Christmas is just around the corner and there’s a good chance that you’ve already sorted out most of your presents and already started to think about that turkey dinner. And, if you’ve been getting right into the spirit of things, there’s no better time to start planning a grand festive party that brings all your friends and family together under one roof.
To help you host the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties, we’ve put together a few essential tips below that will ensure you’re throwing an extravagant bash.
Find a date that works
With so much to get done through December, it’s little surprise that one of the most difficult tasks is finding a date when all of your loved ones are free to get together. If you’re not prepared, your plans can descend into a nightmare of going back and forth between friends and relatives or you can get sucked into the dreaded Christmas group chat of indecision.
To simplify the whole process and get everyone on the same page, we recommend that you make use of a specialist app to pin down the perfect date. Doodle is a good one — it allows you to present a selection of dates and people can vote on the ones they’re free for. With everyone confirmed, you’ll be able to guarantee a full house for your grand party.
Once you’ve settled on the date, it’s time to invite everyone to your party. Nothing says an extravagance like some handwritten invitations, so be sure to go all out and choose some premium invites. Feel free to make these as formal and festive as you like but be sure to choose a quality paper stock and to include all the essential party details. It’s also worth remembering that a hand-delivered invite is much more personal if you have the time, but if not, you can always post them out.
Plan your food menu
You’ll also need to think about what type of food you’re going to be serving to your guests. A sit-down meal is always much grander than a buffet, so we recommend going all out and hosting a delicious home-cooked Christmas dinner for your loved ones to enjoy.
You’ll need to put together a delightful festive menu to wow your guests. Firstly, you will need some delicious starters to get everyone in the spirit of the occasion — Britannia Living have a number of fantastic starter recipes worth checking out, including smoked salmon toasts, figs with pine nuts and goats cheese, and the Christmas classic prawn cocktail.
For your main course, we think that you should stick to the much-loved turkey option. While most classic recipes advise you to baste your bird regularly to moisten the meat, you could try something slightly different by using a dry brine and overnighting it in salt and a seasoning of choice before cooking. Feel free to decide which method you prefer, but we think this fresh twist on turkey prep will be a welcome surprise for your guests.
Finally, don’t forget that you’ll need to offer a selection of sweet treats for dessert. BBC Good Food also have a wide selection of festive dessert ideas that can give you some inspiration if you’re looking for the perfect way to round off your Christmas feast.
Create a festive drinks menu
To go with your food, you’ll need to provide some beverages for your guests. So, why not dazzle their taste buds with a few Christmas cocktails? You’ll need to sit down and think about what you want to serve and make sure your menu has a nice balance to cater for those that have a sweet tooth and those that prefer something a little stronger. GQ has an impressive list of on-trend recipes if you’re looking for a starting point — mix up a few of these and you’re bound to impress.
A slightly lower maintenance solution is to create a batch of Christmas punch that everyone can enjoy. This can be a great solution if you’ve built up a hefty stock of tipples that you’d like to use up and make some room in the drinks cabinet. If you choose to do this, be sure to pick up a punch bowl, which is the ideal serving option for your guests — LSA International have an elegant, hand-blown glass punch bowl that we love. They also offer free UK delivery!
Decorate your home in style
Any grand Christmas party needs stylish decorations to tie everything together. Try to choose items that complement your existing décor. If you have a modern home, you’ve got free reign to pick sleek, alternative decorations in less traditional colours like black, white and silver, while a more traditional décor will look best in reds, greens, and golds, with plenty of garlands.
House Beautiful have a fantastic gallery of Christmas decorating ideas that are well worth a look — you might just spot a striking idea that you want to adapt yourself.
Keep our top tips in mind and you’ll already be well on the way to hosting a Christmas party to remember. With all the details taken care of, the only thing left to do will be to enjoy yourself!
