Throw a Less Stressful Holiday Party!

Tips for throwing a less stressful holiday party for a large crowd:

1) Decorate early! Concentrate your holiday decor where people will enter and congregate: the front porch, the entry, your kitchen, family room, dining room, and the powder room.
Your decor need not be elaborate. Some candles and greenery are all it takes, perhaps some ornaments and twinkle lights strung here and there, just enough to capture the holiday mood. It doesn’t take much! Resist the temptation to wait to decorate the week or day before your party, we’re talking about reducing stress, so decorating early is key!

2. Coats and Purses. The first thing guests do when they arrive is look for a place to store their coat and bag, so you must have a place for their coats and purses. Set aside a bedroom or a closet away from the party, or invest in a folding coat rack.

3. Have an icebreaker. Many people love to help at parties so give them a small job if they ask, or play a simple party game.

4. Create ambiance with lighting and music. Great lighting is key to setting the perfect mood at a party. Then light a few candles, and turn on the outdoor lights too. String some twinkle lights too, they add the perfect amount of light to your outdoor areas surrounding your home. Also, have a playlist of holiday tunes ready to go that lasts several hours. Pandora radio is great, also your TV cable station often has holiday playlists. You can make your own CDs or use your iPod, just have lots of merry tunes!

5. Distance your food. For a larger party, serve finger foods or one bite appetizers, nothing guests need to slice. Keep beverages in one place, food in another, and if you have room, desserts in a third location. It forces guests to circulate! Keep bowls of pistachios, salty mixes, or chocolate candies scattered around the house in pretty bowls too.

6. Keep some food warm. On a winter evening, it’s a good idea to serve some of your food warm, but to also stay away from your oven during a party. Nothing’s worse than the hostess being tethered to her oven while her guests are in her home (makeup melting from a hot oven, no thanks!). The way to pull it off? Rent, borrow, or buy a chaffing dish (or two), or a warming platter. Oh, and always make more food than you think you need. Better to have leftovers than hungry guests!

7. Keep drinks simple. Serve some wine, beer, and champagnes. People are always drawn to the bubbles on festive occasions. Always keep non alcoholic sparkling juices available too, plus juice boxes and water for the kids.

8. One way to keep costs (and stress) down is to enlist friends to help! I always ask a few gals to contribute some appetizers or desserts. People love to bring chocolate candies, cookies, and other signature holiday recipes or small bites to share.

9. Keep kids occupied. Set aside a table for kids to do art, and always have a kid friendly Christmas movie playing in another room.

10. Stay stocked. Ice. Toilet paper. Firewood. Plates, napkins, utensils. Have plenty of ‘em.

11. Keep a notebook. Some things work, some things don’t so keep notes! The day after the party, write down who attended, what recipes were a hit, and how the party could have flowed better. Next time, you’ll thank yourself!

On a final note, I’d like to say that you should never be afraid to open up your home to your friends during the holidays because you think it isn’t fancy enough or whatever.
Your home is perfect because it is a reflection of you. Guests remember two things from a party: the flavors and the feeling. Not fancy decorations or pretentious displays.
Give them some good flavor in the form of food, spirits, and pleasant scents, send them away with a feeling of good cheer, and your party is a success!

What’s your best tip for making guests feel welcome this time of year?