How to Have a Christmas Party

Co-authored by Stefanie Chu-Leong

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Christmas parties are a great way to celebrate with friends and family, but they can seem like a lot of work when you’re the host. You can stay on top of everything by planning ahead, keeping organized, and getting into the holiday spirit yourself. At the end of the night, even the biggest Grinch will be leaving your party with a Santa hat and a smile.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Choosing a Theme and Sending Invites

1
Choose a venue if you don’t want to host at your house. If you’re planning a party for your work or simply inviting more people than you can fit in your home, you may want to consider using a venue.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Stefanie Chu-Leong
Professional Event Planner

Expert Interview. 24 January 2020.} Contact local restaurants and event spaces and ask about their availability and pricing. You should also ask whether you’ll be able to decorate the space beforehand and bring your own food, if applicable.
- If you’re throwing a work Christmas party, you can also throw it right in your office. The right decorations can transform the space from work to holiday spirit!
2
Host at your home or office to save money. An outside venue definitely isn’t necessary for a great Christmas party. In fact, most holiday parties are held at home or, for work parties, at the office, which is good news if you’re looking to save money. You’ll avoid rental costs and have the convenience and freedom to decorate however and whenever you want.
- You’ll also be able to cook for yourself if you host at home or at the office, giving you more freedom and flexibility.
3
Decide on a theme to give the party a more unique feel. Christmas parties come with their own theme, of course, you can also step it up a notch by creating a more specific feel with decorations or activities. Consider themes like:^{[2]
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- Holiday Elegance, with shimmery metallic and green decorations and tasteful accessories like candles.
- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, with a focus on red and white colors and a homey, log cabin feel. Include festive activities like a cookie swap and lots of homemade decorations.
- White Christmas, with white, silver, and gold decorations and lots of snowflakes. You could even encourage guests to wear all white.
4
Send out invitations about 2 weeks in advance. It’s fine to invite friends via word of mouth or text, but paper or even online invitations make it feel like more of an event. Whatever you choose, make sure to get your invites out at least 2 weeks beforehand to give friends time to plan.^{[3]
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- If you’re on a budget, look for e-vites that are free to customize and send.
- Your invitations are the place to include all the information your guests need to know, such as the time, dress code, theme, and whether they should bring any food or gifts.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Stefanie Chu-Leong
  Professional Event Planner
  
  Expert Interview. 24 January 2020.}
The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and if you plan your party too close to Christmas, there’s a good chance your guests will be travelling or have other commitments. Setting it several days beforehand also ensures that you won’t be pulling guests away from their own holiday gift-buying and preparations.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Putting Up Festive Decorations

1
Hang wreaths and long garlands to complement your tree. String real or fake garlands along bannisters and hang a Christmas wreath on your door, or on the backs of chairs. You can even personalize them and match them to the rest of your decorations with ornaments or string lights.^{[5]
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- You can also save money by making your own wreaths and paper garlands.
2
Light candles to create a holiday mood. Candles will give your party soft lighting, nice scents, and a cozy Christmas atmosphere. Light ones with Christmas aromas, but stick to just one or two kinds, like vanilla sugar or evergreen, without mixing them.^{[6]
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- Make sure to put your candles in on a safe, flat surface out of the reach of children and pets, like a high mantle or table.
- If you have a fireplace, you could light a fire for an even cozier feel.
Twinkle lights can bring your party to life, providing nice lighting and a holiday feel at the same time. String them up around the room, let them hang down against a wall as a photo backdrop, or even scatter them across tables for a festive glow.^{[7]
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Tip: You can never go wrong with plain white string lights, but if you want a more colorful look, consider multi-colored strands as well.
4
Make or buy fun centerpieces. Poinsettias are a classic Christmas flower that look great as centerpieces. If you’re not looking to buy lots of flowers, though, grab a few glass jars or vases and fill them with small, colorful holiday items. Depending on the feel of your party, your could go with:^{[8]
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- Red and white candy, like Hershey’s kisses or candy canes.
- Ornaments and tinsel
- Gingerbread or sugar cookies, with white sugar as a base
- Pinecones, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and nuts for a woodsy look
5
Set up a holiday photo booth. To save money and make your own “photo booth,” drape twinkly lights over a wall, paper it with fun wrapping paper, or hang up a garland or banner with a Christmas phrase, like “Be merry!” You can set out a camera and tripod, or simply let guests take photos on their phone.
- For a fun twist, place disposable cameras all around your party for guests to use. Get the pictures developed and send them out as Christmas gifts!
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making a Christmas Party Feast

1
Ask guests to bring dishes for a potluck-style party. Depending on the size of your party, it might be too much work and money to cook for everyone by yourself. To avoid the stress and cost, ask each guest to bring a dish to share. To ensure that no one brings the same thing, assign different dishes, like salad, side, or dessert, to each guest.^{[9]
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- Make sure to specify that the party is a potluck on your invitations.
- Remember to communicate with your guests prior to the party about any dietary restrictions to ensure they can participate or bring tasty alternatives.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Stefanie Chu-Leong
  Professional Event Planner
  
