The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone, and if you’re planning to host an event, it can get even more overwhelming. The desire to make everything perfect and everyone happy can feel like a lot of pressure, but as someone who loves a party, I have figured out some trick to make hosting as low-stress as possible. With less stress, it’s easier to be fully present and enjoy the event you are hosting.
Whether you are hosting your family for a casual Christmas morning together or throwing an all-out fancy dinner party, my number one tip is planning. As soon as you decide to host a gathering, begin your planning. If you’re a list maker, start there. If you need a vision, make a Pinterest board. If you have a vision and want to create, draw it out. These are also good ways to keep motivation up and avoid procrastination and stress settling in.
Here are some general areas to think about in your first steps of planning.
- Scale: How many guests will you invite? Is this an intimate gathering or an all-out party?
- Venue: Based on your crowd, will you be hosting this event in your home or will you need to arrange a separate venue? Check with any possible venue for availability and reservation requirements.
- Activities: Is this a gift exchange, a dinner, a game night, or a relaxed movie night?
- Theme/General Feel: This can be a very specific theme like an ugly sweater party, or just a general feel. How do you want your guests to feel when they arrive?
- Order: How do you want this gathering to play out? A dinner party may include a cocktail hour for visiting before moving into a seated dinner. A Christmas morning with family may start with breakfast and coffee before exchanging gifts and playing games. Have a general idea of an order of events so you can plan your cooking around it and have an answer for the kiddos who will most definitely ask when you will be opening presents.
Plan the Pieces
Once you have a general idea of what this gathering will look like, try to imagine all the details. This is the time where drawing or Pinterest boards come in handy. Decide what items and ingredients you need for each part of the event, and make a list. Here are some more specific things to think about to get the ball rolling.
- Communication: Invitations (paper or electronic), Facebook event, Group Text, etc. How will people know the details of the event and rsvp?
- Seating: Do you need additional places for people to sit for a dinner or to watch a movie? You can reach out to a friend to borrow these or event rent them from somewhere depending on your need. Also consider any extra blankets or pillows if this is a cozy evening.
- Décor: Will you be putting up additional decorations for this gathering? This can include anything for a table setting as well.
- Food and Drink: What will you be serving? Decide what snacks, drinks, or courses your guests will enjoy, and be sure to check on any dietary restrictions before finalizing.
- Additional Items: Make sure to list any games, movies, equipment, or craft supplies that you may need for any of the day’s activities or entertainment.
Gather Your Supplies
If you need to purchase any food or supplies, I suggest getting on this early and getting a little at a time if you have it. Buy a few extra food items each time you go for a regular grocery run.
I also recommend trying to source décor or other non-food items from thrift stores, garage sales, or buying from someone online. This way you can save some cash, and you’ll maybe find some unique items that you can keep for a long time.
Plan, Prepare, Practice
A couple of weeks before your event, plan out your cooking schedule if you’ll be serving a meal. This should help avoid standing around waiting for the rolls to be done while everything else gets cold.
Consider making any cold dishes 1-2 days in advance and preparing ingredients ahead of time to save on time and dishes that day-of.
About a week before, do a ‘practice run’ of your gathering. If you’re serving dinner, lay out a place setting and arrange any centerpieces. If you plan to move furniture, move it around and make sure it actually works. Doing this will ensure that you have all the things you need and can waste no time with set-up the day of your event.
Be Present
If you’ve prepared for your event and practiced all of my hospitality habits from my recent post, The very last thing to do is enjoy the time of fellowship. Remember that a gathering is for its host as well as its guests. Your guests haven’t come to be served, but to spend time with you. Try not to get caught up in the details of the day, and let your prep work allow you to slow down and be intentional- in your conversations, cooking, and serving. Love your family and friends well, and be fully present.
Enjoy the party,
Rebekah
