Planning a Spectacular Christmas Party

The holiday season is typically filled with large fancy parties, small intimate gatherings, and extravagant dinner parties. Planning your own Christmas party can seem like you're competing with hundreds of other festive events during this time, but by adding special touches to every aspect of your party, its sure to be a success.

Magical Themes

A great party starts with a great theme. You may be thinking that your party theme is a given since it is Christmas time. But take it one step further and you'll end up with a fabulous Christmas party that will be the talk of the town. Some theme ideas include:
- Black tie dinner party
- Winter wonderland
- Sophisticated cocktail party
- Casual fireside party

These party themes are easy to put together and aren't too far from the feel of the season to seem out of place as a Christmas party. People love to get dolled up around this time and so costume parties may be a little out of place. Each of your party themes should tie into all aspects of your party including any decorations, invitations, and even food. Choosing a theme may seem difficult at first but once you get started on planning your party it will make the entire process seem easier.
Sending out party invitations is a great way to get your guests excited about the party. Most people are invited to at least several parties during the holiday season, and invitations can help set your party apart. Your invitations don't need to be too extravagant to make an impression on the recipients. Just be sure to include all pertinent information that your guests will need to know.
Invitations can be sent in a number of ways. While custom made invitations certainly will have the most impact on your guests, you don't want to spend your entire party budget on invitations either. Making your own invitations might seem like a lot of work but it can actually be quite simple. You can download invitation templates from the Internet and create your own personalized invitations that will really wow your guests. You can add color pictures to these templates that will look like a professional created them.
Another invitation option is to send electronic invitations. There are several websites that offer invitations services complete with an online RSVP function that makes it easy to check who is coming to the party. You can add festive music and animation to your invitations. Guests will love getting these creative invites in their inbox. Make sure that you contact guests via telephone if they haven't responded by your RSVP date. Some people don't check their email often.

Party Decorations

Your house is probably already decorated for the Christmas season with a beautiful tree, garland, and other festive embellishments. Some people don't put their trees and decorations up until later in December, but if you're having a party you should have everything up by then. Guests love to check out how you've decorated your tree and it puts them in an eggnog kind of mood.
If you're having a theme party you may want to put up a few extra decorations. For instance, a winter wonderland theme might include some silver snowflakes hanging from the ceiling as well as sparkles and confetti placed on the tables. This adds a little bit of magic to your party space and guests will love the extra effort you have gone to.
To Dress Up or Not to Dress Up
Most people love an excuse to get dressed up in fancy cocktail dress or suit. Christmas is the perfect time to have your friends get all dolled up for an evening in. However, you should take your friend's personalities into consideration. Christmas parties don't necessarily have to mean wearing your nicest party dress; a simple fireside eggnog party is just as fun. If you have a fireplace, get a roaring fire going before your guests arrive and hand them a glass of fresh homemade eggnog as they walk through the door. This is a great way to enjoy some time with the people you love.
If you do decide to have guests dress up for your party, be clear about this on your party invitations. Tell your guests whether to wear black tie or a cocktail dress so they know what to arrive in. Make sure your decorations tie into the fancy dress theme with low lighting and little clutter. Serve up cocktails in fancy barware to add to the sophisticated atmosphere.

Culinary Delights

Serving food at your party is a must. Make sure your party food goes along with the theme and the season. Unless you're having a dinner party, entrees aren't necessary. Simple appetizers that guests can either eat with their hands or with one utensil are best. You'll probably have limited seating so you don't want anything too difficult to eat. A fancy cocktail party should have equally fancy appetizers and dips. A casual get together might serve veggie plates, hot seafood dips, and chips. And don't forget the Christmas cookies at any type of party.
You'll probably want to serve some drinks at your party as well. Eggnog is a traditional Christmas drink that is always a favorite. Making your own may take a bit of work but it will taste divine. Serving up some other festive drinks is a good idea as well since many people don't care for eggnog. A fun idea is a peppermint martini complete with a candy cane for garnish. You should also have several non-alcoholic drinks for designated drivers and those who prefer to stay dry.
Your Christmas party will be a success if you focus on the little details such as invitations that many other party planners forgo. Plan your party well in advance and send invitations out approximately one month before the date. This will ensure you've got plenty of time to plan and guests will reserve the day of your party before all the other impromptu parties start popping up. Spread some Christmas cheer and celebrate the season with those close to you.

John Lenaghan writes about party planning and other tips for the Party Ideas 4u [http://www.party-ideas-4u.com] website, where he provides valuable tips and advice about Christmas party ideas [http://www.party-ideas-4u.com/christmas-party-ideas.html], birthday party ideas [http://www.party-ideas-4u.com/birthday-party-ideas.html] and other party planning topics.

