| Holiday party planning need not be a daunting task. | | | | before the big night. This will save you from |
| In fact, you can consider it the perfect time to | | | | unnecessary stress. |
| unleash your creativity-especially if you decide to | | | | For example, if you can start working on the |
| have fun with the whole part planning process. | | | | party decorations today, why put it off for |
| Sure, planning a holiday party is bound to have its | | | | another day? Even if it's just the simple things like |
| stressful moments, since you're also the one | | | | cutting up crepe paper, preparing your Christmas |
| who's in charge of logistics-but think about the joy | | | | tree, or even just placing an order for your plastic |
| that you'd be bringing to your officemates, family | | | | utensils-these are all things that you can do well |
| members, or friends. In the end, once you throw | | | | before your party. By ticking off things listed in |
| an amazing holiday party, all the hard work you | | | | your holiday party planning checklist, you minimize |
| suffered will be well worth it. | | | | the risk of throwing a disastrous holiday party. |
| The great thing about holiday parties is that it | | | | Holiday Party Idea #3: Send Out Your Invites |
| doesn't require you to think too hard about your | | | | Weeks Before the Party...Especially if You're |
| party theme. While you'll still have to spend some | | | | Asking for RSVP. |
| time pondering your party strategies, holiday | | | | If you're throwing a holiday party that requires |
| parties already have set themes that you can | | | | preparation from your guests, whether it's simply |
| play around with. For example, if you're | | | | procuring a costume or preparing their potluck |
| celebrating Halloween, then you can simply tweak | | | | dishes, then it's basic courtesy that you give |
| the traditional Halloween party to create a | | | | them your invitations at least two weeks before |
| get-together that's going to be unlike any other | | | | the actual party. |
| Halloween party your guests have attended. | | | | This also gives your guests time to map out their |
| To make your holiday party planning even easier | | | | schedules and tell you whether or not they'd be |
| for you, we're going to throw you six ideas for | | | | able to make it to your holiday celebration. |
| your pending holiday party! So start reading to | | | | The week before the party, start calling your |
| get your creative juices flowing. | | | | guests to confirm their attendance. This should |
| Holiday Party Idea #1: Modify the Traditional | | | | give you a pretty accurate headcount. |
| Holiday Party | | | | Holiday Party Idea #4: Start your Grocery |
| Yes. The idea behind this tip has been out there | | | | Shopping a Couple of Days before the Party. |
| since this article's second paragraph, but let us | | | | Having your ingredients in your fridge and ready |
| expound on what we mean by "tweaking" | | | | for cooking is a great way to save time. If you |
| traditions. You don't have to completely disregard | | | | want, the night before the party, you can even |
| traditions when planning your party, after all, | | | | pre-prepare some food and drinks-provided they |
| holiday parties are rooted in tradition. But you can | | | | won't spoil by the eve of your celebration. |
| give your party a modern twist or a slightly | | | | By having your ingredients ready a day before |
| different theme. | | | | the get-together, you can even devote the entire |
| For example, instead of having your regular | | | | day of the party to cooking and creating |
| Christmas party where some people show up | | | | succulent meals and snacks for your guests. |
| dressed like Santa, why not have a | | | | Holiday Party Idea #5: Ask Some Friends to Help |
| Scrooge-inspired holiday party instead? In this | | | | Out Hours Before the Party. |
| party, people don't have to spend a small fortune | | | | Let's face it. You won't be able to finish |
| buying their gifts for each other. Gift-giving is still | | | | everything you need to do for the party without |
| present, but why not ask your party guests to | | | | a little help. By calling on your closest buds, you |
| make or even bake their own gifts? | | | | can get everything done faster. If you're lucky, |
| Or instead of throwing a Halloween party where | | | | you can even have a few hours of quiet time to |
| partygoers show up in their most ghoulish | | | | relax before the celebration starts. |
| costumes, why not have an Old | | | | Holiday Party Idea #6: Get Your Guests to Bring |
| Tinseltown-inspired holiday celebration? Instead of | | | | You Wine as Host Gifts |
| scaring people with their elaborate costumes, ask | | | | Most partygoers are polite enough to give gifts to |
| your guests to imbibe the spirit of Old Hollywood | | | | the host during the party. Some bring actual |
| by coming to the party dressed like their favorite | | | | tokens and mementos, while others give you |
| Hollywood superstars like James Dean, Greta | | | | goodie baskets of cookies and cake. By asking |
| Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire, and Charlie | | | | your guests to bring wine to your party, you |
| Chaplin. | | | | won't have to buy too many bottles of booze. |
| You get the idea. | | | | You can ask your guests to bring a bottle of their |
| Holiday Party Idea#2: Prep for the Party Way in | | | | favorite liquor. That way, you also avoid buying |
| Advance | | | | wine that some of your guests may not like. |
| There's one effective way to block stress when | | | | With all that said, here's to hoping you'll throw one |
| planning a holiday party, and that's to prepare | | | | heck of a holiday party! Remember, don't let |
| everything you need in advance. Anything you | | | | stress get you down. Have fun planning your |
| can do weeks before the event, you should finish | | | | perfect holiday celebration! |