As our Party Planning Week comes to a close, I thought we’d take a look at our Top 10 Reasons for not Hosting a Holiday Party again. Hopefully, I’ve given you a few ideas/tips that will help slay some of those reasons. 🙂 (I’ve included links back to many of this week’s posts that have included weapons you can use against those objections.)
1. I work full-time…no way I have time to host a party.
The secret is just starting early and doing a few things each evening and on weekends to get your home ready. It’s not so overwhelming with just a little planning.
2. The furniture is looking worn and the house needs painting.
Have your party in the evening using lots of lamp light and candlelight. No one will ever notice…they will be having way too much fun. My house is far from perfect. I do my best to get it in good shape before a party, then I don’t worry about the rest. I think folks actually feel more relaxed when they come to your home and notice some things aren’t so perfect. It puts them at ease and they know they can invite you to their home, too. 🙂
3. My house is just too small, where would everyone sit?
Have a buffet style party instead of a sit down dinner. Folks will usually stand throughout most of the party talking to one another. If someone decides to sit, they can head to the family room. I find folks rarely sit down…they are too busy eating, catching up and making new friends to sit.
4. It’s too expensive and the budget is tight this year.
Host a neighborhood party or a group party and ask everyone to bring a dish. Folks are usually more than happy to do that since you have provided your home for the event. Then you can just make the dessert and beverage. If you’d like to make a few dishes that’s great, too.
5. I don’t have enough dishes or the things you need to have a party.
Paper plates are fine….no need for actual dishes. If you’d like to start collecting some china to use for future parties, let your family/friends know what pattern and just ask that for upcoming birthday/Mother’s Day/Christmas, you’d love a few plates of the china pattern you’ve chosen.
Or, even easier, shop the thrift stores/garage sales/flea markets/eBay. There are definitely bargains to be had! A few weeks ago, I found 8 place settings (and a few serving pieces) of Valerie Parr Hill’s, 12 Days of Christmas china for $45 at a local antique shop. This is a great time of year to shop the thrift/antique shops for Christmas or holiday china. You’ll be ready for a holiday party next year!
6. The kids are too young and would act up or get in the way.
As we talked about earlier in the week, hire a sitter for the night or maybe let your children spend the night with friends that night. You’ll be able to relax, enjoy the party and have a little fun.
7. I don’t know who to invite…everyone is so busy anyway.
The first two Fridays and Saturdays in December tend to be the busiest nights for parties. If you’re concerned about folks being too busy or having other commitments, trying planning your party on a different day. Sunday afternoons are great for neighborhood get-togethers.
Invite neighbors, garden club members, your book club members, friends from church and work. You most likely know more folks than you realize. It doesn’t have to be a large gathering to be a great party. 🙂 Some of the most fun parties I’ve had were small groups of 6-8. You really get a chance to share and know each other with smaller gatherings.
8. I don’t know how to plan it…where to even start.
Hopefully this past week’s posts have helped with this. 🙂
9. It’s just too much work, too overwhelming to think about!
The key again is just starting early…breaking it down into small doable parts. Make lists or use the lists I’ve created as a guide for starting early. If some things don’t get done…it’s no big deal. The important thing is not getting “stuck” in the details and missing out on the fun.
10. What if I fail?
What is failing? To me, failing is when you let the fear of the unknown stop you from trying new things…from enjoying and living your life as you wish. When you throw a party, things won’t go perfectly. Thankfully, perfection is not the goal. The goal is simply getting together with friends to celebrate and enjoy life. Right? 🙂
See you this evening for Metamorphosis Monday! I’ll be sharing a little “before and after” that you can use at an upcoming holiday party.
Love your blog from today. I love to entertain and I think I have thought of all these excuses at one time or another. Your explanations are wonderful and make me feel as though I can have a get-together at my home for any occasion. Thank you!!
I often feel the stress of #1 but try to keep my invitation list small during the holiday season. A small group of close friends getting together during the holiday season is all you need to make it meaningful. The great thing about that is good friends aren't worried about #2 and beyond!
Hope you are doing well. Loved your posts this week.
Susan, this was excellent coverage of entertaining. I have really enjoyed it and picked up a few tips myself.
Thank you for your lovely blog, the only complaint I have is, you make me buy more china!! 🙂 Well that's what I tell my husband, it is Susan's fault!! 🙂
Thank you Susan.
Thank you for reminding me it's ok to do things the easy way and to breath. I tend to want everything perfect. In reality, everyone is so happy to be invited to a party!I do think doing things ahead of time is the key. I think the hostess needs to have fun along with her guest!
Nice series, Susan. Love the ornament game idea!
In Canada we also have Boxing Day on Dec. 26th. It is often when people host an open house either all day and evening or just for a set time.
We always have had one at our house and the food was prepared in abundance over a period of a month…but I was at home then and I worked on it every day.
Now I am working full time and though I still want to do it this year it will be different.
I will have a spiral ham ready with nice soft buns and some fancy mustards. Maybe a cheese platter and crudite plates.
Much simpler and yet the guests will still have fun.
I just have to say the words out loud that I am hosting and I will then be committed to it. Or maybe I will just be committed to a nice quite place where they bring me soft foods and little pills. One or the other.
I love that you are so positive. We are all so hard on ourselves these days, and feel the need to live up to someone else's image. Its wonderful to see your reasoning in print. You have reminded me that once upon a time, I made a New Years resolution to say "sure, why not?" more often when an invitation or spur of the moment idea came up. So here's to more "holiday party? why not?!?!?!" moments. 🙂
"Perfection is not the goal". I love it!! That one sentence gives me a lot of confidence and inspiration.
I have really loved this series and hope you do more in a similar vein. Many instructional things that we take for granted that everyone knows…how to set a holiday table, how to clean silver, how to make a cozy bed. I think you would be the perfect teacher!!
Thanks so much for your time and helpful tips on the holiday party theme. I enjoyed it immensely.
XO,
Jane
Now you have me thinking that I should throw a party … and I haven't done that in over ten years.