A Simple Holiday Party Checklist
Lauren Miolene
Editor
The holiday season is sneaking up fast this year! As any successful party planner knows, it’s never too early to start planning your holiday celebration. Relieve some of the stress that comes this time of year when you use this simple holiday party checklist.
From choosing a venue to having the proper food and cocktails to seasonal entertainment, everything you need to host a holiday party is right here.
READ MORE:
- Top Holiday Party Entertainment Ideas
- 40 Unique Holiday Party Ideas and Themes
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Here's a simple holiday party checklist to help you get started planning this year:
Find a Festive Venue
Are you planning a sophisticated holiday dinner party? An elegant winter ball? Maybe a festive company cocktail hour? No matter how you are choosing to celebrate, picking the proper venue to host your celebration is one of the most important steps.
Consider a festive venue like an enclosed rooftop bar, classy restaurant, or another unique location that will help bring your holiday celebration to life.
Choose a Seasonal Theme
Of course you can always stick with the traditional evergreen Christmas tree, menorah for Hanukkah, or decorate with the colors of Kwanzaa, but we can all agree that there is something about going to a themed event that brings a holiday party to another level.
Here are some of our favorite holiday party theme ideas:
Photo: Gideon Photography
Winter Wonderland
Winter wonderland is a classic and inclusive holiday party theme that will bring a level of sophistication to your event. Decorate a ballroom space with evergreens, paper snowflakes, and silver glitter that will whisk guests away to a whimsical woodland setting. Incorporate a DIY hot cocoa bar, book a string quartet, and you’ll have yourself the perfect enchanted wonderland.
Photo: Ashton Kelley Photography
Winter Informal
Picture this: putting on your favorite leisurewear, eating pizza, and sipping on hot chocolate with your friends and family all night. Incorporate the winter informal theme to have some low-key laid-back fun while celebrating this year.
As we all know, the holiday season can be very stressful, so don’t stress out on this party! This theme allows the perfect excuse to plan the minimum but also allows for a fun celebration.
Black Tie
On the flipside, if a formal event is how you envision celebrating the holiday season this year, use a black tie theme to have some fun. From floor length gowns to sophisticated suits, the whole point is for guests to dress to impress. Carry out this elegant theme by booking a pianist, a top-rated caterer, as well as a bartender to serve champagne, martinis, and other classy cocktails.
Photo: oneinchpunch/shutterstock.com
Aprés Ski
If you aren’t familiar with aprés ski, it’s the name of the festivities that usually take place after a day of skiing. Bring the excitement of the mountain without actually hitting the slopes to your party with a wintery aprés ski theme.
Guests can wear their best snow attire, decorate the venue like a cozy lodge, and sit around the fireplace with mulled wine and hot chocolate. This is sure to be a unique winter theme that guests will love.
Pro Tip: Consider booking a penthouse venue for an aprés ski party so you can feel like you are up in the mountains!
Photo: Hollandsworth Photography
Masquerade
A masquerade is very similar to a black tie theme, however with added mysterious intrigue. Guests will wear extravagant masks with their elegant attire that will ensure a one of a kind holiday party experience. Host the event in a ballroom venue, incorporate a dark color palette, and book classical music performed by a harpist to enhance the class and mystery. Award a prize to the person with the best mask for a holiday party no one will forget.
Hire Holiday Party Entertainment
Holiday parties can become very repetitive very fast. Make your event more exciting, memorable, and stand out from the rest by booking some holiday party entertainment that will get guests into spirit this year:
Santa
Can you even host a Christmas party without a visit from jolly old Saint Nick? A visit from a professional Santa Claus will bring back childhood nostalgia for adults in attendance and bring true joy to any littles party goers.
Photo Booth
If you’re planning a corporate holiday party, a photo booth is a must! With holiday props, guests decked out in their holiday best, and the excitement of a night out, the photos are something everyone will cherish forever.
Costumed Characters
If Santa can’t make it to town for your holiday festivities, book a winter related character for your party instead. Invite Elsa from Frozen, Santa’s elves, or the Grinch to make an appearance that everyone will love.
Cover Band
Get guests up and on the dance floor during your holiday party when you hire a cover band. Cover bands will play renditions of all your favorite holiday songs so there will be something for everyone. Put in song requests prior to ensure it can be performed during the event.
Karaoke DJ
‘Tis the season for holiday karaoke! Consider booking a DJ that will play everyone’s top winter picks to sing along to. Get on stage and sing your heart out to “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” “The Hanukkah Song,” “All I Want For Christmas,” and more!
Here are some of our favorite Christmas songs and Hanukkah tunes that everyone will want to perform at the holiday karaoke party this year.
Christmas Carolers
After a few festive cocktails, it might be best to leave the singing up to the professionals this year. Some live carolers singing holiday classics will get everyone into the festive mood. Whether the carolers stroll around your celebration or are on center stage, everyone will love the nostalgia that comes with these tunes.
Create an Atmosphere with Decor
One of the best parts about the holidays is hands-down the decorations! From twinkling lights, to artificial snow and garland, the options for decor are endless. Create an atmosphere for your celebration with the proper accents to match the theme and mood. Whether you choose DIY decorations, bright and bold, or classy and elegant, you’ll want to make sure your decor is wow-worthy because they will set the entire tone for your event.
Prepare Fun Appetizers and Cocktails
Of course you can stick with the classic holiday ham and sparkling cider during your celebration, but we put together a list of unique treats and drinks that need to make an appearance during the festivities this year.
Artichoke Spinach Pinwheels Christmas Tree
This Artichoke Spinach Pinwheel Christmas tree is a fun and festive spin on a crowd favorite appetizer. This quick and easy dish made by Watch What U Eat is delicious, adorable, and perfect for an upcoming Christmas party. Get the full recipe and instructions here.
Antipasto Wreath
Nothing welcomes the holiday season more than a festive wreath on a front door, except maybe when it’s part of your appetizer spread! Antipasto makes a perfect snack between the cheese, meat, and vegetable selections, there is something for everyone and also allows for a ton of creativity. Visit foodiecrush for more inspiration and ideas.
Peppermint Oreo Truffles
If there’s one word to describe these Peppermint Oreo Truffles from Handle the Heat, it’s decadent. Combine Oreos, cream cheese, peppermint extract, and chocolate to whip up these little holiday treats. Get creative with the recipe by swapping the dark chocolate with white or milk chocolate, and even switch out the flavoring for a completely different dessert. No matter how you customize this dessert, it will be a hit among guests.
Fresh Cranberry Mimosa
This jubilant drink will get you into the holiday spirit with one sip, guaranteed! The Shortcut Kitchen created a Fresh Cranberry Mimosa that is a fruity and refreshing cocktail to sip on throughout the winter. For a non-alcoholic version, swap the champagne with ginger ale for a delicious and festive mocktail that everyone can enjoy.
White Chocolate Peppermint Martini
Forget a white Christmas, we’ll take this White Chocolate Peppermint Martini from Inspired by Charm instead! Using ingredients like white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps, and half and half, this drink will definitely make spirits bright.
Caramel Apple Hot Toddy
A wintertime cocktail with only 3 ingredients? Yes please! Linger makes this delicious Caramel Apple Hot Toddy with apple cider, apple brandy, and caramel syrup for the ultimate fireside beverage. Make this in a big batch for your holiday party and cozy up with friends and family.
Pro Tip: Don’t get stuck in the kitchen or behind the bar during your holiday celebration. Book a caterer and bartender to prepare food and drinks and even serve at the event.
Find more holiday party ideas and inspiration here on The Bash.