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Kids Birth Day Party Ideas

When my children were young, we had so much fun with birthday parties. Each year we did something different from the year before. Some years our themes allowed us to invite several children and some years our themes allowed us to only invite a small amount of other children.
When my daughter turned 3, we invited our local family members and about 5 other families. We had child appropriate activities, plus lunch and then Barny came. This was the period of time when Barny was sooooo popular with kids. We had hired a local party entertainer who rented the Barnie costume and then came and sang songs with the kids for an hour. It was perfect. The party lasted about 3 hours including cake, presents, eating, singing and a few games.
One year we rented a moon bounce. I was told by the moon bounce owner that at this age, about 12 kids could fit inside. We invited 11 other kids and the moon bounce entertained the kids for almost the entire time. We did have time to eat pizza and cake, and open presents. The remainder of the time was spent in the moon bounce.
It has been my observation that games such as a piñata leaves many children bored and wondering around. Children want to participate which is why I recommend a moon bounce. All of the children can participate at the same time.

When my daughter turned 8 we had an arts and craft party. We were able to invite several kids to this party. We used the recreation room at the local park and had long tables, each with a different craft. The kids took home t-shirts that they used puffy paint on, picture frames that they made themselves and necklaces or bracelets that they strung themselves on fishing line. We provided an assortment of beads. We also had cake and ice cream and even had time for presents.
Our goal was always to finish the party in 3 hours or less. This allowed for eating, presents and activities. After 3 hours kids become bored and restless.

One party that I have such fond memories of was a dress up tea party. We had a home here in town that converted part of the house to a dress up parlor. They had several very fancy dresses, high heeled shoes, necklaces, clip on earnings and tiaras. In addition the women who ran this business put makeup on all of the girls and painted their nails. They then served sandwiches on china with mini china tea cups filled with lemonade. The kids had a blast. Every child brought home a photo of themselves all dressed up.
We had many parties where with the help of other moms we transported the kids to another location. Here is a list of several ideas of places to take kids for a party:

• Movie theater with pizza afterwards
• Ice skating or roller skating rink
• Children’s museum
• Miniature Golf
• A professional sporting event
• Batting Cages
• Children’s Gym such as Gymboree
• The Zoo (our local zoo is very small, so it’s easy to keep track of the kids)

My children always picked their theme and picked their location. Both of my kids have very fond memories of the many birthday parties we had.

A Fancy Holiday Dinner Party… For Kids?

The holidays are near and it’s time for food and fun

For a different twist, why not host a fancy holiday dinner party… for your kids and their friends? Our whole family had so much fun with this that it’s become a yearly tradition.
A fancy dinner party for the younger set has many benefits. Your kids learn to plan, organize, shop, clean house, be good hosts, and everything else that goes along with hosting a party. They get to dress up in their finest clothes, practice their “company” table manners, and learn dinner conversation. This is a night where kids are king, and boy do they feel important!
You can certainly make your own rules, but this is how we do it. First, the kids create an invitation list. 8 kids is the maximum our table can comfortably hold and I can comfortably cook for.
Next is the hard one – trying to pick a night when there are no extracurricular events we’ve already committed to. The kids then make formal invitations on the computer and mail these out. I admit I tend to lecture a bit about what the RSVP in the invitation means and how important it is to always respond when someone asks you to RSVP.
While we wait for our invitation responses, we decide what will be on the menu. The kids come up with two choices each for the main dish, sides, and dessert. They pour over my cookbooks (mostly just look at the pictures), pick recipes, and make up a shopping list. One of the things they pick out is an easy appetizer that they will make themselves ahead of time. Mom and Dad shouldn’t do all the cooking!

On the day of the party, the kids set the table with our good china and lots of candles. Rather than taper candles, we use tea lights in small glasses as a safety precaution.
On the eve of the party, all the kids dress up in their finest attire. This alone, makes the night feel so special. As a surprise, I create fancy dinner menus and “laminate” them with clear contact paper. Mom and Dad take on the role of chef. Not only do we do the cooking, but we are transformed into French waiters with dubious accents and are dressed the part. We don’t hover around the table, but disappear back into the kitchen when not needed.
It’s a new thing for many children to sit at a table, order their own food off the menu, and be responsible for themselves without any grown ups telling them what to do. And they love it! In order to promote good table conversation, I write up some conversation prompts on paper scraps and put them into a bowl. While they are waiting for their meal or dessert to be served, they read their prompt out loud and answer it. Examples are “If you could get on an airplane right now and go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?” or “What do you think would be the worst job ever to have?” or “What do you have sitting on the dresser in your bedroom right now?” Of course, all the kids chime in with their answers!

