You might have heard them already. They
will creep into your brain, as they do every year, right around mid-November. Who among us
will ever forget “Silver Bells”? Or “Jingle Bells”? Or “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing”? Christmas returns again. As memorable as Christmas music is, more memorable is
the Christmas party. Maybe it’s your turn to host the office’s staff celebration this year
or maybe you just damn well want to host a party during the holidays. We’re
not going to quibble on the whys. We’re just going to tell you how to do it
right.
hosting christmas parties
You need to make a list. Get some names down, preferably all the people you want to come
to this year’s soiree. Then take a good long look at that list and decide two things: 1)
What do these people like to do? 2) How much money am I willing to spend?
Good parties take planning, friend. Here’s where you can start.
A date
Pick a date for the party that works best for all the people who need to be there. If the
middle part of the month is too packed, you can always throw something on Christmas day or
even a couple days afterward, and call it a “post-holiday get-together.” There are no
rules here!
Send invitations
Ideally, you’ll do this two to three weeks in advance of the event. Send your
invites by e-mail, unless it’s somebody you feel needs a more personal phone invitation
(like, say, the new hot girl at work). Not everyone takes e-mail seriously or checks it
regularly. If you suspect this is the case, an alternative invite may be appropriate. But before you press “send,” be sure to include the following information in the
e-mail:
The date and time of the party
The location
A description of what the party will be like (food, music, gift exchange)
The fact that they need to RSVP
Your complete contact information
What the guests need to bring
Note: if you don’t hear back from your guests, resend the invitation a few days before
the shindig.
locations for parties
The party needs to happen somewhere. If you need space, you might want to think about
renting a room. Sometimes it makes perfect sense to rent out your condo’s party room or
the corner of a restaurant you know and love. Hotels often have a wide range of rooms that are available for many
different kinds of events. Be sure to book these rooms early on if you’re thinking about
hosting the party elsewhere. Unless you live in a tiny apartment or at home
with your parents, there is a good chance that hosting the party at your place is your
best bet. While this opens up a lot of possibilities for what kind of party you can host,
it also puts the onus on you to make this thing great. So, get out the cleaners and scrub
brushes. Clean every room in the house and get ready for your party. Food is
up next in our guide on how to throw a Christmas party…