Why Most Holiday Party Plans Fail, But THIS Works Every Time
Around the holidays, large family dinners usually cause more stress than cheer. At a time when we should be thankful for the loved ones around us, we often find ourselves more consumed with the thought of what could go wrong. This holiday season, we want you to take a break from the worrying and spend more time making precious memories. With our tips below, your holiday party will run so smoothly, and you may even forget you're the host!
Adam Albright
1. Set the Table
Most families only eat at their dining room table a handful of times a year. If this is true for you, take advantage of the unused space by creating your tablescape and mapping out place settings days in advance. You'd be surprised how much time you'll save by making the place cards ahead of time!
Blaine Moats
2. Delegate Dishes
Don't be afraid to ask guests to bring a small dish to the party. It is often expected of family members to contribute to the large meal, so assign appetizers and side dishes they can make at home and bring over. We love these pomegranate-glazed sweet potatoes as a starter.
Brie Passano
3. Cater to Diets
The last thing you want when you bring out your slow-roasted Christmas ham is to learn that your cousin's entire family is now vegetarian. A few weeks in advance, ask for any special dietary requests so you can plan ahead for any vegetarian, gluten-free, or healthy holiday menu requests.
Seth Smoot
4. Cheers to the Guests
Let the guests play mixologist while you relax with your favorite holiday wassail. A fully-stocked bar cart with all the spirited essentials will please everyone while keeping the conversation flowing.
Mark Thomas
5. Stick to the Classics
Dinner parties are not the time to try out that new, complicated recipe you've been eyeing. Keep it simple by sticking to a dish you know will please the crowd and prevent you from having a mid-cooking meltdown. Here are some of our classic holiday dinner menus.
Adam Albright
6. Creative Cookies
There is nothing cookie-cutter about this fun family activity. Take the stress out of holiday dessert by setting up a cookie decorating station! All you have to do is bake the sugar cookies. You can even use store-bought dough!
