Holiday Party

The holiday season is a magical time, and it's a great reason to invite people into your home.  Many of us attend party after party during the holiday season, but never host one ourselves.  What better way to reward all those invitations you got throughout the year with an event in your own home?

What exactly is a holiday party?
A Holiday Party is an event you hold to celebrate the season with friends, family or co-workers.  This can be a formal event, a cocktail party, or even an informal open house where you invite people to drop by during a set period of hours in the afternoon.  While everyone's holiday schedule can fill up fast, don't let that stop you from hosting your own party.

Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Holiday Party
If you are like most, the holiday season can be a stress filled time.  With work deadlines, gift lists, and all those presents to wrap, you might ask yourself, why add to the stress?  In actuality, a party can be a great way to let your hair down and actually enjoy the season.

• Pick out a Theme - Think about the holiday decorations you already have, and build off of them for a theme for your party.  If you love silver, and have a lot of silver ornaments, go with that.  If you have not decorated for a holiday before, go with colors you love and which feel festive to you.  Also decide what type of party you will hold - a holiday dinner, a holiday cocktail party, or a holiday cookie party.
  
• Select a Date - Anytime after Thanksgiving is fair game for a holiday party.  While weekends are ideal, why not be different and pick a Thursday night?  This could work very well for a less formal event.  If you want to hold an open house, consider when most of your guests could visit.  Regardless of the date you choose, invite people 2 to 3 weeks in advance.  Choose whether you want your guests to R.S.V.P and make sure to provide them with your home address.
  
• Food - A buffet tends to work best for any type of holiday party with a big guest list.  If you have chosen to hold a sit down dinner, then you should decide if you will want to serve your meal family-style (food on the table and passed around) or from a buffet (food laid out for guests to fill their plates before they come to the table).  You may also want to consider hiring a server to pass hors d'oeuvres at a cocktail party to make sure that everyone gets a little something to eat.  You will also want to think about what type of cocktails you will be serving and which ones match your foods the best.  This doesn't mean you have to have dishes worthy of a show on The Food Network - pre-buying certain items can cut down on your party prep time, while still providing a simple elegance to your event.
• Decorations - Since you will be decorating for the holiday already, think about any additional elements you may like to add. Will candlelight provide the right mood for your party?  Will small flower arrangements add to your buffet table?  Create a music play list for the party to set the right mood and keep things flowing. Your house doesn't have to look like a Martha Stewart Living magazine cover - go with what makes you feel festive.  The key is to keep things simple and follow the theme for your party.

A Simple Feast holiday party is just that - simply fun with simple food that will allow you to spend time celebrating with your guests!