I would not consider myself a party expert, but I do love to entertain, and have hosted my fair share of holiday parties. In my rookie years of party hosting, I was a mess. I never looked up from the oven or kitchen sink to enjoy the actual party. Now that I have a few under my belt, I have made a standard list of “musts” that I abide by when hosting any kind of party. I will be glad to share these with you; so, you can surpass the "pull my hair out" party hosting days.
- Hire a Caterer. Budget is of concern for most when hosting a party, especially a holiday party when funds are tight. But trust me… even if you have to spend 90% of your budget on a caterer – Do It. A caterer will save you not only time but also stress free as guests are arriving. As a host you need to be available to mingle and greet people. Hiring a caterer allows you to do that because they are responsible for making sure everyone has their plates full… not you! To help with your budget find a caterer with versatile menu like this one from a Elgin Minnesota Caterer.
- Use disposable tableware. The last thing I ever wanted to do after a party was to wash 12 loads of dishes. And after I did it a couple of times, I decided that was for the birds. Ever since I have been using disposable plates, napkins, and utensils. You can find inexpensive, elegant disposable tableware at any party supplies store or supermarket.
- Use what you’ve got. Just because you are throwing a party does not mean you have to rush out and buy tons of decorations to adorn your home. Most often these cheap decorations just end up looking cheesy and tacky. Instead, put up your holiday decorations and let that set the mood for your holiday party. If you want to buy decorations, buy those that can be used year after year such as large ornaments to hang from chandeliers in the home, or holiday serving platters.
- Send invitations. Using word of mouth for a holiday party is like guaranteeing your party will be a complete flop. People who receive formal invitations to a function automatically acknowledge the event as an important one. So, don’t waste your time and effort to host an event and have no one show up. Send holiday party invitations. Also make sure you put R.S.V.P. or “regrets only” at the bottom of the invite so you can get an estimate of how many people will be attending.
- Last but not least you have got to have festive music. Music always set the mood for an event or party. Simply putting on a holiday CD will be fine . Hiring party entertainment, if it fits into your budget, will enhance the party experience.
Hope these tips help everyone sail through the holiday hosting events as smooth as possible. Happy Holidays!
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