Holiday Hosting 101: Tips for Stress-Free Gatherings

    by   SheSpeaksTeam   

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Nov 30, 2023
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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.

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by cknittel1 | NAZARETH, PA
Dec 19, 2023

Nothing planned

by Hywelda9 | SADDLE BROOK, NJ
Dec 19, 2023

Taking it all to heart!

by nagroskopf | NORTH MANKATO, MN
Dec 19, 2023

Nope, going elsewhere.

by lisahillberg | SAN ANTONIO, TX
Dec 19, 2023

Always buy ahead?

by Amys513 | CINCINNATI, OH
Dec 19, 2023

I am not this year. Maybe next though.

by peter26 | Passaic, NJ
Dec 19, 2023

I'm planning nothing.

by danyeln | MONTGOMERY, AL
Dec 19, 2023

Have a panic kit on hand. This should include things like stain sticks or wipes, tissues, aspirin, safety pins, etc. These are things we all have at home but might struggle to find if a guest has an emergency. If it is all together and at hand it is much easier to keep the party going for everyone else.

by MMaryrobertson4 | PELLA, IA
Dec 19, 2023

Celebrating and hosting for the holiday can be two totally different things. The tips provided will help me with doing both at the same time this year!

by sirena1124 | Champaign, IL
Dec 19, 2023

Making sure you have at least one thing each guest likes to eat/drink.

by kcat55 | MOORESTOWN, NJ
Dec 19, 2023

I make as much food as I can ahead of time.

by mkds41074 | BROOMALL, PA
Dec 19, 2023

Great ideas!!

by LittleMamaB0920 | Baldwin, MI
Dec 19, 2023

This would be so fun great idea

by tweetibird | TACOMA, WA
Dec 19, 2023

Ask everyone to help clean up at the end of the party

by klassic | SALT LAKE CTY, UT
Dec 19, 2023

Have a plate of fruit and veggies. Always a crowd please.

by LABeachGal | Mission Viejo, CA
Dec 19, 2023

Try to do as much before hand so you're not so stressed out at the party!

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