How to Throw a Stress-Free Holiday Event

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Many women and men stress when they have to plan and host a holiday event, such as a dinner or party. I typically don’t plan these types of functions anymore. But it can be a tough gig even when planning in a group!

It can be difficult to find the time it takes to get ready for these holiday events when you’re already pressed for time on a normal day! But it has to get done, right?

Since this is the holiday party season, here are some tips to help you streamline this process (if you haven’t already made your plans):

1. Plan Your Party Early

Start planning for these events as early as you can. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

2. Work Backwards

When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards. For example, if the party is on the 20th and you are sending out paper invitations, you’ll want to send them out by the 2nd. Thus, you’ll need to buy them the month before to have enough time to prepare them.

As a note, many of us use electronic invitations which may allow you to compress the invitation timeline. But the rest of the party should still adhere to the “work backwards concept.

3. All the Food with Half of the Work

If you’re hosting a holiday event at your house and are busy, don’t spend your time cooking all the food yourself. Instead, you can make it a potluck and cook only the main entrée. Your guests can bring a side dish or dessert to pass. Or if you are having a casual cocktail party, you can have only appetizers or other finger foods without having to prepare larger
entrées.

If you are going to hold a larger holiday event, consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal. It can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few desserts from the bakery. Informal or not, you don’t have to worry about the food with catering.

4. Event Planners Can Be Lifesavers

If you work a long hours and simply don’t have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner. They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

And many event planners can make up for any procrastination on your part and get the holiday event details planned quickly. It may cost you though!

5. Skip the Post-Party Clean-Up

If you don’t want to clean up after your guests, rent a space, such as a conference room in a restaurant or hotel. You may be able to rent interesting spaces in places that you might not expect like museums or clubhouses.

If you do want to hold the party in your home, you can schedule a maid service to take care of the clean-up.

Our house is not party-ready this season. We are still unpacking and organizing after my father moved in. The last big holiday party we planned at the house was a New Year’s Eve party that doubled as a birthday party for me and my husband (his birthday is around 3 weeks before New Year’s and mine is 3 weeks after). We sent out electronic invitations, had catered food and cake, and had a maid/nanny come the next day to clean.

It was pretty stress-free.

Hopefully, these tips will help you if you are in the midst of planning your holiday event right now. Happy Planning!