Let’s face it, all of the fun and excitement of the holidays doesn’t happen on it’s own. We host/hostesses make it happen for our guests, and with all of that fun and excitement can come a whole lot of stress! What’s the best way to deal with all that hosting stress? Manage it! No matter the size or formality of you holiday entertaining, the best way to make it all happen stress free is to be prepared. Over the next week, I’ll be offering tips and tricks on how to go about managing your holiday entertaining. From planning the type of party you will have, to making choices over invitations, food, drinks, tablescapes, music and favors. The more you can plan and do ahead of time, the more you will enjoy your party too!
First up, choose the type of party you will have. Will it be casual or formal? What time of the day will it take place? Will there be children or is it adult only? Will you serve an entire meal or just cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. These choices will dictate all of the choices that follow. Consider who you want to invite and decide up front what type of party best suites the type and number of guests you will be having. I know this sounds obvious, and for the seasoned hostess it is. However, I can remember planning my daughters’ first birthday party and making a long list of all the friends and family we wanted to invite, without once ever considering where everyone would sit to eat the full meal I had served in the small townhouse we had at the time. Needless to say, dinner quickly became a logistical nightmare and I learned a very valuable lesson: make sure the party “fits” your guests!
