Getting the party started

From daytime office gatherings to the late night lime with family and friends; sooner or later you will find yourself planning a Christmas gathering. Sending invitations and providing refreshments and music is not nearly enough to ensure that your party is a success.

Budget The first rule to party planning is “have a budget”.

The term budget refers not only to money, but to all your resources, like time and people who can lend a hand. Knowing your budget will help you keep in mind what you can and cannot afford, reduces the likelihood of running into difficulty. Once the budget is settled you can choose a date, venue and make a guest list.

Invitations During the Christmas season there a so many parties and gatherings, it would be best to get the word out about your event as soon as possible. The initial invite can be a call, text or email and serves the same purpose as a save-thedate for a more formal event. This initial contact should include at least a tentative venue and at this point you can make inquiries about special dietary needs or restrictions. The ultimate goal of the invite is to inform and excite your guests about your party.

Menu The menu should suit the type of party that you plan to have. If it’s a more formal dinner, heavier, more filling food could be prepared. If your party is one where the guests will mostly be standing and socialising, then you should serve lighter finger foods or cutters that do not require dinnerware or too much cutlery. This will make it easier for guests to move around and enjoy your event.

When selecting menu items, choose ones that can be prepped ahead of time to reduce the amount of work that you will have to do on the actual day of your event. If your budget does not allow for catering, a potluck is often a good way to go, especially since it’s Christmas time.

Set the Scene The layout in a party needs to allow conversation, mingling and or dancing. If you are having a sit down dinner, your center pieces at the table should not block guests from seeing each other. The center pieces should be short or tall enough to allow guests to see each other with little to no visual obstruction. The bar should be set near a sink and running water if possible, especially in the case of a more informal party that has a self serve bar, clean up in case of spills would be quicker. Try to place trash receptacles in a few inconspicuous areas to prevent a pile up in your kitchen. In the case of an informal party, you should have seating for at least half of your guests even if you do not expect them to all be used.

Decorations at a Christmas party are a major part of the planning process. The decor in your event will go a long way towards setting the mood.

Whether you are planning a small get together or a larger event, outfitting your venue with festive decorations will get your guests in the party mood as soon as they enter. In addition to decorations, lighting contributes greatly to the ambiance.

Candlelight flickering against the reflective surfaces of Christmas ornaments, glassware and mirrors gives an ambient glow that is characteristic of the season. The final element is music, a mix of local music (parang and soca parang), classic carols, and contemporary music will complete your event.

With all the elements in place for your Christmas party, the only thing left to do is have a great time.