We Need A Little Holiday Christmas Planning and as the song to put you in that mode is “We Need A Little Christmas”
We Need A Little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Need a little Music,
Need a little laughter,
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter,
And we need a little snappy,
Yes, we need a little Christmas NOW!
If you are feeling a little frantic because you are in charge of a holiday Christmas planning and you need it in a “snappy way”, well here are is some help to make your party planning easy and a party a success.
Invites
Any more, sending an electronic invitation is so convenient. Evite is a very fast and efficient way to send a nice invitation, has easy to use templates and allows guest to RSVP as well as tracks the guest list for easy planning. Printing a formal invitation can be nice too. RSVP responses may be a little harder to collect, but certainly can be a nice and formal touch.
Date
You’ll want to send out Christmas party invitations at least three weeks prior to the party date, and companies might send out invitations as early as after Halloween to ensure a great turnout.If there’s lots of competition for your chosen party date or lots of parties in your social circle, send out your invitations as early as September or if that’s too early for you, send a Save the Date so people will be anticipating a later invitation with more details.
Guest List
Decide on a guest list for your holiday party, then check the calendar and set a date and time that is convenient for all your guests and/or co-workers. Make sure there are no conflicting Christmas parties or holiday events planned or any scheduled business commitments that conflict. A little added tip- Don’t forget the name tags! Spouses and significant others will appreciate it.
Location
Choose the party location. If the holiday party will not be held at the office or your home, reserve the location as soon as possible, if required. Double check and verify the date is set with your party location, caterer, entertainment, photographer or any other people who are moving parts to the success of your holiday event.
Theme
Get Creative and select the theme of your holiday party. What food and beverages will be served, decorations, music and activities (gifts, games, dancing, entertainment, Christmas carols, recognition awards, white elephant gifts, etc.)? You might have a favorite Christmas movie or song and you can decorate and plan around it with food, costumes, lighting and music. Pick a color, such as Christmas red, and buy all your decorations in this color – you can even ask your guests to dress in your party color or theme. And don’t forget the Christmas Tree! Have a tree-trimming party as your theme and ask guests to help or to bring an ornament. If you’re planning a gift exchange, make sure you set a dollar limit and include the information on your invitation.
Entertainment
When all the guests arrive, what do you do with them? Mix and mingle is great for people that know each other or if you are having an open house for guests to just drop in. Some ideas for entertainment are: Live Band, DJ, Casino Night, Caricaturist, Magician, Aerialist, Santa Claus, Toasts and Roasts, Christmas videos to play on your big screen, or party games. This is were we come in handy. Utah Live Bands, we are more than just bands. Check out our other entertainment options.
Party Ware
Are you going to use your best silver and china or festive plastic or holiday plates, napkins and eating utensils? Are you serving hot food, cold food, hot drinks, alcohol and wine – what type of glassware do you need? Do you need serving bowls and platters? Do you need centerpieces? A sign for the front “The Party’s Here!”? If you want something out of the box we can offer living tables with intriguing and unique servers who will wow your guest with drinks and food in a very extraordinary way.
Food
Set out a simple buffet, such as cheese and crackers, soup and salad, serve your favorite holiday beverages and a few fabulous desserts and you’re guaranteed success. Or, do a all out catered meal. You could avoid the dinner hassle altogether and have a dessert and drinks party. Make the desserts ahead of time, ask your guests to bring their favorite dessert (along with copies of their recipes to share) and enjoy the decadence. Also popular in today’s economy is sharing the food responsibilities. The host supplies the main dish (and the location) and guests bring their favorite holiday recipe of hors d’oeuvres, salads, side dishes or desserts. Keep your focus on having a great time, not on breaking the bank with elaborate offerings. The focus is on getting together with your guests, not on the food.
Dress Code
What is the dress code? Strict black-tie, black-tie optional, festive attire (such as an ugly sweater), casual holiday attire, dress to impress, or anything but blue jeans. Sometimes the location of your holiday event will help determine dress code, but be specific so your guests will arrive appropriately attired.
Getting Help
Determine how much help you will need for the holiday party. Will you ask friends, family or co-workers to volunteer or what help will a catering service provide. For how long? Do you need a bartender (we do supply that as an option)? Valet parking attendants? A DJ? Who will help keep the food restocked? The drinks refilled? Where do you put the trash? Where do put the recycle trash? Who’s going to clean up? A little planning ahead of time can make clean up much easier.
With planning, you can have the time to enjoy your party and your guests!
There are a number of other ways that you can create a memorable holiday party for guests. Decorations, menu selection, and entertainment all contribute to festive holiday fun. We all need a little Christmas, so start your holiday Christmas planning to make the most of this special time of year and give us a call if we can help in any way.