Ideas for the Perfect Christmas Party
Christmas is a great season to gather friends, family, co-workers and even the neighbors together for holiday fun and festivities. Traditional holiday parties have been a favorite for years; however, they have come a long way since I was a child. I remember my parent’s Christmas parties consisted of phone calls to the invitee’s, an assortment of alcohol and various finger foods placed in bowls and plates on our dining room table. No fuss, just good Christmas cheer.
Start with Christmas party invitations
Start with Christmas party invitationsToday, with designers in every area of party planning, you can kick your holiday tradition up a notch. Christmas party invitations, Christmas party themes and Christmas party food and appetizers have all come a long way since, phone calls, beer nuts and Baby Duck wine (look it up, it is a real thing). Making your next holiday party a spectacular event your guests will be talking about for years to come, can be very satisfying, so let’s take a look at some ideas for the perfect Christmas party that will get those festive juices flowing.
You’re Invited…
Christmas invitations are a thoughtful reminder of your big day (and so much better than a phone call). They come in a variety of sizes, designs and price ranges and can be ordered online or bought through your local retailers. However, if you want to get creative then try your hand at making your own invites. Craft stores sell a variety of Christmas cardstock and papers to bring your invites to life. Plus, each of these can be made in an unique style that suits each guest or your own creativity level. If you don’t have a crafty bone in your body, don’t despair, check out some Christmas templates you can easily print and fill out.
Another simple idea for Christmas invitations is to buy small Christmas stockings (available in Dollar Stores) and simply slip in your invite information. Add a bow and some candy and you have a cute reminder of your holiday party.
Theme it Up!
Even though you may think Christmas is a theme in itself, there are themes within the holiday theme. To add some jolly laughs try an Ugly Christmas Sweater theme – each guest digs out that horrendous holiday sweater that some well meaning grandparent or great aunt said “matches your eyes perfectly” and insists you wear each time you visit, regardless of the season – at least you will actually feel good about wearing it here.
Get the girls together and host a wine, cheese and trim trimming party. Have each guest bring a special ornament they will use to trim your tree with and ask them why they chose that particular one – the laughs will never end – once the tree is trimmed and the lights are lit, crack open the wine, sit back and enjoy each other’s company.
Host a Cookie Swap
Host a Cookie SwapA delicious theme for a holiday party is to host a Cookie Swap – but not just cookies any baked goods. This is the perfect time to get together with some yummy homemade treats as the focus. Have everyone bring a batch of their favorite Christmas treat, then guess who’s are homemade and who cheated and went to a bakery. This can be a great way to sample other’s baking and to perhaps add some new recipes to your own Christmas dessert menu.
Food for the Festivities
For a successful Christmas party, you will have to have some fabulous food. This can be as elaborate or as simple as you’d like. If you are a terrible cook, or just don’t have the time to put a lot of food together, turn your Christmas party into a “pot luck.” Just like the cookie swap, ask each guest to bring a favorite dish, then serve it up buffet-style. It takes the majority of the cooking work off your shoulders and gives everyone a chance to sample different dishes.
If you are looking for quick Christmas party appetizers, many companies offer pre-made nibbles that can be thawed and cooked just in time for your party. Other simple Christmas party appetizers could include, stuffed mushrooms, mini spring rolls, various cheese and cracker platters, spreads and dip always are a hit, along with mini meatballs and devilled eggs – basically anything that can be spread on a cracker or eaten with a toothpick will make great before-the-meal delectables (yes, even sectioned wieners can be used, just wrap em up in bacon).
Huge Christmas party meals don't have to be a hassle
Huge Christmas party meals don’t have to be a hasslePersonally, I have always loved the idea of tiny food and lots of it, but if you want to go all out for a huge holiday party, there are some recipes that won’t have you wanting to hunt down Ms. Stewart with a hot ladle in your hand. Try cooking fresh salmon instead of a large turkey. Salmon is faster to prepare and can be cooked quickly before it is served. Ham is also another favorite meat this time of year and can be pre-cooked ahead of time and warmed through before the meal. Side dishes can be traditional with potatoes and other vegetables or elegant-it-up a notch with asparagus, humus or even mini Yorkshire puddings. The possibilities are endless, so sit down and plan your menu well in advance before you decide on the final list.
Christmas only comes once a year, so make your guest list, plan the theme and food, then send out the invites. It will be well worth the time and effort you spend when you see all those festive faces filled with good food, good fun and holiday cheer.
Merry Christmas Party Planning!