6 Tips to Ensure Your Holiday Party Is Memorable AND Stress-Free

The holiday season is upon us and many of us are itching to enjoy the festive season with our friends and family. If you’re hosting a holiday party, the pressure is on to make sure it’s a fun and memorable event… While keeping your cool in the meantime. There’s so much to stress over during this time of year, and hosting a holiday party shouldn’t be one of them. 

We have 6 tips that will help you keep your cool while preparing to throw a holiday bash that your guests will still be talking about in July! So, let’s get this party started!

1. Be realistic about how many guests you can comfortably have

If you’ve hosted a party in your house in the past, you probably already have a good idea of how many people you can invite and everyone would be comfortable. However, if this is your first party or you just moved into a new home, you may not realize how many people can comfortably fit in your house. You’ll want to be realistic about how many people your home can accommodate because a crowded party isn’t very fun.

2. Organize and start planning early

We recommend that you start planning and organizing your party as early as you can – ideally two to three months ahead of time. This will give you enough time to select a date that works for everyone, plan your menu, shop for party essentials, plan your outfit, and so on. Oh… And make lists! Lists will help you stay organized and see what tasks you have and have not completed so you stay on track. 

3. Decide the theme of your party

If you are looking for new ideas for throwing an unforgettable party for you and your guests, try to decide the theme of the party beforehand which will help you choose the decorations and food. For example, if you want to throw a 90’s disco party, you can decorate your venue with glitter disco balls, lights, and balloons to create a retro atmosphere. You can add customized large inflatables that can be of any shape and will bring the vibe of the party to your guests. You can keep both adults and children entertained by adding a colorful bouncy house or inflatable tossing games to your yard.

4. Ask for help

You don’t have to be the sole person who’s planning this party! Ask friends and family for a little bit of help in the planning process. Not only will it help keep your load more manageable, but you’ll be able to spend more time with those closest to you. 

Some ways to get help include: 

• Hire a catering service
• Ask for help with the preparations
• Ask someone to babysit while you’re marking things off your to-do lists
• Make the party a potluck dinner and ask guests to bring their favorite dish

5. Have a game plan for entertaining your guests

Holiday parties aren’t just about eating and drinking – it’s about having fun. In your planning, have some entertainment ideas so that your guests won’t be standing around and looking bored! You can create a holiday playlist, have holiday games and activities, and maybe even have holiday movies playing in the background. The name of the game is to make your guests feel welcome and at ease.

6. Do as much as you can before the day of the party

You don’t have to (and shouldn’t!) leave everything for the day of because if you do, that’s a surefire way to stress out! We suggest that you do as much as you can leading to the day of the party. You can do things like set up the decorations and furniture, chill the drinks and have plenty of ice on hand, start preparing food, and so on. You’ll find that the less you have to do the day of, the smoother everything will go as guests arrive. 

The holidays are meant to be a joyous time of year and when you want to celebrate with loved ones host a holiday party… It can feel anything but joyous. However, when you use these tips, your holiday party will be one to remember – both for you and your guests!

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