The holiday season is here and that means it’s time to start planning all of the fun holiday parties. I can get behind a good holiday party, but it has to be easy! (Pretty much a requirement for most of the things I do!) I wanted to share my top tips and practical advice for planning an easy holiday party, without all of the trouble.
There are holiday school parties, work parties, and parties you are invited to attend to work into your schedule at a time when I’m usually also struggling to find Christmas presents. This busy-ness of this season can be draining.
Since we tend to host family for all the major holidays, I do my best to limit the stress. Here are a few of the rules I live by to keep my gatherings stress free.
Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Party
- Use paper products– Nothing helps you plan an easy holiday party more than using disposable products. Nobody wants to spend the entire evening washing dishes. While we rarely use plastic or paper ware during normal days, they are a must when you are expecting guests!
- Keep the numbers low– You don’t have to throw a large extravagant party to make it fun. By keeping the numbers low, you’re keeping your stress level down. I tend to avoid throwing parties because I have a large family so any get together fills the house, but I never regret it!
- Keep the dishes simple– Instead of picking complicated holiday dishes, try to keep them extremely simple. My cheese spring rolls and bacon-wrapped asparagus are always a hit.
- Work smarter not harder– Use a slow cooker or instant pot. You don’t want to spend hours “cooking” over a stove, so take advantage of tools that can help and not harm you.
- Invite via email or Facebook– If you don’t have time to mail out invitations, send an invite via email. This saves time and your friends and family will have a visual reminder via their email.
- Serve appetizers instead of entrees– If you’re having a lot of people over, try serving sets of appetizers instead of entrees. Maybe more dips and veggies instead of pot roasts and turkeys.
- Do crafts instead of games– Entertaining your guests can be really time-consuming. Set up a craft table with various supplies and allow your guests to have at it.
- Gift exchange– Instead of spending hours planning an individual gift exchange, give everyone a name to buy for. This eliminates stress and blows the holiday party budget.
- Ask guests to help– If you don’t have the time and energy to cook for dozens of people, ask your guests to help you out. They won’t mind bringing a side dish as long as you’re hosting. This is something my large extended family does for every gathering!
- Get help cleaning the house– One big issue with hosting a holiday party is the amount of cleaning that goes into it. Get help cleaning the house or do it over several days!
Planning an easy holiday party is about doing whatever it takes to keep it simple and fun. Use these tips to plan an easy holiday party and to keep the stress at bay. This is a hectic time of the year and keep things simple makes it go much smoother for everyone!
Leave a Reply