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Hosting A Holiday Party?
Make It a Sure Winner with Creative Thinking

If this is your first time organizing a holiday event for your family, friends, community or co-workers you're probably stressed past the breaking point. But even if you're an expert, the thought of another routine holiday bash may be making you wish for a magic wand to make the job easier

Here are some expert tips for turning your party from blah to blowout! Phyllis Cambria and Patty Sachs of PartyPlansPlus.com, offer their best tips for holiday party success. The co-authors of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Throwing a Great Party, Cambria and Sachs bring several decades of party throwing to the holiday how-to table.

Get Help
Organize the more social members of your group or family into a planning team. Not only will they give you input for party ideas, but by making them part of the process, you can guarantee there will be less grumbling about the plans made. Solicit ideas from everyone. You, or your team, can email or call others who will be at the party. You might want to make up a short questionnaire to limit the suggestions but still provide choices to your guests. If you're planning the company party, setting up a suggestion box might work just as well.

Let's Get Outta Here
If you normally hold your party in the school cafeteria or the office, it might be tough for your guests to get into the holiday spirit. Move the party to another, more festive site. Think outside the box and choose an art gallery, day-cruise ship, museum, country inn, ice rink or other non-traditional locale. Or pile the gang onto a chartered bus, serve snacks-on-the-go and tour your city's holiday fireworks displays. By adding sightseeing or an activity to your party you will guarantee that mixing and mingling will be easy for even the shyest wall flower in the group.

Is it the Season for Giving?
Most people like to give to charities. Make it easy for your group to do so by setting up an area at the party where they can donate non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys. These then can be gathered and donated to a charity or two in your area.

When the Music Moves You
If you can't afford to bring in a live band or DJ, at least provide a quality sound system with a multi-disc player. Ask your guests to bring in their favorite CDs, set the player on random play and then put someone in charge of periodically changing the albums to ensure a variety of music. Another viable option for music is the use of your "in-house" talent bank. Musical genius may dwell within your circle of family or friends.

Peace on Earth
If your party is for a group or the office, when the party is held in the afternoon, it's understandable if it's an members-only affair. However, if it's an evening event, allowing your guests to bring their spouse or a friend will go a long way to keeping peace, at least in their home. If you plan a family event, be sure to plan extra-special activities, refreshments and gifts for youngsters.

Be Responsible
Provide festive and delicious non-alcoholic drinks for tee-totalers. Depending on the circumstances, it's possible that you might find yourself liable if an guest causes an accident while driving home intoxicated from your party. Either limit alcohol consumption, provide party-goers with a ride home, or set up a designated driver car pool.

It is Better to Give -- Real Gifts
When selecting a guest gift or take-home favor, avoid items that are inexpensive -- or give aways -- and look it. A favor emblazoned with a company logo, no matter how attractive or useful, still serves as an advertising specialty rather than a true gift. A perfect present is one personalized with the name of the guest or at least one that has been specially selected for that individual.

This time of year affords you the ideal opportunity to reward people who have added joy, or at least an occasional smile, to your life with a festive break from their daily pursuits. Your warm, friendly and fun gathering will be remembered and appreciated by your guests... until the next holiday.

Have a Happy Holiday!

Source: PartyPlansPlus.com

also see -> Office Party Activities | Office Party Ideas

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