The holiday season is one of the most looked forward to times of the year. It is a time when family and friends get together to reconnect and celebrate the year that was. But just as joyful as the season can be, it can also be a lot of pressure and stress for the family Christmas party organizer.
Without proper planning, you can find yourself overwhelmed at the mere thought of organizing a holiday party for the family. You might quickly find the affair proving to be both a financial and physical burden on you instead of being a time of great joy and happiness.
But it does not have to be that way.
Whether planning a large Christmas party with private dining rooms or an intimate one at home, consider this article your stress-free helper for planning an incredible family Christmas party.
1. Stick To a Schedule
Have you ever heard of the phrase ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’? This is especially true when you are planning group events.
Make sure you have a strict timeline from when you start planning to the day of the event. This will help keep you be accountable, have everything run as planned, and help you avoid forgetting any pending tasks.
Feel free to take things a notch higher and plan for the different activities for the day. This will give you a quick idea of how the actual party will pan out.
Bear in mind that this part of the process also includes developing a budget plan for your event. As such, factor in even the smallest items because they can quickly grow into big, unexpected expenses when combined.
2. Delegate Several Tasks
Consider hiring party planners or a professional catering service such as Corky’s Catering if your budget allows for it. These vendors are event professionals who have a wealth of experience in organizing Christmas parties and will be able to help arrange your party in a snap.
3. Accept Help When Offered
If the budget does n0t allow you to seek professional services, request and accept any help you might need from your family members. This will help you get things done faster and more efficiently.
For example, you can focus on the bigger meals for the day while another family member figures out snacks or beverages for everyone. Try not to overwhelm yourself with too many tasks to have the peace of mind needed to plan effectively.
4. Pick a Theme
Choosing a theme for your family Christmas event can be an engaging, all-around fun activity. There are so many themes that you can choose from. You could run with a theme pegged on outfit colors, decorations, or even gift-giving.
Incorporate it in the type of food you serve, the color scheme, and even the music played to give your guests a treat right from when they walk in.
5. Make It a Tasty Feast
If there is one thing the holidays are associated with, it’s the food. Catering to each family member’s culinary and dietary needs is an essential part of the event, so expect it to take up a big chunk of your budget.
All the same, make sure you leave your family wowed with every bite they take by providing mouth-watering, festive-themed food, snacks, and drinks. Feel free to serve them with familiar Christmas party favorites but do n0t hesitate to ask your family about their food preferences.
Do not forget about the snacks. You can set up a few snack selections that your family members can indulge in as the party goes on when they are feeling peckish. Some snack examples you can get include mini sliders, fruit, cheese platters, bruschetta, wings, popcorn, cookies, and cake.
However, as mentioned above, you can have all this arranged by a catering service as it will save you the hassle and significantly reduce your preparation time.
6. Select a Music Playlist
Is it even a party without a great music selection? But before going all out and hiring a DJ, consider using online music streaming sites such as Spotify and Apple Music.
These platforms have specially curated family-friendly playlists that would work for your Christmas party. Try and incorporate different music genres to cater to everyone’s preferences. By doing this, you guarantee that your Christmas party will be a HIT!
7. Always Overestimate Needed Amounts
When planning the amount of food and drinks you need for your Christmas party, a good rule of thumb is to prepare for more than the expected attendance numbers. The last thing you want to be worried about during the Christmas party is to run out of food or refreshments, which can be the biggest party mood killer.
If you have some food and drinks leftover, you can always donate them the following day to the nearest shelter. After all, it is the season of giving.
8. Set the Mood With the Décor
First impressions are everything, even with family. As such, try and decorate the Christmas party venue in a way that makes your party guests feel warm and welcomed. Good decor will set the mood for an overall fun and exciting party.
You can go with the usual red, green and white colors or run with a different theme highlighted earlier in this column. If you are working with a particular theme, avoid being too matchy-matchy, as some people find this off-putting.
9. Plan Some Fun Activities
A good idea to make the party even more fun is to have everyone participate in a bonding activity. Think of something that you know most of the family members will enjoy, such as a good game of scrabble or 21 questions so you can get to learn more about each other.
Later on, you can have a Christmas movie marathon cuddled up under blankets or clear up some space and turn the area into a mini dance floor. These bonding activities are sure to rekindle the Christmas spirit with your family members.
Family Is the Greatest Christmas
From gift selection and hosting family, Christmas can prove to be a hectic time of the year. This is even more so if you are the Christmas party organizer. But with proper planning and preparations, combined with the pointers highlighted above, planning the event, be it a company Christmas party or private family event, should be just as enjoyable as the actual planning.
But if the thought of cooking for everyone is already draining, feel free to reach out to Corky’s Catering. We have been in the business of providing catering solutions for our clients, holding holiday parties both at home and as a corporate event.
We have four decades of experience in all kinds of social and private events, so feel free to give us a call at (630) 526-6418, so we can discuss what you need.
