subject: How to Plan the Ultimate Christmas Party - Part 1 of 2 [print this page] How to Plan the Ultimate Christmas Party - Part 1 of 2 If you're planning a holiday party this Christmas, you'll love these tips and tricks for making it the best Christmas party ever.Tip #1 - Start Planning EarlyIt's never too early to start planning a holiday party, especially when so many other distractions and competing tasks can suck up your time at this very busy time of year. One of the best (and easiest) ways you can avoid stress and plan a fabulous gathering is to begin your planning early. So if you haven't already started, how about right now? There's plenty to do, so it makes sense to start sooner rather than later. One of the first action items for you to handle will involve setting the date. This will give you an idea of how much time you really have to plan your event.Tip #2 - Know Your Budget (and Stick to It!)This is definitely a sticky point for many hosts and hostesses. It's far too easy to go overboard on food, decorations, or other party enhancements, so it really pays to create a total spending cap and stick with it. A good rule of thumb for casual, intimate gatherings is to keep the total cost around $250 or under. You can lower that even further by creating a Christmas potluck gathering, or similar style event.For more upscale or expanded gatherings, figure about $10-$12 per person without alcohol, or $12-$15 per person with alcohol. Many hosts and hostesses continue to feature highly successful events that are BYOB, so that may be an option for you.Tip #3 - Make a Plan (and Write It Down!)With so many action items, you can't be expected to remember everything - fortunately, you won't have to if you make a plan and write it down. Whether you type into an Excel spreadsheet (for party planning, this is preferred over a word processing or text file, since a spreadsheet can be sorted for easy viewing), or simply keep a pencil and notebook handy, writing down a list of things to do will help keep your mind clear and focused while planning your party. Additionally, you will find that by writing down action steps, your mind is triggered to think of additional steps that you might have otherwise overlooked.Hate making lists? Try a web search for "free party planning checklist" and grab what you need, already preformatted.Tip #4 - Solicit HelpThe greatest contributor to party planning stress is the mistaken belief that you have to handle it all yourself. While there may certainly be specific action items that you prefer not to delegate, there are many necessary tasks that can be shared amongst family, friends, spouses, neighbors, etc. Many people are happy to contribute, especially if you can approach them with a clear idea of what you need assistance with.Once you've created your plan, go through it and see what items you feel you must handle personally, and make a note or highlight these. Then look for items that can easily be delegated and begin to think of whose help you can solicit. Give people a reasonable amount of advance notice (but not so much that they would put it off until the last minute) and remember to follow up to ensure that the action items are getting accomplished.Tip #5 - Choose a Party Style and ThemeNow it's time to choose what kind of party you're planning. There are so many options to choose from, and you'll certainly want to take into consideration your budget, and the size of the venue (for example, if you're planning a gathering at home, and you have a small apartment, this will be a very different kind of gathering than one held at a rental hall).Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:- casual vs. formal
- cocktails and appetizers vs. sit-down dinner vs. elegant buffet vs. potluck
- family-friendly with children welcome vs. adults-onlyOnce you know what kind of party you're planning, the next step is to create the guest list.Remember -- party is planning is supposed to be fun, not stressful! Be sure to take time out for yourself during this busy season.
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