Oh no! Its five days before Christmas and you’re hosting but haven’t planned a thing. Time snuck up on you. Before you panic and pull your hair out, stop, breathe, and get ready to take some notes. Houston Style Magazine put on our party planner hat to bring you all the necessary details to make your list and check it twice to throw the ultimate holiday party at the last minute.

#1 Make a plan. This requires you to work backward by visualizing what you want your party to look like after you have done all your prep work. First image the impression your guests will have when they open the door. What décor will they see? Will it center on a theme? Think about who is coming through the door to the party. Is it family, friends, acquaintances or a mixture? The crowd will also help in selecting a theme. Next, think about the food and atmosphere. An array of appetizers is good if you want people to really interact and dance. However, if you want to serve a sit down meal that works as well. Will the food be catered, home cooked, or potluck? Keep in mind your budget while doing all this planning. You don’t want to start the New Year off seeing red.

#2 Location, location, location. Don’t pick a place that it too far west, east, south, or north from the general vicinity of your guests especially if your party is at night. I love going to parties but when I think about how long I am going to stay and think about the drive home I can talk myself out of going if it is too far. Or I will call host, especially if the party is far and starts late, to ask if I can stay over. Also look at the size of the venue. Partygoers should not fill cramped. In selecting a location, look at the cost of the venue and amenities. Make sure all align with your budget and needs. Negotiate to get a free room, discounted parking, and other perks; those who ask not receive not.

#3 Select a theme and décor. A party does not necessarily need a theme but it does make decorating easier. Decorate with just snowmen for a White Christmas theme. Or have a Christmas Around the World theme and decorate with Santas from across the globe. Have a Reindeer Christmas and decorate your location with Rudolph and the rest of the gang. The possibilities are endless.

#4 Who’s in and who’s out? Your guest list can make or break your party. When I host a party I always like to make sure that everyone invited knows at least one other person besides me at the party to ensure they have someone to talk to throughout the event. The guest list also sets the tone for the party. If you invite just church friends you might not serve alcohol and play only the clean version of music. If you invite business associates you might keep the same vibe. However, if you invite your crew then you are ready to turn up. And a mixture of all your circles just about anything goes. Just make sure to take time and think about who you want to invite. Rest assure after any party you will probably get a call, text, or some communication from someone who was hurt that they couldn’t RSVP because they didn’t get an evite.

Speaking of evites. Send party invites at least 2-3 weeks in advance to allow people to schedule to come. I can’t stress how important those RSVPs are for the host. It affects your spending on the party big time. So get those invites out early and old the RSVP when by date.

#5 Don’t forget to defrost the food. More than likely your menu will include something that needs to be thawed. Make sure to plan ahead to make sure all food is at the right temperature. When planning your menu consider any guests’ food allergies and likes/dislikes. It might be helpful to make the affair a potluck to keep costs down and so everyone can have at least one dish they know they will like.

#6 Supplies on demand. Evaluate what you already have in comparison to what you need. You might even want to pull everything out and line it up on the counter to see what food will go into what serving dish. Make sure there is a serving dish with utensil for every item being served. Ensure each serving dish has a serving utensil. List what supplies you still need to make your shopping trip easier. Count your silverware so you have enough place settings for each guest.

#7 Keep your guests entertained. Decide what activities will be done at the party. A good activity is a gift exchange. One favorite way or should I say the popular way is by playing the White Elephant game. There are pros and cons to this game. One top con is that you may get a gift that you don’t like and no one likes either. Others may not have the same taste, as you so gifts can get a little interesting.

You may even want to do some charity work. Have guests bring the money they were going to spend on a gift as a donation to donate to a charity you all support. Or maybe you all buy gifts and set up a time to deliver them to a shelter. The holidays are all about spreading cheer and helping your neighbor.

#8 Party on my people. Don’t forget your music. No party is complete without music. Make sure to select music that is of interest to multi-generations and play different genres to suit everyone’s taste. If money is tight, you may not want a DJ. Playing a streaming service on loud speakers is perfectly fine depending on your type of party.

#9 Do your prep work. Try to have as much done before the day of the party so you can actually enjoy the party. Put up decorations if you can the day before. Start prepping your food two days before so on the day you are just heating the food.

#10 Finally make sure you enjoy your holiday party. Your guests shouldn’t be the ones having all the fun. People are coming because they want to spend time and celebrate with you. So get out of the kitchen and enjoy your guests.

With these tips, you should be able to wrap up an ultimate holiday party in a snap and stress-free. Proper planning yields perfect results. Just take your time and remember to breathe. Everything will be fabulous.

Merry Christmas from Houston Style Magazine!