Even after family vists, presents and carolling, the holiday season isn't the same without a really fantastic party.
There's nothing difficult about hosting an event, but it does require some simple precautions. Keep these tips in mind when you're making plans for your holiday bash.
Plan ahead
Successful holiday parties don't come together overnight. Before the big day, decide exactly how big you want the party to be. If you are planning on getting a DJ or arranging for catering, then make all of your calls well in advance and make sure you get the best of the best.
Invitations and Decorations
In an era where the Facebook invite is the end-all of social gathering, it definitely makes your gathering a bit more personal if you spring for physical invitations.
The invitations don't have to be anything extravagant. Try buying a pack of holiday-themed stationary from Staples and print them at home.
For your guests that live within your town, there's a possibility that hand delivering your invitations could be cheaper than buying postage. Save the postage for those guests who live farther away.
Try incorporating the main aspects of your decoration theme into your invitations. If snowflakes are your style, then save yourself money by making cut-outs to hang around the festivities.
Other holiday decoration ideas include a winter wonderland complete with fake snow or a new years eve black tie affair. Get creative, and most importantly, have fun with your theme!
Food and Drinks
The possibilities for food and drinks at parties are endless. You could serve the typical mini hotdogs, quiches and egg rolls, or you could try to be a bit more original and have some more fun while you're at it.
"When I think food at holiday parties, I think of … hors d'oeuvres, like pepperoni, cheese, crackers," said Rasheem Banks, a 5th-semester finance major. "And egg nog."
And although presentation is important, make things a bit easier on yourself by serving things in mass quantity. This way, you will not have to be constantly wait on your guests and can have some fun at your own get-together.
Music
Holiday songs are coming down as thick as snowflakes these days. Add a couple of new songs to your collection besides the normal "All I Want For Christmas Is You," and "Santa Baby." Try "Winter Song" by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles, or "Our December" by Thriving Ivory.
Don't forget, just because it is a holiday-themed party, not all of your music has to scream "Christmas." In order to best accommodate your guests, gather a list of the type of music that they like, and make a playlist on your computer with a variety of their favorite artists and groups.
"My favorite Christmas song is 'Christmas In Hollis,' by Run-DMC," said Dinsdale Wint, a 5th-semester biology major. "It's different and definitely a classic."
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