How to Throw a Successful Holiday Party?

16 years ago

Help! I've invited 17 people to my house for a holiday adult party -- I was feeling pretty smug by having my house decorated before December and decided to have a party -- now I'm freaking out a little because I don't have a lot of parties so not a lot of experience here. We'll be serving appetizers and dessert with wine, beer, and soda. I also asked everyone to please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Everyone coming knows each other and are very friendly people. I just want to make sure that I have all my ducks in a row so I'm not stressing at the last minute.

So far, I've bought bacon-wrapped scallops and brie/fig in pastry appetizers at Sam's Club. I'm also planning to do a large shrimp cocktail platter (is 3 pounds enough?) and one other dip. I'm planning to have 2 dessert items. Does this sound good if I do 4 appetizers, 2 desserts plus whatever everyone else brings?
What are some easy centerpiece ideas for my kitchen table and dining room table?
If I serve all the food on the dining room table, do I pull the chairs away from the table and put them around the house or what?
Should I serve all the drinks on the kitchen counter? This is easiest but I always feel like everyone just ends up standing around the kitchen island all night.
What are some other ideas for a successful, fun party? I'm making it very low-key -- not doing a white elephant exchange because I want everyone to relax and not have to worry about one more thing at this busy time of year.

6) How do I get people to use the paper guest towels in the bathroom and where to I place them if I don't have room on my pedestal sink?

Thanks so much for any input from you creative ladies!!

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Comments (4)

triciae
16 years ago
Hi baseballmom,

Sounds like a fun time!

Here's a bit of my experience following your numbered questions...

1.) I find people eat between 2-4 bite-size appetizers per hour of the party. About a quarter will have more than one dessert serving. Keep your trays full because if the appetizers begin to look like they are running low...people stop eating.
2.) This time of year is easy for a centerpiece...either gather or order simple evergreen boughs appropriately sized to your table & nestled a few candles (shield the flame from the evergreens by putting the candles in a hurricane, or similar, glass), & maybe use a few sugared cranberries.
3.) Yes, move your chairs away from the serving table. Also, people will want to sit down once in awhile so place the chairs in a useable location.
4.) We don't have a full bar at our parties. For beer, wine, & soft drink we fill a copper washtub with crushed ice & put it on the island along with glasses, openers, etc. To keep people moving around the house...don't put all of the food on your dining room table. Create smaller food centers in the living room & other areas where people may mingle.
5.) MUSIC...you need music. The type of music will in large part determine the tone of your party. For instance, if you play low-key classical you'll have a low-key dignified party (for the most part depending on how much alcohol is consumed!). If you have 'Jingle Bell Rock' & 'Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer' playing it will create an entirely different mood for the party as will classic rock and/or country. I have burned dozens of CDs with a mixture of music leaning heavily towards upbeat familar songs with a clearly defined beat that I use for parties when I want people to dance & sing along. For more subdued parties, I really enjoy playing Esteban's music. If you're not familar with him, he's a classical guitarist who plays contemporary compositions of modern classics and Flamingo.
6.) Guest towels...place a small side-table next to the pedestal sink & put the towels there with a waste basket on the floor nearby. Remember to have extra TP visibly available too.

Mostly, have fun!

/tricia
ajohng
16 years ago
If you search for bowtie christmas party games on google or yahoo you should get to a bowtieproducts site that will give you 4 new original games that will help make your nite fun.

Some of the games especially Sandys Christmas Carol game can be adjusted for nearly any age 8 and up.

For parties mixers like this work because they give folks something to do while they get warmed up to each other. if they want to talk, they can talk, but if conversatrion lags games like these take up the awkward silences that many of us dread.

Whats nice is that people don't all have to be in it to enjoy it. Some can just help out if asked or enjoy the groans of the answer section.

If links work in the answer blocks here's the link

http://bowtieproducts.com/Christmas_party_games_and_puzzles.htm

there is also some party giving advice you may enjoy.

My wife and I made up the puzzles and many people really enjoy them.

