Six essential planning tips for stress-free holiday hosting—from group-friendly meals to managing expectations
It is that time of year again, when both the chilly air and longer nights make staying in and spending time with family more inviting. Well, after years of suggesting you be the host of the holiday get-together, this year is that year! Welcome the whole family for your debut night of toasty, festive and wholesome fun that caters to all generations – all while looking like a pro. After reading these holiday hosting tips for large families, you’ll be asked to welcome the family over for every gathering from now on!
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HOW TO HOST THE FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: AT A GLANCE
This article provides a guide to hosting a memorable family get-together with the following considerations:
- Invite your family to the soiree with fun invitations
- Menu-planning and group meal options
- How to create a festive atmosphere
- All-ages activities, perfect for family gatherings
- How to manage expectations and emotions
And remember, hosting doesn’t mean doing it all on your own—delegate tasks to willing friends and family. Bounce ideas around! See what others think of your plans; they might offer creative insight as well.
Pro tip: Ask family members to share recipes, expert tips, favorite party games, and activity ideas, making it a group effort holiday affair.
1. INVITE THE WHOLE FAMILY
First things first, alert the family! There can’t be a party to host if there aren’t any guests.
Start by reaching out to distant family members and asking them to be a part of your holiday soiree. See which dates and times work best for everyone – this will give you a good idea of what accommodates most of the family.
To ensure that every invitee can attend, it’s best to send invitations as soon as possible. As a good rule of thumb, have a date and time selected and send out RSVP’s approximately 8-10 weeks before the event. This will give both you and your family members enough time to prepare and book travel accommodation (if needed).
Invitation Options
Holiday invitations don’t have to be stressful. Have the little ones create homemade cards that you can fill out, or send online invitations to family members instantly. You can also use this as an opportunity to reach out by phone or via Skype or FaceTime to connect directly with distant relatives and record or jot down their RSVP.
2. HOW TO FEED A CROWD
It’s always good to start menu planning early, with viable food and refreshment options you feel comfortable preparing at home. Have the food selection and party favors finalized two weeks before the party. This gives you time to figure out which ingredients and supplies you need for the event.
Additionally, prep, prep, prep! Anything you can prepare ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate the night before the party will help alleviate pre-bash jitters the day of your event.
Pro tip: Most grocery stores and retailers like Vons, Target, and Walmart run weekly sales that end on Saturdays, so research if anything you need is on sale at local stores and save money.
Let’s be honest. Hosting a big family gathering for the holidays can be stressful and figuring out how to feed everyone can be a challenge —but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some ideas for feeding many hungry mouths this holiday season, beyond a large stuffed turkey and the usual trimmings.
Throw a Potluck Party
You can get the whole family involved and make the party a potluck. These group meal traditions are the perfect way to bring everyone together and add a little of their own flair to the festivities. Plus, this way you can be sure there will be at least something for everyone to eat – including the picky palates. Come up with a list of foods that suit all tastes, keeping allergies and dietary restrictions in mind. You can ask your guests to review the list and sign up for a food item of their choice.
Set Up a Crockpot Buffet
Make your kitchen into a homemade buffet-style dinner by utilizing crockpots. Not only do they slowly cook your food to perfection with minimal hands-on cooking, but they also double as serving ware, meaning fewer dishes to wash later. The help-yourself setup also lets your family members serve themselves, giving you more time to socialize and focus on bringing holiday joy to the whole house.
Bake Sweet Treats Together
Get the kids involved! Bake holiday-shaped sugar cookies and have the little ones decorate them with frosting and sprinkles. Then, share them with the entire family. If you bake enough, package them in festive plastic or cookie tins as special holiday party favors.
3. FESTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL DECOR
You’ve got a big family, but do you have enough space to host them all, including creating a festive atmosphere? Probably not, and that’s okay. There are ways to decorate your house without compromising on space. Here are some ideas for hosting your big family in a small space while still putting up holiday decor to match the occasion.
Spruce Up Furniture with Festive Decor
No matter how many people are expected to show up, they’ll need somewhere to sit. Why not decorate the furniture to match the season? Swap out your regular blankets and pillows for holiday-themed ones. Bring a pop of warm color and holiday cheer to your home without losing any additional space for family members to relax.
Christmas Tree Alternatives
What’s a holiday season without an iconic Christmas tree to decorate and admire? Unfortunately, they can take up a lot of space. But something as symbolic and special as a Christmas tree shouldn’t have to go. Instead, think about getting a half or corner-shaped tree. They fit snugly into the corners of any room and help resolve the feeling of being too crammed while still allowing you to display sentimental ornaments and twinkling lights. And remember, there’s no shame in showcasing smaller trees, such as tabletop trees, that can fit throughout your home.
Hang Holiday Artwork
Don’t forget the walls when decorating for the holidays. Walls provide ample space for holiday decorations, including holiday banners, stockings and even DIY décor projects from the kiddos.
Pro Tip: This is a fantastic activity for kids. Assist them with ideas for what they could create and have them use their holiday art projects as decorations.
Mood Lighting and Holiday Scents
Whisk your family on a sensory journey back to nostalgic holiday moments with themed candles and sparkling lights. Set the mood and atmosphere with pumpkin spice or pine-scented candles or wax melts. Warm twinkling Christmas lights capture the spirit of the season, creating a cozy ambiance where your family will want to settle in and spend time together.
4. ACTIVITIES ACROSS AGES
Make unforgettable memories with the whole family through fun games and activities. Have a few things planned to entertain the varied demographics of your guests.
- Young guests: Create an arts and crafts corner, set up fun board games, and have a classic Christmas movie playing on the TV for them to watch. The best activities might be the ones that tire them out, so think about games like Twister or Just Dance, which are both exciting and use up a lot of their energy.
- Adults: Provide a selection of spirits and non-alcoholic holiday favorites and catch up, play charades, or even sing along to festive karaoke.
- Late night: When the gathering eventually blends into the late hours of the evening, have a room or two in the house designated as “quiet spaces,” where guests can take a break from sensory stimulation, or where younger family members can fall asleep.
5. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS & EMOTIONS
It’s essential to realize that no amount of planning will produce a flawless affair. No matter how much you try to plan for that day, you will likely face some unforeseen issues, and that’s okay.
Manage Your Expectations
Take it one thing at a time and remember to breathe. Remind yourself that there doesn’t have to be something always going on. Give your family some downtime to sit around, get comfortable and chat. Make sure you’re giving yourself little breaks here and there as well; you deserve it.
6. EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DIFFUSE TENSE SITUATIONS
- Familial tension can occur at any family reunion. If you find yourself having to defuse a heated situation, offer the disputing party separate spaces to calm down. This is where “quiet spaces” come in handy.
- If you know Uncle Bob enjoys a few too many glasses of scotch, set up the liquor or bar area away from the main gathering space to keep temptation out of sight.
- If there are specific topics or activities you know a family member doesn’t like, try steering conversations away from those topics and offering other things to participate in.
- Provide family members with a choice to opt out of any bonding activities that may provide uncomfortable situations. Having multiple all-ages activities and designated quiet areas of the house offers an ideal solution.
HOSTING FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Finally, embrace the chaos; this is the stuff memories are made of! You only have one family, so love them for who they are. One day, you’ll look back on this event and, rather than remembering how stressed you felt, you will remember it as the heart-warming experience you got to share with all your loved ones.
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Written by Destiny Rena Ryan
