Blog
Here Come the Holidays! Throwing the Perfect Winter Celebration
The holiday season is the perfect time to host a party and celebrate with friends and family — but if it’s your first time hosting a winter celebration, planning the event may seem a little daunting. If you need help throwing a successful and fun holiday dinner party this winter season, here are four holiday party tips to get started.
Choosing a Theme
When it comes to throwing a holiday party, there are many different themes you can choose from. While traditional holiday themes like winter wonderland are welcome, the only limits to your theme are your own imagination. For example, you can target a specific element of the season, like candy canes or Christmas trees, and consistently integrate it throughout the event. However, just know that you don’t have to go too overboard with the theme — sometimes it’s best to focus on the holiday spirit.
The theme you choose can influence many aspects of your holiday dinner party, from the food and drinks to the decorations and beverages. With that in mind, establishing your theme early on will let you know which songs you should add to your playlist, what decorations you should buy, and, perhaps most importantly, what kinds of food will be served.
Planning the Party Menu
While there’s nothing wrong with sticking with the tried and true classics for your holiday dinner party, don’t hesitate to try dishes that are more adventurous. For instance, hosts can substitute the familiar holiday ham with a duck or another game animal. Additionally, you’ll want to choose whether to serve your meals as complete meals or as smaller bites, like hors d’oeuvres or charcuterie boards. No matter what you intend to serve, you’ll want to take dietary restrictions into account, such as allergies and vegan diets. By serving alternative options, everyone will be able to enjoy their time at the holiday dinner party.
If you’re throwing a holiday party, consider having a buffet. Not only are buffets a great method of serving food to lots of guests at once, but it allows partygoers to serve themselves at their own pace. However, you should always overestimate the amount of food you need so that you won’t run out — guests can always take home any extras or donate them to those in need.
Selecting Drinks
Having a festive drink option is perfect for a holiday dinner party, whether it’s wine or an alcoholic eggnog beverage. Setting up a cocktail bar is a great way for guests to prepare their own drinks exactly as they like them. Additionally, consider having a non-alcoholic drink alternative, such as warm cider.
Get Started Early
Given how many events and gatherings take place during the holiday season, it can become rather busy — especially on the weekends. Sending out invitations early ensures your guests know about your holiday dinner party before their calendars become too crowded. Additionally, this will also give you a better understanding of the number of guests who will attend ahead of time, so you’ll be able to better prepare for them.
The same holds true if you plan to hire a catering company, as they can also have busy schedules during the season. A catering company can help take a big load off your plate by cooking and serving meals so you don’t have to. At Village Catering, we offer delicious meals and services to hosts and parties throughout the Philadelphia area — for more than just holiday parties. Whether you’re searching for banquet halls in Philadelphia or need wedding venues in Northeast Philadelphia, we’ll be there to help your party be a success.