Are you hosting your first ever solo Christmas dinner this coming festive season? If so, you may be panicking over the list of things to do, or maybe not even know where to begin. You of course, want your very first Christmas dinner to go smoothly and be a time for all your friends and family to come together, relax and enjoy some good food. These golden rules for keeping calm and hosting your first Christmas dinner will help you pull together a fabulous celebration without losing the holiday spirit – or your mind!
1. Bring Your Own
On the first Christmas dinner you host, you don’t want to be making every single dish and ensuring you have purchased the entire bottle store for your friends and family. A great way to get around this stress is to ask everyone, or a few people to bring along a side dish or dessert that they have prepared. Encouraging everyone to bring a bottle of wine or spirits is also a good way to lessen the burden on the big day. On top of it all, it makes guests feel involved and welcomed into your home when they can proudly dish up their famous Tiramisu to wow everyone at the table.
2. Ensure You Have Adequate Space
There is nothing worse than a cramped dinner table or environment. Ensuring that you have enough space for your guests to dine and mingle is key in hosting the perfect Christmas dinner. You may even want to consider bringing the party outside into the backyard or garden terrace. A great way to host a stellar outdoor Christmas feast is to hire a marquee such as the ones provided by Marquee Monkeys. Not only does a marquee add a touch of glam to your Christmas dinner, it also shields everyone from the sometimes unpredictable outdoor elements.
3. Enlist Help With The Decorations
Whether it is your partner, your best friend or just your little cousins, make sure to enlist some help when it comes to setting the table with your cutlery and diningware, as well as with the decorations and ornaments that you want to stream all over the house. Getting a little assistance in these fine details really helps to cut off a whole boat load of stress and lighten the load on your shoulders.
4. It’s All About Those RSVPs
Whether you are a first time host to a Christmas dinner or someone who has been hosting Christmas for the past decade, it is important that you know how many guests are going to arrive. This helps with seating arrangements, shopping and knowing how much food and drink to have on hand when everyone arrives. No one likes to show up to a party where the only bit of food left for them are a few crackers and cheese. Get everyone to let you know of their attendance by creating a Facebook event where people can RSVP and leave you any last minute messages.
5. Hire A Cleaning Service
If your budget allows it, hire a cleaning service a day or two before your Christmas dinner. The last thing you want to worry about is having to clean your house to spotless perfection when you have a million other things to do before the party starts. You could even hire a cleaning service for after the party has ended, just so you can sit back and relax instead of running around the house, vacuum and mop in hand.
6. Honour Family Tradition
Even if you think Eggnog is for the elderly or that Fruitcake is absolutely nauseating, if it is important to someone, serve it! Christmas is one of the times where honouring family tradition can make an impact on your loved ones. If you want to add something new to the menu, make it in addition to your family’s favourites. Serve items that you know your guests will love, and let them take the leftovers home if you aren’t too keen on the dishes of their liking.
7. Make A To Do List
Having so many things to do before the party can often be overwhelming, especially if you are a virgin Christmas dinner host. This is why making a list in advance is so crucial to ensure that everything goes to plan and nothing is left behind.
With these golden rules in your arsenal, make this year’s Christmas dinner the best one your family and friends have ever been to. Christmas is a time for everyone to relax, reflect upon the year and enjoy good food and company, so don’t stress out over it, keep calm and Merry Christmas!
