Holiday Event Planning: A Checklist

With the winter holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking up ideas for a holiday party. Whether you’re organizing a year-end work party or an informal gathering for family and friends, the steps needed to organize your event are essentially the same. Here’s how to throw the best possible party this holiday season.

Sending Invitations for Holiday Parties

Choose a date for your party, and let guests know well in advance. People’s schedules fill up quickly over the holiday season. Send invitations for holiday parties by mail or through an online invitation system at least one month before the event to get the maximum response. Be sure to ask people to RSVP so you have an accurate headcount. For a real impact, send a video greeting card.

Plan Your Venue Ahead

If you’re hosting an at-home or in-office party, you’ve got your venue covered. If, however, you’re planning on using a restaurant or other venue, you need to book your location well in advance. The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for the hospitality industry, and in-demand venues book up fast. Ideally, have your party location booked before Thanksgiving.

Thematic Ideas for a Holiday Party

Having a central theme for a holiday party helps you decide on food, events, and activities. Possible ideas for a holiday party include:

• Ugly holiday sweaters: Outfit the family in matching holiday sweaters, or hold an ugly sweater contest
• Tree trimming parties
• Potlucks (a good choice for mixed crowds)
• Holiday movie marathons
• Santa’s workshop
• White Christmas
• Hollywood Holidays

 

Decorating for the Holidays

Consider your party theme when decorating for the holidays, and plan accordingly. If you’re throwing a Santa’s workshop party, for instance, boxes, elves, and small toys and gifts should all make appearances (extra points if you can get Santa to show up at the party in person).  If you’re building your party around a classic movie marathon, go with metallic decorations evoking the feel of the golden age of Hollywood.

Activities and Games for a Holiday Party

Choosing the right activities and games for a holiday party can make or break your event. No-one wants to sit around bored, or worse yet, actively avoiding trying to take part in the festivities. Possible games for a holiday party include:

• Secret Santa
• Charades
• A holiday-themed photo booth with accessories
• Gingerbread house building
• Make your own decorations
• Snowman building (be sure to have hot cocoa waiting)
• Caroling
• Board games and playing cards

If children are attending the party, give some thought to games they’d like to play. Traditional party games can easily be given a seasonal twist (Pin the Tail on the Donkey becomes Pin the Carrot on the Snowman, for instance).

Recipes for the Holidays

Your holiday party is most likely sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah. All these festivals are known for their lavish sit-down meals, and while there’s nothing wrong with a holiday banquet, you might want to consider giving your guests a change of pace. Some of the best recipes for the holidays are sweet or savory finger food, perfect for informal gatherings and mingling.

For informal gatherings, select a few favorite recipes for the holidays, a few savories, some seasonal cookies, a cheese plate, and some store-bought delicacies. Encourage guests to bring dishes to add to the holiday spread, and let your guests serve themselves with a selection of colorful Great Plates™ and single-use party cups.

Gifts to Go

What’s a holiday party without gifts? Provide your guests (or reward your employees) with a selection of seasonal gifts, from customized wine glasses and hot chocolate mugs to beanies and personalized Christmas Stockings.

Happy holidays from Triple Crown Products, however, and wherever you celebrate!