This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. When you are hosting a holiday get together, there are some rules of thumb you should follow. No matter if you have 2 or 20 people over, you want to make sure all of your bases are covered and your guests are well treated, well fed and hoping for an invitation to next year’s shindig! If you are hoping to be planning the perfect holiday party this year, here are some great tips to follow:

Holiday Party Planning Tips

• Space: Before you can invite any guests, you need to know how many people you can accommodate. They say you should take the square footage of the area you want to use for the party and divide it by 5. Now add 20% to that number and you get a pretty good estimate of how many people you can fit into your space. Now you know how many people to mail those invitations to!
• People: Send out your invitations at least 3-4 weeks ahead of time, especially during the holidays. People will start to accept invitations pretty early and you don’t want to get caught with no one coming to your get together. Be sure to have an R.S.V.P. so you get an accurate number of who is coming to your party.
• Drinks: Be sure to serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Have plenty of ice on hand as well as a variety of wines, liquor and mixers. Be sure to serve at least one hot drink, especially if the party is on a chilly day/night.

• Food: I would rather have leftovers than to have hungry guests at a party. Be sure to serve a variety of foods, including vegetarian options. Are you planning a buffet, a sit down dinner or just hors d’oeuvres? Plan your menu accordingly, shop well in advance and don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your food. Be sure to serve traditional dishes, but don’t be afraid to update them and put your own twist on a family favorite.
• Music: A party is not a party without music! Be sure to make a playlist with plenty of genres of music so everyone can hear something they enjoy. Keep the volume up enough so your guests can hear the music but not so loud it drowns out their conversation.
  Decorations: Whenever possible, decorate with that you already have on hand. For the things you need, shop at your local thrift store or garage sales. I have found such interesting and unique items at my local Goodwill.
• Dishes and Flatware: If you do not have enough dinner and flatware, you have two options. You can buy some nice plastic options or you can rent. You may be surprised at how affordable the rental option is. When it comes to serving dishes, use what you can of your own and supplement with the rest. Again, think of renting or borrow from friends, neighbors or family.
• Delegate: Do not knock yourself out by trying to do everything yourself. Get your family to lend a hand. The kids can help decorate while our husband can rig the stereo. My kids are old enough to even help write the invitations.

When I have a family get together, there is usually anywhere from 6-10 people. Last year, everyone was out of town, so it was just my husband and I and the kids. I must say, it was one of the most fun holiday parties we have ever had! When I made my Layered Green Bean Casserole Shepherd’s Pie,  I served them in my small soufflé cups. This way, each of us were able to have an individual serving. They were a smash hit! I cannot wait to serve these at our holiday party for our family and friends. You can be sure I am using my tips for planning the perfect holiday party too!

What tips for planning the perfect holiday party can you share?