Back to Basics: Hosting a Holiday Party
Ho, ho, ho, the holiday season is here, which means gatherings of friends and family are also here. Attending parties is always fun. We come; we eat, and we leave, without having to worry about the hassle of hosting it. Hosting a holiday party should be something to look forward to, however. The fun of hosting a holiday party is all-to-often hindered by the chaos involved. Here are some of my tips to keeping your hosting of a holiday party simple and enjoyable. For this, we go back to the basics, and consider our personal enjoyment of the party, too.
Nothing is perfect
To begin, I think we can all save ourselves some unnecessary stress by accepting the fact that nothing is perfect—so your party won’t be, either! This is not accepting defeat, but rather simply setting realistic expectations for you and your guests. Someone will probably make a snide comment about your cooking, many RSVP’s will be MIA, and you will inevitably forget something. All of this is OK! Don’t stress yourself out when the little things go wrong.
Plan ahead of time
This one may seem obvious, but planning out your party is just a much of a mental precaution as it is a physical precaution. Sure, we want to make sure that we complete our checklist and get all the supplies needed for the event, but by simply organizing and planning your party, you’re giving yourself the reassurance you need.
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Order in!
Do yourself a favor and don’t even worry about cooking food. Save time and stress (and a potentially burned entree!) by having varieties of amuse-bouches, hors d'oeuvre, and other delectable finger foods. Unless it’s explicitly a dinner party, don’t overdo it and provide a five-course meal for every attendee.
Have things to do
No one enjoys a party with boring small talk and standing around. Be exciting: have games and conversation starters ready for people. If it’s an informal party, consider playing some adult board games (i.e. Cards Against Humanity). Having activities for your guests will also be an easy ice breaker for those who don’t know each other.
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Do you
I think this one is perhaps the most important. We spend so much time preparing events like these to impress others. But ultimately, whose event is it? Yours! Quit planning an entire event around other people. Striving to make others happy and ensuring they have a good time is one thing, but micromanaging every element of the event or others’ pleasure? Not OK.
Admittedly, I am not an event planner, but I do enjoy hosting get togethers, and these are just a few practices I’ve adopted. Remember to take sometime for self care after the event is over, too. A lot fo planning and stress goes into it—you deserve some time to yourself. Most importantly, however, your main goal must be to enjoy yourself. What tips do you have for hosting a holiday party?
~Happy Hosting!
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