5 Tips for Hosting a Perfect Holiday Party
Hosting a holiday party is something that many of us wish to do for several reasons. A holiday party brings family and friends together, and we want everyone to have a good time. Another reason is experiencing the joy of planning and organizing, and for our guests to feel like they just attended the best, and possibly the perfect, holiday party. After all, everyone deserves to enjoy the holidays after a tough couple of years!
In this post, we will share some hosting tips to prepare you for the holiday party of everyone’s dreams. From decorating up to menu planning, this guide will set you up for a memorable affair. Let’s pop the champagne!
Hosting Tips for the Best Holiday Party on the Block
If you’re one of those party hosts that can’t wait for the holiday season to throw a big one, we can relate. A memorable holiday party is something that your guests will talk about for months to come, and planning it should come with the utmost regard.
Here are our top hosting tips that will get the ball rolling:
Plan Your Epic Holiday Party Menu
Perhaps the most important hosting tip for any holiday party is to make sure that the food is on point and there’s enough for everyone. It goes without saying that you should always prepare your specialties or favorites to add a personal touch to the food you’re going to serve.
However, it is still important to have a well-balanced spread. Personalize your offerings by adding menu cards that indicate the ingredients, in case some of your guests have dietary restrictions.
To help you design your menu, here are some ideas from our recipe blog you might find useful. Using your BBQ not only frees up space in your kitchen but it also doesn’t heat up the house for when your guests arrive!
Appetizers
If served with cocktails, mulled wine, or champagne, appetizers can set the mood of a holiday party. Whether you choose to pass them around or set them on your buffet table, appetizers should be diverse and not too filling!
Mains
For the main course, you would want to consider providing at least two or three classic holiday party staples. A trusty, low-maintenance gas grill will do the job for you. Whether you are creating a barbecued masterpiece or grilling up a constant stream of delicious barbecue-themed delights, like burgers and vegetables. A trusty, low-maintenance gas grill will do the job for you too.
Here are some examples of mains you can serve:
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Lemon Thyme Rotisserie Chicken with Chive & Goats Cheese Mashed Potatoes
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Potato Salad with Crispy Kale, Fennel Tops and Tahini Dressing
Dessert
A simple-yet-striking selection of desserts can be the perfect end to your epic holiday party feast. Have something that can be eaten without a plate, in case your guests want to take seconds off the table.
Here are some desserts worth making for your holiday party:
Pick a Color Scheme
To host the perfect holiday party means that you have to pay attention to every single detail, including the cutlery, napkins, decor, and even the table mats. It would help if you have a color scheme to make everything coherent. Pick two main colors that contrast, and a third “pop” of color for your decor and accessories. You can’t go wrong with bold reds accentuated with gold or silver.
Serve a Signature Cocktail
While it’s necessary to have drinks at any holiday party, not all hosts would think of coming up with a signature cocktail. Start with your favorite liquor and add in mixes reminiscent of the holiday season. Flavors like cinnamon, apple, citrus, lemon, and cherries always go down a treat during this time of year. If you want to be more experimental, try this recipe for a Smoky Cocktail on the BBQ and wow your guests.
Prepare a Handful of Holiday Party Playlists
It’s absolutely fine if you want to stick to the holiday tunes, but why not spruce it up by adding some moody jazz, disco, house, or funk to keep the vibe up? There are lots of playlists in streaming services that are specifically made for a holiday party boogie, so you won’t run out of choices.
Offer Your Guests a Small Token to Take Home
Win over your guests with a small gift of appreciation that will remind them of how amazing your holiday party was. It can be a handful of baked sugar cookies topped with icing that matches the color of your theme, or a small jar of jam you personally made.
Do You Have More Hosting Tips on How to Throw a Holiday Party?
Do you have more hosting tips to share on how to organize the best holiday party? We’d love to hear from you! Share your suggestions and holiday party meal ideas with the Napoleon community by tagging us on Instagram.
Don’t forget to browse through our wide selection of charcoal, portable, and gas grills that you can use to prepare your favorite dishes for a holiday party — or for just about any occasion you might have!