Throwing a big Christmas party this year? Of course you are, this is the prime time to celebrate with your nearest and dearest! You’re inviting the people that matter the most and ensuring your home becomes a place of cheer for the night, and having a party raging in the background is the best thing for encouraging the festive spirit.
However, throwing a good Christmas party can sometimes be hard to do, especially if you’ve never put on a big ‘do’ before. Maybe it’s your turn to host the party, or maybe you just want to do something different this year? Well, no matter why you’ve got all the lights on and the table set, we’ve got some tips for you!
So, if you’re just about to put the party plan together, or you’re in the midst of decorating the dining room, here are some ideas to put to good use this year. A Christmas party is always a fun event, but let’s make sure it’s unforgettable this time round!
Decide a Theme
The theme of your party is the number one priority on your list right now. How are you going to dress the scene? What food are you going to serve? What games are you going to play? What songs are you going to sing? All of these questions can be sent in the right direction once you know what theme you’ll follow for the big event. And it’s not just about the color of the decorations you’re going to put up, even if some people are convinced blue and white is the rage this year!
So what do you fancy this year? What do you need to celebrate right now, after the long year you’ve had? Maybe you want to recreate some of the magic of your childhood and throw a ‘Night Before Christmas' themed party? Maybe you’re keen to see your guests dress up in their best ugly Christmas clothes? Or maybe you want to follow a more typical Winter Wonderland theme? This way you can cover the house in fake snow, and make sure there are icicles hanging from the ceiling and plenty of mulled wine to go around. And if there’s no snow outside, you just need to come inside to see the magic of Christmas all around you!
Remember, no matter what theme you go with, or whether it’s a mix of themes, it’s always a good shout to get the idea in early. You can tailor the invitations to reflect it, and you can also get them out early as well, to ensure the date is cemented into people’s diaries!
Get Your Photos Taken
A proper Christmas party will always have a photobooth section to boast. Being able to dress up in some silly props, squeeze into the booth, and then pull any number of poses reflecting just how drunk you are always brings a big laugh! And a photo booth brings a suggestion of real sophistication to your party; it’s a very classy thing to set up, and it proves you’re there to make some real good memories this year.
Even if you can’t afford to hire out an actual photo booth, you can still make up one of your own. Clear out a cupboard and put a light in it, or set up a little ‘studio’ at one end of your living room. Make sure it’s well light, has a backdrop to pose against, and then take photos all throughout the night. This way you won’t have to pay for renting for 4 or more hours, and when you follow this guide, you won’t have to spend too much effort here either.
Rethink Your Drink Selection
How many drinks are you planning to set out this year? Maybe a different bottle of wine for your parents and your siblings? Maybe there’s a gin on the table for an auntie? Maybe you’ve got the beers in for you and your partner? And the more drinks you need to lay out, the more complicated your menu is going to get, so maybe it’s time to dial it back a little?
Go for a compromise here: cocktails! Everyone loves a good cocktail, and we always pay top dollar for them when we go for a night out. So it only makes sense to mix up a bar of your own and pour out a few drinks that are shaken, not stirred. There are plenty of Christmas themed cocktails out there as well, so you won't have to worry your drink selection won’t be festive enough!
While you’re at it, it might be a good idea to download an alcohol tracker app, especially if some people need to make their own way home. It’s also worth it to mix up some virgin cocktails as well - cocktails taste pretty good even without the alcohol, and a couple of your friends might appreciate the thought for the party.
Make the Music Flow
Music is always the best thing for getting people in the mood. However, when it comes to throwing a good party, you’ve got to start slow and small and then work your way up. When people first turn up, have something flute-y playing, and make sure the melody is soft yet strong. Then, when people get a little more tipsy throughout the night, or when most of the food is gone, make sure there’s some dancing music on. It doesn't have to be heavy electronica or heavy metal, of course, but as long as there’s a faster beat going on, the party will go swell.
Once the games start, it’s time to move the beat on upwards a little more. Make sure the music stays on low, but the more cheesy Christmas songs should definitely be on by now! Be sure to play no more traditional pieces here; you’ve got to get people in the mood for a competitive game of Monopoly and/or a very drunken game of Twister. You might even manage to fit in a Christmas quiz and split into teams - maybe the winners get the last plate of sausage rolls to themselves?
Have Plenty of Nibbles
Sitting down and eating is just fine; you can all have a good talk around the table, and you can serve yourselves from the platter in the middle. However, with a lot of CHristmas parties, the fun tends to stop as soon as dinner is over. And we want to prevent that from happening at your party this year! You want the festivities to continue long into the night, and that means you’ll want the food to be presented on trays that people can just pick at as and when they want to.
But what food should you lay out here? The classic finger food staples will always work, even if they don’t feel very Christmassy. Sausage rolls, as we noted above, as well as mixed canapes and vol-au-vents, a few tartlets, some mince pies, and even just a bucket of popcorn will all be very much appreciated by your guests. And hey, the less dinner food you have to prepare, the more money you’ll save for the boxing day sales!
Pro tip here: keep the food rotating throughout the night. Buy in bulk and make sure the trays never go bare; the more people drink, the more they’ll want to eat, and that’s why you should always have a spare bag of nibbles in the freezer.
Play Some Fast Games
Now the party is mostly set up, what games are you planning on playing there? Maybe none at all, as you just want people to dance? Or maybe just some of the classic board games, like we noted above? Whatever it is you’re doing to provide some entertainment, make sure it moves fast and keeps the attention. There’s nothing worse at a party than a game of Scrabble that just can’t seem to be won!
People love guessing games, especially if they’re broken up into teams to do it. So why not show some stills of famous Christmas movies, or play the intros to famous Christmas songs? The first team to buzz in and guess correctly get the point, and so on and so forth. Even a game of pass the parcel can be fun for a bunch of adults; make sure there’s a bit of cash or a scratch card hidden between each layer and you’ll have your guests ripping the wrapping off in anticipation.
Are You Throwing a Christmas Party This Year?
If so, make sure you’ve got all the planning details down on paper before you start anything. Sure, a bit of spontaneous inspiration will come throughout the night, but without a strong foundation, it’s hard to pull off an event that everyone will enjoy. So keep the tips above in mind for better results; you’ve got the spirit, and now you just need the action, and that’s what we’re here to help you out with!
