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Have More Fun with Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Holiday Party

With the holiday season comes the joy of entertaining and the stress of planning the perfect holiday party. Cooper Hotel Event Coordinator Savannah Reppart offers useful advice on how to throw a stress-free party this year.

1. Be of good cheer. Avoid financial woes and stress this year by developing a budget. Set a specific dollar amount for how much you are going to spend throughout the holiday season. Remember, your financial situation may be different than your peers, so plan accordingly on how much you can spend on everything from food to your party outfit.

2. Make your guest list and check it twice. Before you begin to plan all of the party elements, sit down and take time to make your guest list. As you are deciding on a specific number of people to invite, consider the following questions:

How will the number of guests impact my budget?
Will my party space fit this many people?
Will I need to order additional seating, food or favors?
Are children invited to attend?

Once you answer these questions, you should have a better understanding on a concrete number of guests you can invite.

3. Deck the hall with boughs of holly. You can create a pleasant ambience, by hosting a themed-party or by using holiday décor throughout your house. Follow these trusty-worthy event planning reminders at your next party:

Lighting and music are essential elements to set the mood at your party. For a more formal look, you can use lights and candles to light the room. You can also never go wrong by playing holiday music at your party.
Set up tables in separate rooms of your house. This will allow for your guests to move around and have more space in each area.
If you are looking to create your own holiday decorations, try placing the head of your favorite holiday flower in a bowl of water. You can also use websites like Pinterest to find fun, cost-effective decoration ideas.
From casual wear to black-tie, give your guests an idea of the appropriate attire for the event. As a courtesy, you should include this information on your party invitation.

4. Don’t be dashing through your home! While you are planning all of the party festivities, it is easy to forget the little things that you need at the party. As you begin to plan, write down all of the items and to-dos on one list, so you can confirm that you have everything you need ahead of the party.

If children are attending the party, make sure that you “kid-proof” your house to avoid any unwanted accidents. Remove any breakable items that people can easily knock over or run into. You can also purchase a kid-friendly movie or game to keep the kids occupied. This can help make the party more enjoyable for your other guests.

5. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – for tasty, holiday food! As you invite your guests, make a conscious effort to learn if your guests have any food allergies. From gluten intolerance to nut allergies, make sure you plan your menu accordingly, so everyone can enjoy the party and the food.

If your party is informal and you are preparing the food, ask guests to bring their favorite holiday dishes to alleviate the burden of cooking all of the dishes by yourself. Give your guests ideas on what they can bring upfront so there are a variety of dishes at the party.

In the event of leftovers, you can box up festive to-go boxes for your guests. This is a nice gesture and also saves you the temptation of eating extra calories after the party.

Hopefully, these tips will help you have a successful, stress-free party so you can enjoy those around you and remember the true meaning of the season.

For more information about Cooper Hotel, click here or call 972.386.0306.

Article provided by Cooper Aerobics Marketing and Communications.