The holidays are here! That means parties, fun, parties, family… did we mention parties? They’re undeniably one of the best parts of the festive season. It’s a great opportunity to connect with friends and family and get into the holiday spirit. That being said, planning a holiday party that runs smoothly can be stressful. This year, you don’t have to fret, because Roomi’s here to help! Stay tuned, as we list out some holiday party ideas and tips to help you make the most of this festive season.
Holiday Party Tips
1. What’s on the menu?
When planning your menu, remember to mix things up. You can include a variety of dishes, drinks, desserts, and bite-sized snacks.
Plan your menu according to the estimated number of guests, but leave room for more just in case. You could also design beautiful menu cards to let guests know what they’re eating.
2. Create your guest list and choose a date that works
Do you want to stick to close family members or will you invite all your friends, neighbors, their pets and the local line-dancing society?! Draft up your guest list early on and liaise with key guests to choose the best date.
3. Send out invites early
Once you’ve set a date for the party, you’ll need to send out invites. It’s advisable to send them out a few weeks – or even a month – before the due date. Mail them in the post, old-school style, or send out online invitations.
4. Venue
Selecting a venue depends on the number of people you’re inviting. If the party can’t be hosted at home, consider booking a bigger venue. If this is the case, then book the venue early to avoid anything spoiling your plans.
5. Choose your decor
Decorating the venue is a sure-fire way to capture the spirit of Christmas at your party. The kind of decorations you’ll use largely depends on the theme you’ve chosen. Let’s say you’re going for a classic dinner party. You’ll need decorations like candle holders, or even flowers. We’ll get into great theme ideas shortly! For your decorations, you can get a little holiday party inspiration from a movie or a local craft store.
6. Curate a Christmas playlist
Nothing like good music to give some holiday party inspiration, and stir up the festive mood at your party! Make a playlist of fun and popular holiday songs —both old and new. Use platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube to create a festive playlist.
7. Choose a theme
A great theme sets the atmosphere and tone for your party. It also determines the decorations, lighting, and color scheme. Here are some themes you can try:
- Classic dinner party
- Pajama party
- Ugly Christmas Sweater
- Secret Santa
- Tree Trimming
- Winter Wonderland
8. Plan parting gifts to give to your guests after the party
Don’t let your guests go home empty-handed. Include cool parting gifts in your budget while planning your party. You can buy to-go boxes for guests to take home yummy homemade desserts and treats.
Holiday Get Together Ideas
It’s okay if you’re stumped on ideas for your party. Here are some fun holiday party ideas you can try to make that day memorable:
1. Fun games
When choosing games, consider your guest list. How many people are coming and what mix of personalities can you expect? This will help you plan games and even prepare some prizes to spice things up.
- Gift wrap game: This could be an individual or team game. Test your guests to see who can wrap a gift the fastest – with only one hand!
- Holiday movie trivia: This is a fun holiday get-together idea. Have your guests answer questions on classic and modern Christmas films.
- 2 Truths & a Lie: In turns, let guests give 3 statements, and have the others try to spot the lie.
- Jingle Bell Toss: See which of your guests has the best aim. Hot-glue cups to a surface, and toss jingle bells in them to score a point.
- Christmas Limbo: Find out how low your guests can go in a Christmas-themed limbo challenge. You can use a candy cane or a Christmas scarf to set the bar.
- Charades: Make your party more entertaining by having your guests act out their favorite holiday movies.
Remember to choose the ones that will suit the kind of guests you’re inviting!
2. Christmas Karaoke
Another great holiday get-together idea is having people sing along to Christmas songs and carols. Sing songs like Feliz Navidad, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bell Rock, etc. It’s time for Christmas Carol-oke!
3. Watch holiday movies
Watching holiday movies is one of the most fun holiday party ideas ever! Offer your guests a great cinematic experience by sharing popcorn, sweets, or drinks.
4. Cookies and tree decoration
A Christmas tree decorating party is one of the most traditional Christmas parties there is. Make provisions for colorful Christmas ornaments for your guests to place on the tree.
Buy cookie decorations beforehand and let guests try their hand in decorating delicious cookies. Everyone can then swap their masterpieces after.
5. Pictures!
Picture taking is one of the best holiday party ideas because you get to save the fun party moments forever. You could even set up a quaint homemade photo booth to let your guests take beautiful holiday photos.
Do you know what else Roomi does outside of sharing holiday party ideas and tips? With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match! Browse available rooms for rent on our website and hop on the easiest ride home, ever!
