Image: Jessica Spengler
With all the shopping and stress throughout the Christmas season, arranging a get together is probably fairly low down on your list of priorities. It may sound cliché, but Christmas isn’t all about the presents. It’s often the only time of year when all of your family and friends can enjoy each other’s company, so if anything, arranging a Christmas get together should take precedence.
Planning
It may go without saying, but it’s certainly worth emphasizing the importance of planning. Make a schedule and stick to it. Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year and if you have to “quickly” nip to the shops before the big night, you may find yourself searching for hours. Schedule your shopping days well in advance and freeze or refrigerate your food until its crunch time. If you don’t have any days off, arrange a shopping delivery a few days in advance using Money Super Market.
Seating
Your get together will probably go on for quite a while and since it’s Christmas; your guest list will probably be pretty long. Make sure you have plenty of seating. The last thing you need is hoards of people commandeering the dancefloor just because they have nowhere to relax. Consider buying or hiring some foldaway tables and chairs for the evening.
Finger Food
Nobody will expect a full-fledged Christmas dinner for a casual get together; however, a bit of festive finger food is certainly a must. When you go shopping, buy some Christmas themed nibbles that taste good cold – you don’t want to spend your evening heating things up in the kitchen. Pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, ham, gingerbread and nuts are firm favourites. Clear your schedule a few hours before the event to make sure you have enough time to get everything ready.
Music
No Christmas get together would be complete without Christmas songs. A bit of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole will get everybody in the festive spirit, and then when the drinks start flowing, crank up the contemporary classics to get everyone dancing. If you don’t have any decent Christmas compilations, sign up for a Spotify account and make your own playlist.
Dress Code
Tell your guests beforehand if you have a dress code, but keep it simple because not everybody enjoys a masquerade. Red and white clothing is simple and will represent the colours of Christmas without putting anyone on the spot. You’ll probably find that most of your guests will bring along a Santa hat as well.
Games
If your guests don’t know each other very well games such as charades, candy canes (spoons) and carol Pictionary can be perfect ice breakers. If you’re arranging a party for a close-kit group of friends, encourage everyone to take part in secret Santa.
Start arranging your get together at the earliest possible opportunity. The sooner you make the arrangements the smoother the night will go.
