With the holiday season in full swing, you might find yourself thinking about hosting for the upcoming December holidays - dinners, brunches and other gatherings. And although hosting can sometimes feel daunting, with creativity and organization, you can pull off a holiday gathering that will leave your guests raving.
Keep reading to learn our five key tips for a fun, stress-free, winter holiday hosting experience.
1. Create a festive atmosphere
Holiday-ify the atmosphere of your home by decking the halls with twinkling lights, fragrant candles and seasonal decor. We love these string lights from Amazon for creating soft, cozy lighting!
Don’t forget the power of sound—create a playlist of your favorite holiday tunes. Combining sights, scents, and sounds can make your guests feel like they stepped into a holiday movie.
2. Plan a crowd-pleasing menu
Food is a highlight of any gathering. Take time to craft a menu that caters to a variety of tastes and diets. Combine traditional holiday dishes with modern twists, and try to choose dishes that you can prepare in advance to eliminate day of stress. A great menu ensures that your guests will leave your gathering full and satisfied.
3. Offer signature cocktails and mocktails
Along with creating a food menu, prepare festive drink options for your guests—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic! Consider making a signature cocktail to add a personal touch to your gathering, or build a DIY cocktail and mocktail station to let guests play mixologists and create their own custom drinks. We love this aesthetically pleasing mixology set from Amazon!
4. Create seating areas
Creating seating areas is a pro-level hosting move. Encourage conversation among guests by strategically arranging seating areas throughout your home. Whether you're hosting a formal dinner or a casual get-together, having a mix of seating options—from traditional dining chairs to laid-back lounge spots—ensures everyone can find a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the festivities.
5. Plan activities and entertainment
Finally, be sure to plan activities and entertainment for your guests to keep the energy high and the laughter flowing. Consider holiday-themed games or trivia, photo props, or traditional board games. Planning activities can help you ensure that your guests stay entertained and engaged throughout the entire celebration.
Are you hosting friends and family this holiday season? Let us know in the comments! And to help kick off your holiday hosting, you can enter below to WIN the mixology set and festive string lights mentioned above.
Holiday Hosting 101
Thanks to all who entered! Congrats to our winner SheSpeaks member Alexis01.
Always have extras. Be prepared.
I need any advice on hosting that I can get!
I need any advice on hosting that I can get!
A cookie swap is always fun and less stress on the Host!
When inviting guests to a party, be sure everyone knows at least one other person already. Some people are shy and will feel more comfortable if there is someone they are familiar with.
I have zero tips!
Prep as much ahead of time to avoid event day stress
We celebrate Christmas Eve, the Feast of the Seven Fishes, at our house. Lots of work, but well worth it. Something always doesn;t go as planned, you just have to deal with it and not let it bother you.
I am hosting a Christmas brunch. We do it every year and is easier than a dinner and gives you the rest of the day to spend letting your kids enjoy their new toys.
I am hosting but Ned few things to be done
Make a written plan. Do as much ahead of time as possible.
I?m planning to host my annual Christmas Eve cocktail party for family and friends!
Plan to be flexible if things do not go exactly as planned.
Have some gluten-free dishes available for those that are allergic. Try to get everything ready ahead of time and where people can help themselves so that me, the host, is not running around the whole evening.
I'm not hosting.