‘Tis the season to be jolly, and that is true until your family, friends, and guests leave your house, and you are face to face with the aftermath of the holiday party you have thrown. Christmas parties and get-togethers are a vital part of the spirit of holidays, and no one can ever deny that. Although people can opt to celebrate alone, these parties are what make traditions and community culture.
If you are an avid believer in sharing the spirit of Christmas with your family, friends, and neighbors, you will know how hectic it is to deal with your house afterward. There would definitely be a mess in every corner of your home, no matter how large the crowd is. Most importantly, your kitchen will have seen better days. To help you out, here are friendly tips on how you can get by and make a manageable holiday home party this year-end season.
Go With Paper Plates and Disposable Cups
Understandably, you would want to impress your neighbors and family members with your collectible plates and silverware sets. Everyone wants to flaunt their best stuff during gatherings, but it is better to go with disposable plates, cups, and utensils for your sake. It is pretty simple, as this aims to lessen the dishes that will go into your dishwasher. Sometimes, even the dishwasher needs to take a break, and in this case, handwashing some plates is inevitable. Imagine the horrific sight of your sink filled with dirty dishes, even in high-class restaurants. That sight is undeniably traumatizing. Hence, go with disposable materials. This way, your guests would not even run out of plates should they want to take another round of desserts. Think about it. Just prepare a rather bigger trash bag to accommodate the number of discarded plates and cups, to be sure.
Set an Exact Time in Your Invites
Have you ever gone to a party where people arrive an hour late, only compromising the set schedule of the event? Well, did you know that an event organizer usually deals with an additional settlement with the venue because the schedule has moved and extended beyond the set time? Just think about this scenario if this happens to your holiday party. Imagine hosting a party that is supposed to take place from seven in the evening until three in the morning because you did not mention a specific schedule. People just might keep flooding into your home, unknowingly, until they stay up late. Sure, that is a good thing because it means your party was great, but that also means extended hosting hours.
One might say that working professionals and people with families know the value of time and that they have their own lives to go home to, but you will never know. That is why sending invites with the specific time stated is better. This way, you are setting their expectations beforehand, and you will be able to close the night during the said hour, giving you ample time to wrap everything up afterward.
Invite Your Close Circle Only
This is one underrated tip when throwing holiday parties; besides, sharing and opening your home to people you barely know is somehow a little alarming. Don’t you think? Another important reason for keeping your guests among your circle of good friends is that they would already know your place and feel mindful of their actions throughout the night. Compare this to having other people over who do not have any idea how things at your home operate. It would take you more time hosting a holiday party with this kind of crowd compared to having your good friends over.
Additionally, it is the perfect time of the year to catch up with your friends. After the past two years, having them over at your house will be a great time to exchange laughs, share stories, talk about business ideas, and recommend mortgage advisors, vets, or doctors. The party would not feel like something you need to host and manage; it would simply be a long-awaited reunion.
Make Sure Everyone’s Vaccinated or at Least Negative for the Virus
Now, this might be a controversial topic, but it is for the best and wellness of everyone attending your holiday home party. If there are people who are yet to be vaccinated, at least ask them for a negative test result before proceeding.
Holiday parties should be fun, and although you can never prevent any aftermath, you can always try to make sure to make it manageable. Just follow these tips, and you will be good to go.
