Ho-Ho-Hosting a Holiday Party

Hosting a holiday party? Follow these hosting tips when you host a dinner this Christmas season. Ideas for music, prepping, Christmas party game ideas and tips adding a festive atmosphere to your holiday entertaining. 

Ho-Ho-Hosting a Holiday Party

Ready to end this year with a big bang? Okay, maybe a small bang with intimate friends. Host a Christmas dinner party without breaking the bank. Keeping a low cost holiday party, doesn’t mean you need to avoid all the bells and whistles. You can still bring friends together with the perfect party food, tablescape, warm ambiance and jovial atmosphere. Follow these hosting ideas and tips to create a festive atmosphere to your holiday entertaining.

We decided to step up our Hosting Tips and Tricks and share more ideas about Hosting a Christmas Party! Of course, combine the ideas from both posts to create the ultimate Christmas party!

Don’t host a party, without setting the setting with a Holiday Stovetop Scent.  This fall simmer pot recipe rolls over into Christmas well too.  Consider adding a couple drops of Pine Essential Oils. You can also see our Holiday Essential Oil Blends.

Don’t forget the music. Music will set your party theme. It doesn’t have to be loud but create a festive holiday atmosphere with an Amazon Music playlist (get a free Amazon Music trial for the party.) Either add the songs to create your own party playlist or use one of their many suggest Christmas Party Music Playlists. Use a bluetooth speaker or Amazon Echo Dot.

One stress free hosting hack is to get all your bowls and utensils out days before. Label where each dish and food will go so you know what you still need to borrow from family or a friend. | Pioneer Woman

Add color and a pop to your Christmas party tablescape by adding these candy cane place card markers. | Janine Ngai for LittleThings

Speaking of place markers, in our Wine and Cheese Party Ideas, we have have free printable cheese markers. A great low cost Christmas Party Idea is to offer snacks instead of dinner. You can also pick them up on our free printables page.

Take a look at these Christmas Appetizer Ideas for a holiday party including this adorable olive, rosemary, cheese board wreath. | Home is Where the Boat Is

When is the best time to host a holiday party? During the holiday season, calendars fill up with events and gatherings. Try something different. Take a weekend morning and host a Christmas Brunch. Take a look at these Breakfast Casseroles are great brunch ideas for a Christmas party that feed a large crowd. Maybe send out this Pancakes and Pajamas Christmas brunch party invitation.

What do you do at a holiday party? One idea is to incorporate Minute to Win It Games or Christmas Name That Tune Game. This gets a crowds energy up. Want something a little calmer, try a Holiday Wreath Making Party  or Ornament Exchange Party. You could also go back to a traditional Christmas Cookie Exchange.

Play reindeer games! This Gift Grab Party Game keeps a crowd lively.  You can of course supply your own presents or have people bring presents like a White Elephant Party. | Fun Squared

We have an entire list of Christmas Party Games.  Our list of 19 Party Games include Dice Game, Press Conference, That’s a Wrap, The Good List, Musical Pictionary, Sticker Shock and Mystery Stocking. Eight page games for Christmas set also comes with Christmas Charade Cards and Name that Tune Christmas Style!

If you are hosting a sit down formal Christmas dinner, consider this twist. Make your own DIY Brown Bag Menu. You can use our Hand Lettering Tutorials or you can read directions for how to print on brown paper bags. | Caitlin Flemming at Sacramento Street

Display wrapped gifts around the home and under the Christmas tree for festive dinner party ambiance. If you can add a cinnamon stick or rosemary, it will also help the home smell good. People won’t even realize you are displaying potpourri!  | | Waiting on Martha (use extra Rosemary to make this Rosemary Wreath. You could also attach the Rosemary Wreath as gift wrap decor!)

Don’t have a fire place or don’t want all the heat? Have a relaxing fireplace screensaver for TV. This fire place crackles for 8 hours! Your TV will need a YouTube app to watch this fire effect on TV.

Instead of having an open bar, consider creating a signature drink. This allows you to stock up on one type of alcohol & mixers. These 31 Holiday Cocktail Recipes give you direction.

Reduce or even skip the ice. Favor something more festive, like frozen berries, frozen grapes, even lime and lime wedges. Put them on a wooden skewer, dip them in water, then freeze. Guests drinks will stay cold, give some extra flavor and look fabulous. These frozen grape skewers even help to mix the drink. | Delish

If this is a Christmas Party for kids and adults, make sure to have something that distracts the kids. How do you entertain guests at a party? Keep the kiddo’s entertained this Christmas party table for kids. Place settings are drawn on a kraft paper tablecloth. Add crayons and crafts. | Simply Sweet Soirees (see example Kids Christmas Party Photos here.)

If you are hosting a formal dinner, make sure you know how to set the table. Use this formal place setting image as your guide.

Save these Family Christmas Traditions to Start Now! Pin to Pinterest.

Of course, don’t miss our original Hosting Tips and Tricks for the Holiday Season. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Take your kids on a BACK TO SCHOOL SCAVENGER HUNT for their school supplies.


Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!



Stay in the know with daily deals, recipes, crafts, life hacks and seasonal content on Frugal Coupon Living. Receive this and more in your inbox.