Best Christmas Gifts, Tips, Ideas, and More

A Christmas dinner party is typically an elegant affair. People enjoy dressing up and mingling with coworkers and other friends in an adult setting. It is as much fun as it is formal. Here are a few tips for planning the perfect Christmas dinner party.

1. Invite guests at least three weeks in advance. The Christmas season is a busy one and most people’s calendars fill up quickly. You might like to host a Christmas dinner party for your office department. Or if you prefer a more personal setting, invite your close friends and their dates or spouses. Be sure to specify on the invitation that it is for adults only. This gives your guests plenty of time to find a sitter for their children.

2. Plan the menu. On the invitation, be sure to ask if anyone has any special dietary concerns. You want to be sure that you don’t serve anything that could cause an allergic reaction or another health complication such as a diabetic coma.

3. One week before the dinner party, be sure to contact any people who haven’t responded to your invitation. During this busy season, they may have just forgotten to call you. With a sit down formal dinners, it is important to have an accurate head count so there is enough food for everyone. As a standard rule of thumb, allot at least two pounds of food per person attending the dinner party.

4. Decide whether you want to do the cooking or have the dinner catered. Don’t feel guilty if you decide to cater the dinner party. Cooking for a party can take all day and no one wants to be stuck in the kitchen during their own dinner party. If you decide to cook, be sure to keep the menu simple and opt for a buffet presentation instead of table service.

5. Set the table and decorate the day before the dinner party. You’ll be able to see if you have everything you need and replace anything that is missing. Wait until the last minute to add the glasses so they don’t gather lint and dust particles overnight. Clean up the areas of your house that your guests will be using.

6. About half an hour before your guests arrive, go ahead and lay out the food. If you are serving a buffet style dinner, light the liquid fuel under the the food pans so the food will be warm when everyone serves themselves. If you’re using a caterer, you just can relax at this point and let them handle everything.

An elegant dinner party is a nice way to relax with friends or coworkers. With a little bit of planning, you can have the perfect event without a lot of stress.