We all know the holiday season is one of fun with family, gift giving, and tons of holiday dinners, but it is also one of high stress without proper planning.  From my own past personal experience, these 7 tips truly helped me plan a fabulous stress free holiday party.

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1.  Create a Checklist… A successfully stress free holiday party starts with organization.  Make check lists for 1 month before, 2 weeks before, 1 week before, and the night before your event.  Include tasks that need to be completed, grocery shopping lists, and any other details that you may need.

2.  Plan Your Menu Early… Food is the center of any and every holiday party.  It is what draws guest to your home and is the catalyst that will keep laughter and conversation flowing.  It is only natural to plan you menu to the most minute detail.  Chose to not wait until the night before your holiday party to hit the grocery stores.  Believe me, you will not find much.  Once your menu is set, begin shopping for the needed ingredients as early as possible.

3.  Do Not Overcrowd Your Guest List… Have you ever tried eating a beautiful, well made dinner with little to no elbow room?  Uncomfortable right?  As the host of the dinner party, it is very important to assure that your guest have enough room to eat and mingle comfortably.  One simple rule I like to follow is for every 100 square feet of entertaining space, you can easily accommodate 10 people.

4.  Create a Signature Drink… Providing alcoholic drinks at your event can turn into a really big ticket expense if you are not careful.  Save yourself the trouble of providing a fully stocked bar to your guest by creating a signature drink that can be enjoyed by everyone. Hot Apple Cider with Rum, or Champagne Punch are great options that are both easy to produce in large quantities and easy on your wallet.

5.  Opt for Simple Yet Elegant Decor… Minimizing extravagant decor keeps the focus on your guest.  Skip the one huge center piece on your dining room table and instead opt for smaller ones that line the center of your table, clean crisp linens, battery operated votives, sparkling napkin rings, and long stemmed drink ware.

6.  Faux China Is Not a Faux-Pas… For a party of 5 and over, fancy china and silverware can not only be very expensive, but someones got to clean it at the end of the night.  Decrease your post-celebration workload by purchasing plastic china and silverware look-a-like dinnerware from your local party supply store.

7.  Assemble the Night Before… The day of your event is going to be stressful enough with you running around to fix your hair and makeup, pick out an outfit, and help those directionally challenged guest find your house.  Needless to say, you can easily run out of time to fully prepare.  Avoid disaster by setting your table, decorating your house, and cooking the majority of your dishes the day before.

What tips do you suggest to keep holiday entertaining fun, fabulous, and stress-free?  Leave a comment and lets discuss.