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Holiday Party Planning Checklist

The holiday season, it's safe to say, is officially upon us. Much to the chagrin of my family, I've been absentmindedly humming Jingle Bell Rock for about a week now, which means that we must be getting close to Christmas. If, like me, you're still planning a holiday party or get together, here are a few pointers that'll help you be sure that you've covered the basics in planning your Christmas or holiday party this year.

Guest List: The obvious question here is: who do you plan to invite? If you're working with a limited budget, it often helps to set a manageable number of party guests before choosing exactly who you'll invite. Instead of going through your mental list of friends and getting sidetracked worrying if Amy will be mad that you haven't invited her sister Karen and Karen's weird husband Dan, pick a number of guests for whom you feel confident you'll be able to provide food, drink and holiday cheer.

Food and Drink: Other than the standard holiday party fare--booze, booze and maybe some cookies--are there any food allergies you'll have to account for? Having this information in mind ahead of time will help you make sure that your holiday party has food for all kinds and that no one goes to bed hungry. Also, remember that the holiday season tends to be a time of more rather than less food consumption (we all love to stuff ourselves when it's cold outside), and plan for extra hungry guests.

Party Atmosphere: This applies to music, decoration, the works. Do you have a mixed crowd attending your holiday party this year, or is everyone celebrating Christmas? Being sensitive to your guests' religious affiliations will keep you from offending them, for example, with a constant loop of "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra" during the Christmas frenzy if they aren't Christian. Not terribly familiar with a specific guest's religious background? Make him or her feel special by asking that he or she bring along a favorite type of holiday music that you can play at the party to give everyone a taste of something new and different.

Party Favors: Let's be honest. Party favors tend to be shoved in the backs of drawers or closets, recycled as bad gifts for bratty nephews or tossed in the trash with the rest of the holiday dinner leftovers. A great rule of thumb if you plan to give party favors to your holiday party guests is to stick with something personal. This could be as simple as buying each guest a funny reminder of an inside joke, having a desk-sized calendar made with various photos of your group of friends together or making a small donation to a local charity that your friends/family are familiar with. The important thing here is to remember that party favors give guests a lasting impression of the party...the more thoughtful the favor, the more positive the memory.

Whatever kind of party you plan to throw this holiday season, have fun in the planning. Remember, this is a time about being with friends and family--don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the stressful "cookies or brownies" details, but focus instead on creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration.

Happy Holidays! Now, if I could just get Jingle Bell Rock out of my head...

Enjoy Planning.
Penelope