How to plan the perfect holiday

BY ERIK J. MARTIN

We’re rounding the corner on 2022, and the big holidays are clearly in sight. With this turn of the calendar comes anticipation for revelry, socialization, and rendezvous opportunities with friends and family. Which begs the question: Why not host a holiday party at your house?

Whether it’s a Thanksgiving day shindig, festive December bash, Christmas Eve gathering, or New Year’s Eve soirée, there are plenty of options for merriment and celebration over the last few weeks of the year. Just be careful to know what’s involved before committing to the role of master of ceremonies.

“A good candidate for hosting an at-home holiday party is anyone who likes to entertain and loves to showcase their home,” says Brian Worley, a professional event planner in Atlanta. “Ideally, you should have a large space, depending on your guest count, and be willing to accommodate a variety of family and friends invading your personal space.”

The best hosts need to be organized, willing to delegate tasks to people they trust, quick on their feet with problem-solving, have backup plans in their pocket, and juggle different aspects of an event at the same time without feeling overwhelmed, notes Gina Anderson with Urban Allure Events in Chicago.

“Your first step is to decide on the date and duration of your event. Will it last a few hours? When? Then, choose the ideal date and time you want to host,” she says.

Next, give careful thought to your guest list.

“Who do you want to invite and share this special time with? Do you want to invite a homogenous group with common interests or a wide variety of friends, kin, and colleagues who can get to know each other?” asks Ronny Leber, an international event hosting expert with Ronny Leber Entertainment.

Take time to consider a theme, as well, which can help determine what kind of a holiday party it will be.

“Will it be a stand-up or sit-down event? Stand-ups require small finger foods versus

sit-downs, which are more like entrées and salads. The theme will help drive your menu choices,” explains Cheryl Grace, CEO of Powerful Penny LLC, an executive coaching, consulting, and lifestyle firm.

Before deciding on edibles and libations, ponder your expenses carefully.

“Set a budget you are willing to spend and understand that you will likely go over that budget. But it’s good to at least have a jumping-off point established,” advises Worley.

Your menu will comprise a big part of your budget.

“When I host parties, I try to make it as casual and informal as possible by creating a menu that is easy — typically room temperature foods — unless it’s something that can go in a slow cooker and just has to be plugged in,” Worley says.

You can also empower your guests to bring goodies.

“Make your party theme ‘bring your favorite holiday dessert,’ for example,” Worley recommends.

Think carefully about including options for people who don’t eat meat.

“Nowadays, I would consider offering a vegan option,” Leber suggests. “And when it comes to drinks, make sure there are also choices for people who don’t consume alcohol.”

In addition to deciding what to serve, ruminate on how you will serve food and beverages for guests. Will the edibles be offered buffet-style? Will you have a sit-down dinner with table settings?

“If you are opting for a caterer, first check on the availability of companies in your area and the menus they provide,” Anderson continues.

Activities and games represent some of the most memorable moments at a holiday party. Help break the ice and get your guests involved by encouraging fun activities like the nametag game in which each guest writes the last name of their favorite person who shares their first name; other guests must guess their first name. Alternatively, consider having someone dress up as Santa and visit the crowd briefly, passing out small presents. Or encourage a round of charades, Pictionary, or another popular game that can bring strangers together.

Determine if you will mail out physical invitations or use electronic invites. Eventbrite and RSVP.com are good options for the latter.

“Traditionally, it’s recommended that a host invites their guests at least three weeks before the event. One to two weeks out from your party, follow up with your guests who haven’t RSVPed yet,” Anderson adds.

Lastly, create a holiday-appropriate music playlist that will get your guests in the mood and provide acoustic comfort to attendees. Use a smart speaker and a service like Spotify to curate and play the best tunes for the occasion. n