Parties are appropriate anytime, but Christmas offers a special opportunity to plan a spectacular party.
Christmas parties can be planned for family, close friends, business associates, organizations and, somewhat unconventionally, for fundraising purposes. In short, Christmas is the time of year when people want to enjoy themselves and feel very gracious toward others. Planning ideas for Christmas parties include intimate get-togethers for family or friends or cocktail and appetizer parties for business and organizations, and themed parties for fundraising events. Does this Spark an idea?
Family and Friends
Determine a date for the party by communicating with the family members and friends as early as June to determine a date that does not conflict with the plans of others in December. Ask them to mark the probable date on their calendar so that your party date will be the one around which other parties will need to be scheduled. In some cases, conflict of dates is unavoidable and it is the decision of the invitee whether to attend. Send out invitations by card as soon as a definite date is decided upon and a location has been reserved. Follow up by telephone in early November to verify the attendance of the guest. Set the location of the party based on the number of guests and the type of party. In some cases the home of the host will serve well and in mild climates, a tent rental is taken care of well in advance to enlarge the gathering area that the home provides. When renting a meeting room, hall or restaurant, do so as soon as the date is set in June. Some venues are reserved from year to year and the earliest possible date you can make your reservation is critical. A family and friends party usually involves a dinner. If a sit-down dinner is impractical due to the number of guests, set up a buffet of chafing dishes and trays of hot and chilled appetizers. A caterer, contracted well in advance to prepare and drop off the food and chafing dishes is sometimes only marginally more expensive than if the hosts prepare it themselves, but can save a lot of time and energy. If alcohol is served, plan on also having soda, flavored teas, soft drinks, tea and coffee available. Monitor heavy drinkers and make plans to drive inebriated guests home or to their motel. Make arrangements to have a play area, in view of the festivities, to occupy children with toys or electronic games.
Traditional Cocktail Party
Set a date for the party by consulting with some of the key players in your social circle, those planning parties are likely to know the plans of others. Compile a guest list by talking with several close friends. It may not be possible to invite everyone you know, but you certainly don't want to leave out anyone with whom you are close or who will add interest to the party. Send out invitations at least four weeks in advance --- after making arrangements for a venue and date --- and include an RSVP. Note on the invitation that appetizers and beverages will be served. Follow up with a phone call to close friends a week later to be certain the invitation was received. Monitor the RSVPs and after two weeks call anyone who has not responded and demonstrate interest that they attend. When renting a meeting room, hall or restaurant, do so as soon as the date is set. For this season, some venues are reserved from year to year and the earliest possible date you can make your reservation is critical. This event works well when food is catered and arrangements for a professional alcohol bar are made, where minors are monitored and tipsy drinkers are pointed out to the host. Plan to further monitor heavy drinkers and make arrangements to have them driven home if necessary.
Kid's Christmas Party
Sit down with your child and his best friends to determine a guest list. Invite only the number of kids that the house will accommodate and the children monitored and controlled. Include the parents on the invitation with the request that they also attend if possible. Depending upon several factors regarding the kids, the parent's presence provides a steadying influence. Provide your phone number on the invitation and ask the parents to call with any medical condition, including food allergies that you will need to plan for in advance. Also request their cell phone numbers in case of emergency. Mail invitations three weeks ahead of time and have your child call each invitee who has not already responded, one week from the date of the party. Set a Christmas theme for the party such as "Gingerbread Man." Design the invitation, birthday cake, activities and food around this theme. A theme can include decorating their own gingerbread man cookie, pinning the candy cane on the gingerbread man's hand and decorating a gingerbread house. Designate a part of the house for the party and remove all breakables and valuables. Designate a gathering area for the adults in view of the party but not intrusively so; provide coffee, tea, soft drinks and snacks.
Tags: close friends, date party, arrangements have, chafing dishes, Christmas parties