We’ve come to think of the fancy holiday dinner party as a Christmas gift we give our kids. We are there to serve them, no strings attached, and they enjoy it immensely. The other benefits for them are learning how to host a gala and all that it requires – planning and organizing the party, making seating arrangements, learning how to set a fancy table, planning the food, etc. While this is maybe not at the top of the list, it’s just something nice for children to learn. Every year the flavor of the dinner party is a little different, because they grow and change. This makes every year so special in my eyes.

If this sounds like fun to you, give it a try and adjust it to fit your family. I guarantee it will be a night to remember for all of you. Don’t forget to take pictures!

Party Favors Aren’t Just for Weddings

One of the many things a bride has to consider is the favors that will adorn the tabletops at her reception. Since party favors are usually marketed to brides, however, most party planners bypass the charming addition that they make for any occasion. Affordably priced and useful, party favors help liven up a gathering, and party planners who want to add a little panache incorporate their various party favor ideas into a celebration to provide guests with a special memento. And regardless of the nature of the gathering, just remember that party favors are no longer solely meant for weddings. Here are some party favor ideas to get you thinking creatively!

• Anniversary: Whether it’s the first or the fiftieth time, celebrating the bonds of marriage is a special affair for both the couple and their family members. Often, anniversary celebrations are thrown secretly for the couple, who have no hand in its planning. Friends and family choose the cake or dessert, the decorations, and invitations; occasionally, they also choose to incorporate party favors into the festivities, which are always a big hit. Anniversary favors, usually a spin-off from wedding favors, herald love in all its forms and are available in a variety of different styles, colors, and shapes; popular party favor ideas include handy wine bottle stoppers, personalized champagne flutes (so everyone can toast the happily married couple!), and always useful barware sets.
• Baby Shower: It’s an exciting, but hectic time when it comes to being a mother, and everyone wants to help out by providing assistance, advice, gifts, and, of course, by throwing a baby shower for the mom-to-be! With trays of delicious finger foods and cute baby gifts, the expectant mother and her friends celebrate the momentous occasion. And the perfect way to decorate each attendee’s spot at the table is with functional baby shower party favors, such as cheese graters, salt and pepper shakers, measuring spoons, and timers – all of which have a fun, festive baby shower theme.
• Birthday Party: Birthday party favors, which make excellent grab bag gifts or table decorations, are perfect no matter how old the ‘birthday girl or boy’ is. For children’s birthdays, selecting age appropriate party favors, such as lip balm, candy in personalized favor tins, and picture frames, is ideal; while, for an older teen’s or adult’s get together, party favor ideas such as candles, ice cream scoops, pens, and bookmarks not only help guests reminisce but are also fully functional.
• Bridal Shower: This get together is one of the bride’s most cherished events; she has time to mingle with her best friends and just kick back and relax. Planning the bridal shower is often relegated to the maid of honor or other close friend, who takes care of all the responsibilities of selecting a theme, sending out invitations, choosing a caterer (or cooking it herself), and decorating the space festively. Providing just an extra touch of personalization, bridal shower party favors are a classy, thoughtful way to help your guests remember the party and thank them for coming. Whatever party favor ideas you choose – from candles and photo albums to monogrammed make-up bags and coasters, your guests will have a stylish memento to remember the festivities long after they end.
• Graduation Party: From high school to college and beyond, the graduate in your life deserves a little recognition for his or her hard work over the years. And what’s the perfect way to celebrate? With a party, of course! From a cook out to a day at the beach, there are just as many party favor ideas to complement whatever theme you choose, including customizable favor tins, memorable photo frames, and stylish, yet feminine koozies to keep those drinks cold all summer long.
• Quinceanera: Celebrating the day when a girl turns fifteen – a rite of passage for many – is an important milestone and one that has been planned for months. Dressed entirely in white, she looks forward to this day, sharing in the festivities with her friends and family members. While planning the big after party, finding a way to thank the guests for their attendance is a necessity! Along with the food and entertainment, decorating the tables with festive party favors for all who showed up is a great way to say thanks. From manicure and pedicure sets for the younger attendees to candles and personalized shot glasses for the older folks, there are many different party favor ideas to show your appreciation.

Keep the Memories Alive

The perfect place setting or little thank you gift for any get together is a party favor! Regardless of whether the event you’re throwing is for yourself or a loved one, party favors add a special touch to any affair. Small, customizable, and affordable, party favors keep the memories alive long after the party is over.