5 Tips For Hosting a Holiday Party

Planning ahead, good conversation and plenty of food can make your party a hit.

The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful time of the year—especially when you plan to throw a holiday party. Organizing a holiday bash when you have to buy presents for loved ones, work a 9-to-5 job and maintain your regular routine may be daunting, but accomplishing this feat is possible. The tips below provide strategies you can use to make your winter fiesta a smash.

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Organize Icebreakers or Games: Unless all of your guests know each other well, there’s a high chance they will engage in small talk with each other. The problem with small talk is that it gets stale after a while. There’s only so much one can say about the weather, after all. Help your guests avoid the awkward pauses and draining conversations that small talk produces by preparing icebreakers or games for them to play. 

Plan Ahead: Party planning needn’t be headache inducing. You can avoid stress on the day of the big event by finalizing your guest list and music playlist a week ahead of time according to Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle website goop. Before your part, you can also make sure you have enough dishes to use and seats for your guests.

Know the Demographics: Make your party a success by familiarizing yourself with the people on the guest list. Have you invited more singles than couples, more men than women, more middle-aged people than young adults? Your party will bomb if the guest list is lopsided. The last thing you want is for partygoers to leave your event complaining that they were the only single person there or person in their age group. Increase your chances of making your party a success by including an eclectic mix of people on the guest list.

Cocktails and Appetizers: The holidays are all about food and drinks. Make sure you have enough refreshments available so that your guests can have second helpings. Guests will not remember your bash fondly if you run out of food. Partygoers will also appreciate it if you have a wide variety of hors d’oeuvre on hand. About.com lists several beverages and appetizers appropriate for New Year’s Eve parties and similar events.

Be Present: You’re the reason most of your guests have shown up at your event. Don’t get so preoccupied with your to-do list that you forget to actually entertain.

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