There are those holiday parties that you anticipate with glee, for which you buy a special sparkly dress to wear and pick up a fine bottle of wine to bring. And then there are those holiday parties that you would give anything to ditch if you could. Assuming we all want to be throwing the former kind of party rather than the latter, what do you think makes a truly great holiday party?
Really, a holiday party is just a regular dinner party that's dressed up for the season! Many of the same key ideas apply:
• Invite a variety of guests and make sure everyone knows at least one other person.
• Put on some good music. If you want to pipe Christmas music to your guests, make it tasteful. (Personally, I save the Glee Christmas Album for blasting in the car.)
• Have drinks and appetizers ready when guests arrive. Nothing like little trays of nibbles and a cocktail to get guests relaxed and conversing.
• Consider your space. Make it cozy and comfortable with areas to stand, places to sit, and candles for some intimacy.
• Don't force party games. Some of us love a good White Elephant gift exchange. Others, not so much. I say, don't force it.
What tips do you have for throwing a winning holiday party?
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Any party without my in-laws is perfect by me! :)
I think a welcoming home, good conversation, great food and drink is all you need!
Dim the lights!
People! Inviting the people that you love spending time with makes the best party. (As opposed to inviting anyone just because you want to make sure a lot of people show up to your party)
Everything else is secondary and is probably already there: music (from the radio to hip mixes), food (from Tostitos with salsa to refined hors d'oevures), drinks (from beer to martiniss) and decoration (a christmas tree to decking out the whole place). You get the picture.
This should be the most basic rule(& hopefully is to anyone reading AT) but turn the TV/Wii OFF for the party and just have music. The WORST parties are ones where a few men are glued to a football game like zombies, half the other men are watching uninterested for lack of better conversation, and the women get annexed to the kitchen. At least that's how some family holiday parties were when I was growing up. Thank god those days are behind me!
I just threw a retro Christmas Party for 12. You can check out my decorations, menu and wine pairing and tell me what you think!
Eggnog. Lots and lots of eggnog is the secret to the best holiday party!!
@happiness - I like your style. :)
@Kristin.Kohler, seconded