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Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN BERTHOUD • 2021
Tips to host holiday parti with ease
By Shelley Widhalm The Surveyor
Hosting a holiday party can be stressful from the social, financial, and time-management pressures, but there are a few great ways to get festive without feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Start by planning ahead to square away as many details as possible and to avoid being overworked the day of the party, scurrying about doing everything last minute. Prepping weeks in advance helps prevent last-minute errand runs or trips to the store to restock low food and beverage items. The key to creating an event is to plan, organize and keep to a theme, important for the invitations that need to be sent out and for table settings and décor. The theme can be a color scheme like burgundy and forest green, seasonal fruit like cranberries or pumpkins, a holiday song, or things associated with cold, like snowmen and snow akes. Selecting a theme helps create cohesion in a room or space and ties the party together, even if it’s just two or three key decorations — if they are set up hodge-podge, the party might otherwise feel disjointed. Once the theme is set, create invitations accordingly, making sure to send them out early. A good time is around Halloween when seasonal calendars start filling, particularly during the few Saturday nights in December. Giving guests advance notice ensures those who want to attend won’t make other plans. Good etiquette dictates they need at least three weeks’ notice for an event, according to The Emily Post Insti-
tute. Now that the invites are out, make a list to keep track of everything that needs to be purchased. Determine which steps need to be taken and the time needed to carry out each step to create a loose schedule, back timing from the date of the event. If the party is large, delegate tasks by asking family and close friends to help and be sure to include them on the invite list. Assign them roles, such as helping with the arrangements or aiding in the kitchen. Next, select a menu, ideally aligned with the chosen theme. Start with what’s already in the house (this applies to party supplies and decorations, too), checking the refrigerator, pantry and cabinets. Then make or purchase the rest, choosing items based on the occasion — a dinner party reuires a plated meal, while late-night festivities might call for appetizers, finger foods and desserts. Shop for ingredients two weeks out, saving the fresh items, like produce or cheese, for a final trip one to two days before the event. Avoid making everything from scratch, which can be time-consuming, instead choosing a couple of signature dishes to show off to guests. Be sure to supply enough food and beverages to not run out, leaving guests hungry and thirsty. Picking the items up on the event day might be inconvenient, causing someone to have to leave the party, and some stores might not be open if the hour is late. Set up the food and beverages at stations where it’s best for guests to socialize. Instead of putting the items in the kitchen, place them in different locations, allowing for guests to move around and mingle. Add some music, but there’s no need to hire a deejay. Buy some wireless speakers and use an app like Spotify or Pandora to create a playlist fitting to the party theme or incorporating holiday-themed songs, giving more time for other tasks, while also enhancing the festive mood. Make sure there are plenty of trash cans, preferably one per room, to simplify and speed up the cleanup. Lastly, once guests arrive, give them a warm welcome, greeting them as close to their arrival time as possible. Show them the nearest bathrooms and provide a place for a coat check, designating an area for coats, bags and purses such as a bed or the front closet. With proper planning and organization, a festive holiday party can be created that will add cheer to any calendar. Once the party is over, send out thank you cards, reminding guests of what they enjoyed about the party and letting them know you were glad they were there.
