10 Tips For Your Best Holiday Party Ever

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Ok, this should be an absolute no-brainer. If you have a group of friends and loved ones heading over, you’re going to need to keep them all fed. We’re talking appetizers, and we mean the real deal. Before you open a bag of cheesy things, check yourself. Holiday parties only come around once a year, so tell your bowls “let me upgrade you”, and commit to some appetizers that are restaurant-worthy. Hint a dope spread of hors d’oeuvres should always include a charcuterie board filled with a selection of cured meats, some olives and your favourite cheeses.

We mentioned “getting into the festive spirit”, but we aren’t going to ask you to dress down. The weather is enough incentive to add layers, feel fresh, and motivate yourself to fix up and look sharp. Let your attendees know the vibe, throw on a blazer and set the tone for the evening. There’s nothing better than a room full of stylish people - you want your party to be remembered, so fill those memories with cool threads.

Sure, you could host the bash at your apartment or the office, but why not change the scenery? How about a condo penthouse or your building's party room? Just don’t go to one of those “bubble soccer” deals... This is a holiday celebration, not a birthday party. You owe it to your friends to turn up the ambience.

Whether you’re serving, wine, champagne or your very own signature cocktail, remember to stalk the bar so you don’t run low on offerings before the end of the night. Serving beer? Might we suggest picking up a few of Stella Artois’ special edition 750ml Christmas bottles? After all Stella Artois was originally brewed as a special holiday beer. Another tip? Add an extra serving of cheer with seasonal sips like egg nog and apple cider and foster a more inclusive atmosphere by offering up non-alcoholic party drinks to make sure everyone on the guest list can have a celebratory drink. No matter what you choose to serve, remember discussing current events (ugh… 2016) and raising your glass for an uplifting holiday toast is an important part of any holiday get-together.

At this point, we hope that you understand the importance of food. We mentioned earlier, that snacks are kind of a big deal. You know what’s an even bigger deal? Real food, that’s what. Turkey, stuffing, greens, sweet potatoes - these are all important things. Cranberry sauce shouldn’t be an afterthought either. You should go all Shirley Caesar (*cough* watch this *cough*) with the evening, and make sure everyone is fed. We’re not saying you need to cook everything yourself. In fact, you should hire in some catering. Just whatever you do, make sure nobody has the hunger pangs.

This one you can take care of  way in advance. Ask everyone who is planning on stopping by what their favourite festive tune is, and jot it down. Hello party playlist! It doesn’t have to be Mariah Carey’s Christmas album all night... Heck, it shouldn’t be all holiday tracks, but make sure that nobody feels left out.

Having trouble compiling a party playlist yourself? Thankfully, streaming services are here to help. All you really need to do is plug in the aux cord and hit play on Spotify or Apple Music. Remember the tone of the evening, though. Music should be complimentary to your party, and shouldn’t pull focus. So don’t make it too loud, and don’t make it seem like you flicked on the Top 40 radio channel.

Your job is to be the host, but that doesn’t mean you get to sit back and monitor the whole evening. The night is supposed to be fun, and so should you. Join in on the conversations, and be personable. Once the food, the drinks, and the music are all greenlit, your job is to be cool and friendly. We know, it’s kind of a weird suggestion, but don’t let it slip your mind.

Memories will be made, so don’t go out of the way to make them yourself. Seeing a flash go off every few minutes is kind of a buzz kill. We’re not saying to put the camera down completely, but let’s take it easy, shall we?

You're going to make this party an absolute blast, so be nice and invite everyone out to it. Holiday events aren't an exclusive club night. You'll need to be a good host, and make sure the next day at the office isn't awkward because "invites got lost in the mail." Plus, the more is actually the merrier. Who knows, that quiet dude in sales might be an undercover party animal.

This is a big person party, and drinks are going to be served. When your friends are ready to go home, make sure they get there safely. You may need to offer some of them cab rides, and that shouldn’t be an awkward exchange. It’s a good thing to do as a friend, and you owe it to them to be real and stop them from making a mistake.