The holiday season is here, and it's time to party! Yes, 'tis the season for some holiday fun—and to help out with any party plans you might have on the horizon, I thought I'd give you some fun tips on how to be a perfect hostess. There's a lot that a host or hostess can do to to make a holiday party stand out among the rush of events in December and January. So without further ado, here are five helpful tips on how to be the perfect holiday hostess!
1. Organize Fashionable Attire
Arguably the most common theme for a holiday party, in terms of what to wear, is "Christmas sweater." While it can be fun and amusing to see everyone's tacky version of this theme, one way to make your event a remarkable one is to set the bar higher. Some of the very same Christmas party dresses discussed in one of my November posts can be a great start. It can also set the tone for sexy holiday attire, instead of goofy.
2. Have A Signature Drink Prepared
This is a great little tip mentioned by designer Tory Burch in an interview with Elle online, and really it's a great way to make your guests feel relaxed and at home. You can place your signature drink in a variety of glasses and have it ready for when someone walks in, making them feel welcome and ready to party. Another hot tip from Burch: try to stay relaxed through your hosting duties. Your own attitude will be picked up by your guests, and showing stress can make for an awkward environment.
3. Open Up The Outdoors
This is one tip that may well set your party apart from the rest. You'll find decoration tips everywhere: things to buy, ways to design rooms, etc. But try this simple idea instead: pick up a few electric heaters! If you don't already have one on hand, My Smart Buy is offering a couple of affordable and portable ones in their Christmas preparation section that could do the trick. With these heaters, you can add an outdoor patio or balcony to your party, and ultimately create an atmosphere most don't expect when it's cold!
4. Use Themed Party Favours
Here's an idea: design miniature, personalized Christmas stockings for each guest, with small gifts inside for each person to take home. Whether the gift is a bag of homemade cookies, a small liquor bottle, etc, is up to you. But an idea like this is a great touch because it injects some holiday flavour into the simple concept of thank-you gifts.
5. Pick Up Scented Candles
This is a bit of a specific tip, but nonetheless, the effect can be truly set the mood. Most people might only bother with visual senses when setting up party decorations, but candles can add a new dimension to the atmosphere. And they can do so by floating a light but evident holiday scent! Yankee Candles are probably the most dependable brand, and they have a ton of holiday appropriate scents available.
