The holiday season is here and everyone has been begging you to host your very own holiday party. It makes sense why people have been asking you to… You enjoy cooking and you enjoy having friends over so why not host an official holiday party?
In your mind, how hard can it be? You plan to have a rustic theme and decorate with white Christmas lights, wreaths, garland, and Christmas wicker baskets… It can’t be that hard, right? But this thinking is exactly how most holiday parties crash and burn. Similar to organizing a summer get-together, hosting a holiday party isn’t like just having a few friends over… there’s much more to it than that, especially if you want to do it right and have a memorable party that everyone will remember.
Everything from not having enough food to it being too hot in your house, there are a number of things that could go wrong during your holiday party that you would never foresee coming. That reason alone is why it’s important to be aware of the mistakes to avoid. There are all kinds of guides and resources that tell you what to do when hosting but they never tell you what not to do…
Well, there’s no need to worry about that because we have you covered on the ‘don’ts’ of hosting your first holiday party. Take a look at all the things to not do before and during your first holiday party.
Mistakes to Avoid When Hosting Your First Holiday Party
Not Sending Proper Invites or Requiring Guests to RSVP
True enough, the people you’re inviting to your holiday party have probably been to your house several times, but in order to have an accurate headcount, you need to send proper invites and require your guests to RSVP if they’re indeed going to come. This lets you know how much food to prepare and how many plates, cutlery, etc, you’ll need.
But this mistake happens all the time because the host treats it like a typical hangout. Understand that this is a real party that can potentially have you with a house full of people… Don’t make the mistake of not sending proper invites and requiring RSVPs. This can be done online and by mail.
Trying to Do Everything on Your Own
Just because you’re hosting your first holiday party doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own. Depending on how many people RSVP’d to come, you may need more help than you think. Typically when you invite people to holiday parties, they normally will ask “Do you need me to bring anything?” or “Do you need help with anything?” If someone offers to help you in any way, you accept it… that’s just one less thing you have to worry about.
Maybe one of your friends offered to bring a couple of bottles of champagne and your mom offered to make her famous rum cake… Why would you turn those offers down? That one less dessert you have to buy or make and more libations to liven up the party! Trust and believe that when people offer their help, they genuinely do want to help because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t ask.
Not Keeping an Eye on the Thermostat
You may not realize it but your oven/stove and dishwasher are a few of those sneaky appliances that make your home unbearably hot really fast. If you plan on cooking the food you’re having for your party, it will be a good idea to turn the AC on while doing it just make sure your home isn’t sweltering hot when your guests arrive.
The biggest reason you want to keep an eye on your thermostat is that when you get so many people in a space, all that body heat starts to add up. If you plan on serving alcoholic beverages, people are going to feel even hotter. The good news is that it’s winter and the temperature will be quite low (depending on where you live).
If you live in an area with cold winters, you can open your windows to draw some of the heat out without turning on your AC. If you live in a warmer state, turn on the AC. You want your guests to feel comfortable at all times.
Not Introducing Your Guests to One Another
As the host, you can’t expect all your guests to know one another, let alone walk up to complete strangers and introduce themselves to each other… this is simply a recipe for awkwardness. Sure a lot of your guests may already know each other just from frequently hanging out with each other but there’s bound to be friends that haven’t met some of your other friends. So, as your guests arrive introduce them to everyone that’s already there to make them feel welcome. To lighten the edge, have drinks ready for every guest as they enter your home!
Forgetting to Enjoy the Party Yourself
Forgetting to enjoy the party yourself is the worst mistake you can make as a host. If everyone else is having fun, you should be able to as well. Give yourself a pat on the back because you did it! You hosted and survived your first holiday party! Now you can start planning for next year!
