party date ahead of time so you have enough time to plan everything.

Because most people plan their vacations with their families and friends for the long holidays in December, parties held closer to Christmas eve may be under-attended. It is best to choose a date that is slightly before Christmas as a first-time host.

Make A Budget And Stick To It

Make A Budget And Stick To It

The most common pitfall for first-time Christmas party hosts is that they tend to go way over budget in their eagerness to throw “the best party ever.” Successful parties, on the other hand, do not have to be costly. 

Setting aside a Christmas party budget for your party is the best way to avoid this. This makes dividing the overall budget into smaller amounts for Christmas party decor, venue, gifts, budget for food, and so on much easier.

Make A List Of Guests

Make a guest list in advance, depending on how big or small you want to go. This serves as the foundation for the rest of the process.

The venue, as well as your food and beverage options, will be determined by the size of your Christmas party. If you’re a first-time host, start with a small group of close friends and family to get the hang of things.

Invite the right people to your party, and don’t be afraid to let them bring along friends. The more people you have, the longer it’ll take to clean up. If you’re short on guests, a smaller gathering is definitely an option!

Choose a Christmas Party Area at Your Home

The general rule of thumb for a good party location is that things are spread out enough so that people can mingle with others throughout the party while still staying close enough where they’ll hear most of what’s being talked about and no one gets left out.

Party locations can be almost anywhere in your home. It could be your own backyard, your living area, or you can even do it in your garage. 

It depends on the size of your gathering as well as how formal or informal you want the atmosphere to be. Christmas get-togethers can be held at home in a cozy, informal, and friendly atmosphere. 

Consider Your Theme

Consider Your Theme

If you want the party to have a specific theme, now is the time to plan it out. You can look for trendy themes on the internet or choose a theme that screams “traditional Christmas.”

In any case, having a theme in mind simplifies the process of selecting Christmas party decorations, food, and beverages.

Distribute Invitations

Distribute Invitations

You’re ready to send out party invitations now that you’ve decided on a date and a location. Ensure that your party invitations are consistent with your chosen theme and that you explicitly state the theme on them. 

Make sure you keep track of your guest list so you don’t forget anyone. As the date approaches, you can make follow-up calls or send reminder emails.

Prepare Your Food And Beverages Ahead Of Time

Prepare Your Food And Beverages Ahead Of Time

Your guests will have lasting impressions of your Christmas party based on the food you serve. This can be a hit or miss.

Let’s face it: eggnog, alcoholic spirits, and wines are all quite costly. So, if you’re looking for a low-cost Christmas party idea, consider having a cocoa bar. If this isn’t an area where you want to save money, make a drink list ahead of time and stock up. 

Plan out your entire menu, from appetizers to desserts. Make your purchases ahead of time if you’re cooking at home. If you’ve reserved a hotel or another location, request a tasting to ensure you’re making the best decisions.

Make sure to check with your guests if they have any dietary restrictions or allergies before you get started with your party, and make sure you let them know what alcohol is served at the party.

Prepare Your Gifts Ahead Of Time

If you are on here as a guest invited to a Christmas party, it’s traditional to have a hostess gift. It can be small and practical, with wrapping being optional.

Most hosts/hostesses would appreciate something that they will use or enjoy such as a bottle of wine or flowers. As a guest, don’t give cash since it comes off as tacky and rude.

The word “Christmas” conjures up images of presents. If you want to give gifts, do so ahead of time. Make sure they’re clearly labeled so they get to the right person and there are no mishaps on the big day.

If you decide to give gifts, make sure you give them to everyone who will be attending. Keep one or two extras on hand in case of unexpected visitors.

Have everyone who attends receive a gift. The Christmas gift doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be a small candle or sweets that fit your theme. 

Entertainment and Games 

Games come in a variety of forms, so your theme needs to accommodate all different types. You may want to go with something small like scrabble, or something larger like board games and cards. Non-traditional games are also fun to play!

Entertainment is important to keep your guests entertained throughout the party. People are pretty distracted during parties, so entertainment can be a great way to encourage conversation and keep your guests entertained.

Prepare Your Party Decorations

Christmas party decorations are easy to find, but if you’re looking for something original, then don’t be afraid to create something yourself. It’s fun and helps you show your guests another side of your personality!

Christmas parties aren’t the same without Christmas trees, whether you’ve chosen a theme or not. Prepare your tree and decorate it on-site ahead of time. 

Make sure the lights are on. Purchase theme-based Christmas decorations in advance if you’re going with a specific theme. Don’t forget to prepare your outfits as well.

Music can be a key factor in having a successful party. If you choose an upbeat song, you’ll draw in your guests with excitement.

Prepare For The Party At Least A Few Hours Ahead Of Time

Even the best-laid plans can backfire if they aren’t carried out correctly. Set up your party at least a few hours ahead of time, whether you’re having it at home or at a venue. Any last-minute hiccups can be dealt with well before the first guests arrive. 

On ‘Party Day,’ expect a few issues: the bartender may be late, the tableware may be the wrong color, and the decorations may be off. Don’t worry; you’ve got plenty of time to either fix them or come up with other options.

Final Thoughts

Nobody will notice that you forgot to put out a traditional decoration or that your roast was slightly overcooked in the grand scheme of things! But the fun and laughter will be remembered by all!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should the party be held? 

When learning how to throw a Christmas party, this is possibly the most important step. Although the home is where the heart is, there are times when more space is required.

If you’re inviting groups from school or work, consider using an on-site community space or holding your event in a larger hall or restaurant. Or if having a physical location is out of the question, then throw a virtual Christmas party instead!

I’m not sure who I should invite. And how am I going to invite them? 

Return to your theme to create a guest list. With so many options for communication, consider whether printed or electronic invitations are the best way to reach your guests, and send them at least three weeks ahead of time.

How do I maintain a pleasant odor in my home? 

When you’re entertaining a large group of people at your home, odor control is sometimes necessary to keep guests focused on the good times rather than the bad.

There are many great natural air fresheners you can use in your home, from the bathroom to other main areas, to keep your home smelling “ah” instead of “ew.”

Do I give a gift to my visitors? 

When it comes to figuring out how to throw a Christmas party, this is an age-old question. If you like to give tokens of appreciation to your guests, a tasty option is to give them any of these delicious cookies in cute to-go boxes.

If you want to do something fun with your gifts but don’t have a lot of money, consider a white elephant gift exchange party.

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