Host The Party Of The Season

(Image courtesy of cliff1066™)

Every year, the holiday party invites roll in from friends and families all over the country. With the cramped time over the holidays, there’s no way that you’ll be able to make it to them all AND host your own. There are many different ways to give your party the holiday touch that will have your friends carrying over the yule logs and eggnog.

Before all the planning is done and the invitations are all sent out, there are a few things you need to consider to make your party a success. This article from renters.apartments.com has all the information you need to keep your guests waiting for santa in style.

Personal Invites

It all starts well before the day of the event with a personal invite. We’re talking about real-life paper invites, not run-of-the-mill evites that could sit in a person’s in-box for days before peaking interest. A mailed invitation is going to get noticed right away. Adding a personal note to each is a nice touch that will make a guest feel like their presence at the party is really welcomed.

Décor in Addition to Refreshments

If you want everyone to really get in the holiday spirit a little decorative flare never hurt. Being a good host is all about the details so don’t skimp on the décor. It’s all about creating a conducive party atmosphere that starts at the entryway.

Have fun with it by picking a theme that will play into the decorations, food and beverages.

Don’t Let Guest Drive After Too Many

No host should let a guest drink and drive. Take the responsible route and line up rides ahead of time. Whether that be designated drivers, cabs or a chauffeur service if you want to go really ritzy. If someone is refusing to get a ride and wants to drive do what you can to keep them at the party and have bottled water on hand for them to drink. The only thing that will sober someone up is time. Enlist the help of others to convince the person that the best idea is for them to let some else get behind the wheel.

Plan Out Entertainment

Conversation can be great, but it’s always good to have a little entertainment planned out ahead of time. Whether that be musical, board games or activities give your guest something to do while they are at your place. Think about several ideas beforehand to make sure you have all the entertainment needs covered on the day of the party.

Do a Lot of Preparation

If you’re running around the entire party there’s a good chance you won’t be having the best time and that can rub off on your guests. Thorough preparation before the party will ensure that you can relax with your guests during the shindig.

A few things to do beforehand include:

• Creating a playlist so the music is on autopilot.
• Prep as much of the food as possible the day before and store it in your fridge.
• Use lists when shopping.
• Come up with a schedule of things to do during the party so you can make sure you have everything you might need.
• Keep food and drinks delicious yet simple. Mix in pre-made items that just need to be popped in the oven and kept warm.
• Set up a self-serve bar that has everything your guests may need. You may also want to consider getting an ice chest to keep nearby.

These five things are what every seasoned host has mastered, and you can too. Pretty soon you’ll gain the reputation of knowing how to throw a holiday party, and next year you can expect the RSVPs to roll in right away.