If you are hosting an outdoor Christmas party, then you are about to build your very own Winter Wonderland. Think about it – shimmering lights, warm coffee, elegant Christmas decorations, and Christmas carols setting the tone for the evening. It is undoubtedly going to be a very fun journey, but there are a few guidelines that can make it a lot easier as well. These are the essential tips for planning your outdoor Christmas party!
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1. You Have to Choose a Theme
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This should be at the top of your to-do list because you need to coordinate everything from decorations to furniture to music and even the food and beverages to a central theme of the party. Are you going for a “White Christmas” party or are you taking a more modern approach with the holiday festivities? You could do a “Santa-themed” party or perhaps one related to some of your favorite Christmas movies. While Home Alone is a holiday classic, it’s going to clash with the vintage decorations and mood. So, you have to make a choice before you can start developing it.
2. Start Your Plan Early
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Whether you’ve chosen an “It’s a Wonderful Life” or a Grinch-themed party, timing is of the essence. Everybody is going to host parties for Christmas (and New Year’s Eve not too long after) and you might find that the best decorations are already sold out by mid-December. So, plan the specifics of your party early on and place the orders for what you need before the holiday madness kicks in. You should have a comprehensive list of the things that you need for the party to make things easy to follow.
3. Make Sure Your Lawn Can Handle the Pressure
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Outdoor parties are very different from those you host indoors and your lawn plays a very important role in how your big night will turn out. You are probably going to have 20-30 people trampling on your lawn for a number of hours. If it’s not in tip-top shape, then everybody is going to get mud on their shoes and clothes. Imagine the stains, the noise, and disgusted faces, with “All I Want for Christmas is You” playing in the background. Not a pretty sight, right? Our advice is, if you want your lawn to be able to take the pressure of your fabulous Christmas party, then you’ll have to consider some preventive measures to stop it from getting compacted. It will go a long way with each and every one of your guests!
4. Prepare Yard Furniture for the Big Event
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The other huge difference between an indoor and outdoor party is the furniture. You need to have furniture that is suited for outdoor conditions if you want everything to go smoothly. Depending on how many people you are planning to invite, you should make a plan of the yard and include enough furniture for everybody. You can rent out furniture for the event, so you won’t need to make a large investment, but you should have a clear idea of where everything is going to be placed and how it fits in with the surrounds.
5. Christmas Lights Make Everything Cozy
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It can’t be a Christmas party without the lights and the decorations, so let your imagination roam free and turn your yard into your very own Yuletide fairytale! Keep in mind that you have more than a tree to decorate, so you have a lot of planning to do. You should use more Christmas lights than decorations because your outdoor party is likely to continue after sundown, so they have to be visible.
6. Music Makes the Holiday Spirit Grow
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The music you will play at your party has to get your guests into the Christmas spirit, so start working on your playlist early on. Remember that you can only play “Santa Baby” so many times before it stops being charming, so you have to be creative. Throw in some Sinatra, some Mariah, but also something more modern. A good idea would be to include pop or rock covers of your favorite holiday classics. It’s bound to score some giggles. You can also try famous songs from the biggest Christmas movie soundtracks, which is guaranteed to get people talking about their favorites and perhaps requesting some of their own!
7. Adapt Your Menu to the Holidays
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If you have the lights, the music, and the decorations, now you need to create the menu for your party. Since this is all happening outside, you might want to keep things a bit simpler. You are best off making a buffet. This way, everybody can get their favorites. Bite-sized food is ideal for this type of party and you can experiment a lot with food decorations. Your aim should be to make everything in the spirit of Christmas. Make sure you have some of the major favorites like roasted potatoes, roast ham and chicken, and all the Christmas cookies you can fit in.
As you can see, you have a lot of planning to do for your outdoor Christmas party and every step of the way is going to be part of the joy. From choosing a theme to shaping everything into your Winter Wonderland and all the way to creating the menu and the playlist, you are in for an amazing journey!
