The holidays are nearly here, so now is the time to begin planning the holiday party guests will be talking about for many months afterward. ‘Tis the season to celebrate in grand style, and this should be reflected in the venue, décor, and holiday party catering.
Our San Diego party catering company has five tips to ensure any holiday party goes off without a hitch and gives each guest a night to remember.
1. Plan Ahead
Setting a plan well ahead of time is the best way to avoid stress as the event draws near. Begin with the guest list, since the size of the party will likely dictate the venue and the type of food to serve. Send out invites early, at least three or four weeks ahead if possible, since dates tend to fill up fast this time of year.
Invitations can be sent via mail, email, or social media, depending on the method that works best for guests. Include an “RSVP by” date to get an idea of how many guests will be attending. This helps create table settings and place cards sit-down meal and gives the holiday party catering company a heads up on how to plan accordingly.
2. Choose a Theme
Not every holiday party needs a theme. However, choosing one can make it easier to plan the decorations and even food and beverages. Some examples of themes for holiday parties might include:
- Ugly Sweater Party: This theme has been done repeatedly but never seems to lose its charm. Encourage guests to get as crazy as they like and don’t forget the ugliest Christmas sweater contest and a prize for the winner.
- Christmas Masquerade: For a more elegant theme with a touch of mystery, consider a masked Christmas ball. Guests can dress up and wear beautiful masks or come fully decked out in costume.
- Christmas Karaoke: The only thing better than listening to Christmas music is singing it! Rent a karaoke machine and let guests croon away. Mix it up with pop songs and classic Christmas music or stick to a single genre, depending on the guest list.
- White Elephant Exchange: Have guests bring a gift (funny or serious) within a set dollar range. Set up a white elephant exchange so guests don’t know whose gift they receive until after opening.
- Cookie Exchange: Ask guests to bring a couple dozen of their favorite homemade Christmas cookies. By doing a little baking ahead of time, guests get to go home with a plateful of assorted cookies from everyone else’s kitchen.
3. Incorporate the Unexpected
It’s perfectly acceptable to stick with the traditional red and green baubles for a holiday party. However, it can also be fun to throw an unexpected twist into the décor with bright colors or other nonconventional forms of Christmas decorating. Consider a “White Christmas” party where guests and decorations are all in white. Or place bare branches throughout the venue and hang a few vintage baubles from each one.
The holiday party catering company may have additional ideas on unique ways to decorate for the event. This approach surprises guests and greets them with the idea that they won’t know quite what to expect from the evening ahead.
4. Be Ready to Give
Christmas is the gift-giving season, so don’t be surprised if some guests show up with a gift for the host. In order to reciprocate, keep a few wrapped gifts on hand, such as some holiday candles or bottles of wine, to give as needed. Those extra gifts also make excellent hostess gifts when invitations come in for other holiday parties.
Simple party favors can also be created for guests. One popular option is Chinese takeout boxes filled with cookies or candy. Ornaments are another pretty token that guests can take home to remember the evening. Sending guests home with a memento is always a nice finishing touch for the evening and makes guests feel like they were truly appreciated.
5. Create the Perfect Spread
Whether it is a formal dinner party or a casual open house, the food and drink that is served is a key component of a successful occasion. For example, you can line up holiday party platters on long tables. This way, guests can help themselves throughout the evening. A holiday party catering company can handle bartending for the event or create a DIY bar where guests can mix their own drinks.
When planning the food, consider how long guests will be staying, where they will be eating (at tables or on couches) and the time of the party (whether it is over a mealtime). Using this information, it is easier to plan a menu that will be appropriate for the event, venue and guests. The holiday party catering service should also be able to help plan the right menu for this special occasion.
Save the stress of planning and making food for the next big event. With multiple packages to choose from, we will help clients plan a party that meets their vision and within budget. The holiday schedule fills up fast, so contact us today to learn more.
