The Holidays … The Year's Most Inviting Season

By Laura Neal Williams

It’s hard to imagine a more inviting season than the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Families get together, neighbors gather, and businesses host year-end celebrations. Your social calendar fills up quickly and if you’re throwing a social gathering yourself, how do you make sure your event makes everyone’s list? It’s definitely challenging, given all the other holiday parties, activities, and gatherings. 

Every party is different and it’s up to the host to decide the mood she or he wants to create. Given how hectic the holidays are, it’s best to decide up front how you want your guests to “feel” when they arrive. Is your party honoring someone special, celebrating a specific date, or simply celebrating the season? Is there a theme like “Cocktails and Desserts,” “Cookie Swap,” or a party for your son’s little-league hockey team at The Factory? Your theme will be your guide in terms of how elaborate the decorations, invitations, time-of-day, dress code, and what you’ll serve.

While this seems like a lot to consider – and it is – planning this in advance will make your event more enjoyable for your guests as attendees and for you as the host. Having a plan helps keep you sane during an insane time of year. This is an important point to consider – how much additional insanity do you want to add to your holidays? The more formal the party, the more planning and resources are required. Accordingly, the more informal – say a cookie swap with folks in the neighborhood – is easier to manage. 
So let’s say you’re hosting a formal cocktail party during the holidays. Given the competition for people’s time during this season, a “Save-the-Date” card can be used to get on your future invitees’ lists ahead of the actual invitation hitting the mailbox. A Save-the-Date card or e-mail is a practical idea, whether you’re throwing a party for 16 or 60, given all the events people have to fit in over the holidays. Typically sent out four to six weeks in advance, these simple cards help your guests know that the event is coming and build anticipation for your event. This will also be your invited guest’s first glimpse into the event you’re going to host, so you’ll want to select something that supports either the party’s theme or helps set the mood for the event. 

Now let’s talk about the party itself. It’s usually best to start with a budget – both money and time. This will give you a framework from which to build once you’ve decided on a theme, let you know how many guests you can invite, how you can decorate, and what you’ll serve. You’ll need to decide what’s most important … having lots of people, how you’ll decorate, or what you’ll serve. Having an intimate party in an elegant setting with fabulous food, an open bar, and a hired wait staff will certainly be remembered (this is helpful if you’re planning on making it an annual event). For about the same budget, you can host a much larger affair with light hors d’oeuvres or desserts and a more limited drink selection. When planning your party, it’s important to realize that the less work you ask of your guests, the more likely they are to attend – remember, their holiday is probably as packed as yours!

Now that you have a budget in mind, let’s talk about the impact factors of your party. Certainly the decorations are at the top of the list. Nothing sets the mood during the holidays more than festive decorations. Pinecones and mistletoe, candles, and holiday music all play a part in getting your guests relaxed and in the party mood. I’m a fan of holiday wreaths, fresh evergreen garlands, paperwhites, and amaryllis, as I think they just carry the scent of the season. Luckily, these items can be purchased without impacting the budget. Local nurseries and home and garden stores will sell the kits for forcing bulbs, or you can simply buy the bulbs and use a vase or pot you already own. Timing is what is important here, so double check the bulb packaging for the time it takes to force the bulbs into bloom. Make sure you place the bulbs where they will get plenty of sunshine, and remember to water! Garlands can be purchased from any one of a number of tree merchants leading up to the holidays, so to get the biggest bang in terms of fragrance, you’ll want to purchase your garland as close to the party as possible. Look around your yard for potential decorations as well. Around the holidays, holly bushes and evergreen magnolias provide a vibrant green that can be used to liven up a mantel, door frame, or centerpiece. 

Another important impact factor to consider is the invitation. Aside from the Save-the-Date card, if you choose to send one, it’s the first indication your guests will receive about the type of party you’re hosting. This is especially important if you are a first time holiday host, as you’ll be competing for guests with annual parties that are well understood and appreciated. Think about all the holiday mail that you receive and what items catch your eye the most. Given the level of competition, are you more likely to be intrigued by a flyer, an e-mail invitation, or a personalized invitation that makes a statement about your event? The good thing about this option is that there are a variety of beautiful invitations that enable you to pick something unique without blowing your budget. 

Definitely plan to ask guests for the courtesy of an RSVP to your invitation, unless you’re hosting an open house event. It will help you plan accordingly in terms of how much food and drink, service items, etc. you’ll need to prepare in advance. Most guests, out of respect for you as the host, will give you the courtesy of a reply in advance of the event. For your early budget planning process, a good estimate is that about 70% of your invite list will attend. But be careful – a well executed party can often exceed this estimate, so don’t make the mistake of inviting too many people and then having to scrimp on another part of your plan.

Now let’s talk about the theme. A party should be unique and reflect you as an individual. The more unique the party, the more intrigued your guests will be about the event. Something unexpected like a holiday beach party, or a more elegant black and white party will certainly have effect. Your guests will enjoy their own part in the party process of finding just the right outfit if you give them enough detail on what you’d like to see. It’s also important to let guests know what you’ll serve during the party so they can plan accordingly. You don’t want guests to arrive and expect dinner when you’re planning on serving cocktails and desserts or wine and cheese. Also, let folks know if your event is a family affair or adults only. This information, conveyed early to guests, will enable people to find babysitters and also give them a heads up on how the party will flow. 

And finally, given how hectic the season is, consider adding to your budget hiring outside help to either clean before the party or serve during it. Remember – your job at the party is to host, not be the coat check, bartender, or waitress. 

Hosting a holiday party can be a joy as long as you plan ahead. Happy holidays to all!

Laura Neal Williams owns and operates InkSpot Stationers located in downtown Wake Forest at 223 South White Street. She may also be reached at 554-2634.