I hope they work out well for you

John Griffin

Here is a link that might be useful: Free Christmas party games
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Bob How was the party?
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The pool is always a great fear... The party was an amazing success. Somehow, this seemed to be the best Christmas Eve party yet, after about 14 years of hosting. My estimate of food enough for 80 people was, apparently, a great exaggeration. More accurately, I would say there was food enough for 50 people. Including Laura and myself, we had 51 total (as best I have been able to count, after the fact), and as usual, I never got around to eating! I guess we had enough food for more guests, if they were vegetarians... plenty of leftovers from the fruit and veggie trays. That's about it though! My assertion, that as soon as the guests arrived, I'd be on my butt, with a big fat cigar, was another gross exaggeration. You see, sometime around midday, It became clear, that despite all the planning, and despite all of the work over the past month, there was no way that everything would be ready on time. The mad rush to greet-the guests-time became a frantic rush. Put the tiki torches away... no time to fill with oil. Throw all the Christmas cards in the closest draw... no time to display them, so the guests know how much we loved their cards. No... don't toss that bag!!!... that's the new Mikasa crystal dish for the... too late... the tears will dry before the first ring of the doorbell... just before. Washing dishes, putting food out, vacuuming the floor, last minute decorations, change clothes, throw the vacuum in the garage, as the first guest walks in, where's Laura... figuring out what she's wearing tonight, OMG... 15 people already? Kiss, kiss... hug, hug. Where are the serving utensils? 22 people! Gifts... food... Bob, where should I put this... where do I find that... Where is the silver (plastic) ware? Here comes Laura... Santa hat... (look close)... no tears! I'm putting the shrimp in the oven. It looks like its going to happen. And it did happen. No one would ever know how close I came to shutting off the lights, locking the door, and hiding under the bed. As soon as the plates started filling with food and the conversation and laughing started, the stressful countdown was forgotten. Six trays of shrimp, and two hours later, I was finally on my Irish arse, with that great cigar (from an even greater neighbor), in the backyard, telling stories and having some good laughs. Only the stress-sore back as a small reminder of what was. OMG... RAIN!!! You know those pop-up canopies you see at craft-fairs and green-markets? They take about 45 seconds to put up! Everything's good... the cigar didn't get wet. Weather is critical for this party, as my small house can comfortably handle a dozen or so guests. What makes it so good for entertaining, is the yard. Thankfully, it ended up just drizzling, on and off, the rest of the evening. No harm done! In all, the guests walked away thinking that we were the perfect party planners (that's what I'm going with). They didn't even seem to notice that we never put any salt and pepper in the Spode shakers... maybe because they were set out on the dessert table, rather than the main-course table! I know that I have never been big on salt on my Brown Derby cake! Anyway, through no fault of our own, the party was awesome. We just provided the place for so many great people to gather and celebrate the most wonderful holiday. Nothing else mattered... and nobody fell in the pool! The party was essentially over by midnight... My sister and her boyfriend out by 1:00... me in bed by 2:30... and apparently, Cody and his friend Erica, gone at about 4:30 am! Poor Laura. Christmas day, as usual, was spent just trying to stay awake. Oh yeah... and playing with my new MacBook Air, laptop computer! Now when I am traveling, I won't have to post, with my thumbs, on my iPhone! I hope that everyone of you had as great a Christmas as we did. Crackers on a plastic dish, as a backup to crystal, will never matter, compared to spending time with family, friends and neighbors. Bob
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Great package! When I clicked on the pictures I immediately went to the picture of the tart. I thought, wow, she received a tart pan in the swap and to show off the pan, baked a tart before taking pictures. :) Love the slate cheese board. I saw some similar in my swap shopping adventures and it was one of the things I almost bought for myself. Isn't it funny to see all the goodies everyone receives and see a few things that a) you did buy for yourself or b) almost bought for yourself. :) Tracey - love the wine and cheese theme. Peppi, enjoy your boxes of goodies.
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Since you already have a crockpot, you don't really have to cook this Italian beef recipe, its delicious and you just open a few cans and jars and throw this in the crockpot. It's better and different than BBQ beef from a store. How about a soup party? (I just read about one on another forum.) Lots of delis and restaurants make homemade soups, you could buy several different kinds and serve in mugs from the thrift shop or dollar store with lots of different flat breads, breads and rolls, spreadable cheeses, chunks and slices of cheese and and some fruit and veggie trays. Brownies and holiday cookies for dessert. GINGER'S ITALIAN BEEF Posted by: Ginger_St_Thomas (My Page) on Sat, Apr 26, 03 at 7:28 One 3-4 lb roast beef (rump roast or sirloin tip) 1 jar pepperochini peppers, juice & all 1 can beer 1 can beef bouillon Combine all ingredients in a large crockpot. Cook on high 30 minutes; reduce heat to low. Cook until beef is tender. For supper, start cooking before work. If you want it for luch cook at bedtime.) Remove meat from juices, slice thinly & return to pot. Serve on hoagie buns & dip sandwiches in juice.~~
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Why can't your husband watch the kids? Arrange your party to be on a day (or weekend) he has off. I would suggest you have some drinks which contrast with the sweets. I especially like a somewhat sour lemonaid or strong black coffee with chocolate. The contrast in flavors really brings out the best in both. For games you could do Pictionary or Taboo. Or, depending upon the personalities of the party, Blind Date (a silly girls game about BOYS!!!!). I have a book which could be fun as a conversation. IF by Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywell. It has questions like "If you could decide how many times a year you saw your own parents, how often would it be?...If you could be given a personal tour of any Hollywood celebrity's house, whose would you want to see?...If the world were to tun to one single source of energy tomorrow, what would you want it to be?...If you could live in a past era just so you could wear the clothes in fashion at the time, when would it be?" This could be a lot of fun with a bunch of friends.
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Meghane
16 years ago
1) Although I am a huge fan of shrimp and scallops, not everyone is. In fact many people are allergic to shellfish. If you know for certain that nobody has food issues, then that's OK. Otherwise be sure that you have non-shellfish and non-meat items as appetizers. I am not familiar with asking people to bring things to a party, so perhaps some of the more experienced hosts can answer how to ensure a good variety of appetizers.
2)Simplicity is fine- buy some potted poinsettias and call it a day.
3) Whenever I have a party, I push the dining room table against the wall and scatter the chairs around the house. It increases traffic flow and encourages mingling.
4) I keep beer in coolers in the dining room and mixed drinks on the kitchen counter. Mostly this is because my kitchen is tiny and the beer plus other drinks won't fit. But also because it encourages people to walk around and mingle.
5) Honestly the best parties are the ones where people are allowed to just interact on their own. I for one do not like the forced interaction of party games, and many of my friends feel the same. Especially when everyone knows everyone, I don't think that you really need anything besides some fun music (not too loud) and the decorations for a nice party.
6) I have no idea- never used paper towels. I have a towel bar with several hand towels, and replace them throughout the evening.
marge727
16 years ago
Baseball mom how did your party go? What did you wish you had done differently? How many people came?

How to Throw a Successful Holiday Party?

Comments (4)

triciae

ajohng

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