Successful Christmas Party Planning, Start With Early Planning

Christmas Party Planning for A Wonderful Christmas Party!

I love Christmas party planning because having a party during the Christmas period, you don't have to worry about taking leave to prepare for the party.

For most people, this period is the period where most businesses are slowing and many people are taking long holidays to be away.

(Photo by: Enrico Corno)

It is also the holiday season where most people are in cheerful, holiday mood. They are likely to be able to attend your party (that is, if you send out your invitations early) and some may even be able to contribute and help with the preparation for the party.

Christmas party planning is also a chance to gather your loved ones especially those out-of-town relatives and friends to a wonderful, fun and memorable Christmas.

One sure way to lessen the stress and avoid the crazy rush of buying Christmas decorations, Christmas gifts, Christmas costumes, Christmas tree and lightings and so on, is to start planning your Christmas party early, for example in November.

1. Plan Your Christmas Parties According to Christmas Themes

You will need to decide whether this party is for both adults and kids or it is just a kids' Christmas Party. When you are doing your Christmas party planning for kids those ages are between 2-6 years do get a few helpers or parents to help with the games, costumes, feeding and changing. Remember to child proof your venue.

When you are doing your home Christmas party planning consider the cost to your guests if you are planning for a Christmas costume party. Some of your guests may not have time to go to a costume shop to choose, try and rent. If that's one of your considerations, you can solve the problem by ordering it online.

If you are planning a corporate or office Christmas party and your company happens to have a Christmas party fund then go for grand Christmas party at a local hotel managed by an event planner.

2. Make A Guest List

Well, I don't know about you, every year when I start my Christmas party planning I will face the problem of who to invite to my Christmas party. I will sit down and determine how much I can afford without facing the threat of being "bankrupt" after the party.

For example, In my Christmas party planning list, I will not invite 60 people when I have budget for only 30. I will cater for 35 persons in case my guests decide to bring their partners or kids along. If your budget is tight, invite only close families and friends leaving out office colleagues for some other occasions like trips to the zoo, carnivals or movies.

3. Send Out Christmas Party Invitations

A very important part of your Christmas party planning is to mail your all invitation cards early. Do factor in the additional budget for the design and printing of cards. These days it is common to receive an email invite. If you are tech savvy, you can work on a design on your computer and email it to all your guests (some websites do offer pretty good free ecards).

There are a few invitation etiquette you may have to take note though:

1. Do send, email or call all those you intend to invite at the same time. If you don't, when your aunt Jane receive the invitation a month later than Aunt Annie, she will be offended as your invitation to her is an afterthought.

2. So send or inform your invitees early so that thay won't be busy with their own holiday planning and forget about your party, receiving your invitation early means that thay will have to reject other invitations that they received later.

3. Please do send invitations by email or mail or call personally. The worst thing is to make your close friends feel that the invite is not sincere.

4. Do indicate a date for RSVP and ask the invitees to indicate the number of persons coming for the party. (You don't want to be short of food and beverage for everyone).

5. Indicate the dress code especially if you want a costume party, be specific.

6. Date, time and venue of the party must be indicated clearly in case your guest turn up on the wrong date, time or venue.

4. Set a Budget for Christmas Decorations, Christmas Presents And Christmas Party Food

When you are planning for a Christmas party, set aside budget for the Christmas decorations, Christmas presents and Christmas party food or catering.

A. Christmas Decorations

These are some of the Christmas decorations you may want to purchase and you may want to take note of their costs:

1. Christmas tree (this item will cost you a lot if you buy it last minute)

2. Christmas tree lightings and ornaments

3. Wreaths

4. Christmas plants or flower centrepieces

5. Christmas candles

6. Christmas stockings

And the list goes on.

B. Christmas Gifts

One of the most important items in Christmas party planning is buying the Christmas gifts for close friends and relatives. This requires some careful considerations and it may take a few shopping trips before you finally make the purchase. Have a list of items to buy for each guest and an alternative item if you can't find the main item. This way, you don't have to run many trips to different stores for the presents.

If you are on a tight budget, why not consider buying Christmas gifts or presents very early on in the year? For example, during a sale in spring or summer.

There are really many great Christmas gift ideas available on the internet for your friends and families!

C. Christmas Party Food

Cooking Your Own Party Food

Some people consider Food as the most important "Make or Break" party. Do place importance and careful attention to the menu in the Christmas party planning process. Factor in all the efforts and shopping trips (sometimes to different supermarkets) to purchase the raw meats (turkey, ham, streak), seasonings, sauces, eggs fruits, baking ingredients, baking trays (if you don't have ready ones). Don't forget that you will have to buy the table cloth, plastic plates, bowls, forks, spoons and knives. If your piggy bank is a hug one, you may want to invest in buying a good set of china ware and cutlery.

This list may not be exhaustive, it depends on your own personal taste and your Christmas menu may be different culturally.

D. Christmas Party Catering

Well, you may decide catering as part of your Christmas party planning so that it allows you more time to plan and prepare for the party itself! What a relief - think about all the cooking and cleaning! Imagine that you will have to constantly dish out food from the kitchen. If you choose to cook, be prepared to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Catering allows you to spend time enjoying yourself with your guests and also get to participate in the games too.

E. Having Pot Luck

If cost is really a big problem, having a pot luck Christmas party is a good idea. You cut down on the time spend having to cook for everyone and you can actually get to taste your friends and relatives special dishes. Just manage the list so that you don't get the same dishes, better still list down a menu wish list.

5. Christmas Menu Planning

Whether you intend to deck out a traditional Christmas feast or an international buffet with turkey and ham. Careful Christmas menu planning is a must for Christmas party planning. You don't want to have two dishes that have apples in them - for example, Apple pie and apple sauce as a dip for your meat.

While you worry about quantity of food, you should also look closely at the quality and taste of the various food being served, its presentation and so on.

There are many wonderful cookbooks and menus on the internet and bookstores, we are really spolit for choice.

6. Choose Christmas Games and Music

The choice of Christmas games and music is always a challenge for those doing Christmas party planning. Just go ahead to choose what pleases you as the host. There are many Christmas games available on internet and your will have to choose them carefully. Consider the age appropriateness for each game.

Take into consideration the kids among your guests. It will be better if you can engage a friend's help to have separate games for the adults and kids. Combine playing the games for both adults and kids, is a better idea - to foster closer bonds. If your guests have very young children, do get someone to be the "nanny".

Choosing the appropriate music will set the mood or atmosphere for the party. Combined it with the lightings, you will be giving your guests that Christmas warm and romantic feel or that cheerful and chosy feeling.

Whatever mood you want to create, test it out 2 to 3 days before your party. Check all your lightings and dimmers, the worse thing to happen is that the dimmers don't work. Well, if it really happens, the candles will be of great help.

Last but not least, remember to store a few extra presents for those who forget to bring their gift exchange.

Finally, don't just work on Christmas party planning and get all stressed up. Enjoy the process - enjoy! enjoy! enjoy!

Have a Merry Christmas!

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