  Expert Interview. 24 January 2020.}
2
Have plenty of snacks like nuts and popcorn. Set out bowls of chips and nuts, veggies, and fruit for guests to snack on throughout the party. To add a Christmas flair, have green and red snacks, like celery and strawberries, placed next to each other.
- If you want, you can serve just hors d'oeuvres for the full party. Make sure to have lots of filling options, like deviled eggs, hearty dip, or shrimp cocktail.
3
Serve a main course for a more formal party. If you’re planning on a more upscale dinner party, choose a nice entree with a wintry feel, like roast beef, turkey, or ham. For a vegetarian option, try pasta, like ravioli or lasagna, or a vegetable quiche.^{[11]
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- Make sure to give yourself enough time to prepare the dish on the day of and have it hot and ready to eat by dinner time.
4
Make a tasty holiday dessert, like Christmas cookies or red velvet cake. Whether you serve an entree or not, sweets are a must at any Christmas party. You can go with traditional frosted Christmas cookies and milk, or make a bigger dish like red velvet cake, pudding, or tiramisu.^{[12]
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- You can have your desserts out for the whole party for guests to munch on, or serve them after dinner or hors d’oeuvres.
Set up a bar on a counter or island and stock it with your favorite holiday drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Make sure to have red wine, champagne, and eggnog on hand, as well as peppermint hot chocolate and milk for cookies.^{[13]
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Try experimenting with fun Christmas cocktails, like:

A snowball, with advocaat and sparkling lemonade

Hot chocolate with Bailey’s

Mulled wine

A hot toddy, with whiskey, honey, lemon, and spices

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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Planning Fun Christmas Activities

No Christmas party is complete without a playlist. Make your own with your favorite carols, or look online on sites like Spotify or YouTube for pre-made playlists. Remember to test your sound system beforehand to make sure everything’s working!^{[14]
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Tip: Make sure your playlist matches the theme of your party. If it’s a more formal affair, go with slower, simpler renditions of your favorites. For a casual party, Christmas pop hits might be the way to go.
2
Play holiday movies for a cheap, continuous form of entertainment. Even if Christmas movies aren’t the focus of your party, it’s always a good idea to have one playing in the background in case conversation gets dull. Choose a few favorites and get one playing before everyone arrives. Make sure to check back throughout the party to pop the next ones in.^{[15]
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- You could go with animated classics, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas or Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, or favorite live-action movies, like A Christmas Story, Elf, or The Holiday.
3
Host a gift exchange at a small party. Gift exchanges require some planning, but can be tons of fun at a party with close friends and family. Get the word out early that you want to do a Secret Santa or white elephant exchange and set a price limit and theme, like games or things that make you laugh.
- As the host, offer to help guests that aren’t sure what to buy.
4
Ask guests to come in Christmas costumes for a contest. Have your guests come dressed as Santa, reindeer, elves, or a character from their favorite Christmas movie. Hold a contest at the end of the night to see who’s costume is the favorite!^{[16]
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- Remember to specify that it’s a costume party on your invitations!^{[17]
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  Expert Source
  
  Stefanie Chu-Leong
  Professional Event Planner
  
  Expert Interview. 24 January 2020.}
- For a twist, have guests wear ugly Christmas sweaters instead.
5
Decorate Christmas cookies or gingerbread houses to make tasty treats. Bake gingerbread houses or Christmas cookies beforehand, but don’t decorate them or put them together. Set them out with plenty of frosting, sprinkles, and other sweets and decorations, then decorate them with your guests. You can have a contest to see who’s creation is the best, or simply munch on your cookies as you make them.^{[18]
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- This is also a great way to entertain kids at your party.
for a crafty activity. Buy a few packs of cheap, plain bauble ornaments in different colors and set them out with art supplies like paint, glitter, colorful paper, and more. Your guests will have a fun, creative way to stay busy during the party, and will end up with a fun keepsake to hang up on their tree.^{[19]
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Question

What should I keep in mind when planning a work Christmas party?

Stefanie Chu-Leong
Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events
Stefanie Chu-Leong is the Owner and Senior Event Planner for Stellify Events, an event management business based in the San Francisco Bay Area and California Central Valley. Stefanie has over 15 years of event planning experience and specializes in large-scale events and special occasions. She has a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University.

Stefanie Chu-Leong

Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events

Expert Answer

Is there a theme? Is there a budget? And then also, what is the guest count? Some people like it more relaxed and others want to go all-out. I've worked on company parties that wanted a specific theme and others that just wanted a party where everyone comes in jeans and has drinks. That and budget are the main components to have locked down.

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How can I be a good party host if I am shy?

Stefanie Chu-Leong
Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events
Stefanie Chu-Leong is the Owner and Senior Event Planner for Stellify Events, an event management business based in the San Francisco Bay Area and California Central Valley. Stefanie has over 15 years of event planning experience and specializes in large-scale events and special occasions. She has a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University.

Stefanie Chu-Leong

Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events

Expert Answer

Think about what you and your guests like. The last thing you want is to put yourself and your guests in a direction where you're uncomfortable. If you're more comfortable with groups of maybe three to four people at the most, consider playing board games or trivia on paper. It's okay if you're not the dancing or karaoke type.

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What are some common mistakes people make when planning a guest list?

Stefanie Chu-Leong
Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events
Stefanie Chu-Leong is the Owner and Senior Event Planner for Stellify Events, an event management business based in the San Francisco Bay Area and California Central Valley. Stefanie has over 15 years of event planning experience and specializes in large-scale events and special occasions. She has a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University.

Stefanie Chu-Leong

Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events

Expert Answer

A common mistake that people make when they're inviting people is not capping the guest list. Even if you have a big open space, opening up the guest list can raise many red flags. Consider how much food you can serve and potential fire hazard risks when increasing the headcount of your party, and ask guests to RSVP.

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Make sure that you have fun at your Christmas party, too! Remember that the party and the season are all about spreading joy and spending time with the people you love.

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