How to plan a Christmas party at home
A Christmas party at home has no vendors and one real constraint: December. Everyone's weekends are spoken for by the end of November, so the invite matters more than anything else on the list. After that it's shared food, lights up two days ahead, and one thing for everyone to do together.
Christmas party checklist
6 weeks before
- Draft the guest list
- Book the venue, or confirm the space at home
4 weeks before
- Send invitations
- Choose the menu
- Pick a theme and décor
2 weeks before
- Chase RSVPs from anyone who hasn't replied
- Open the potluck sign-up
7 days before
- Lock the headcount
- Collect allergy and dietary notes
- Buy decorations and non-perishables
- Draft the party-day run of show
2 days before
- Put up lights and festive décor
1 day before
- Send guests parking and arrival details
- Buy perishables and ice
Party day
- Set up décor and the space
2 days after
- Send thank-you notes
- Settle costs with co-hosts
- Share photos with guests
Add your date, guest count and budget and get this checklist with real due dates, plus a menu that respects dietary needs.
Plan mine freeHow to split the budget
A typical split for a Christmas party, shown for 25 guests and a $500 budget. The percentages hold at any size, and the budget calculator splits your own number.
| Category | Share | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Food & drinks | 50% | $250 |
| Decorations & lights | 20% | $100 |
| Plates & supplies | 12% | $60 |
| Activities | 10% | $50 |
| Buffer | 8% | $40 |
Party-day schedule
A 4-hour party starting at 5:00 PM.
- 4:00 PMSet up the space and décor
- 4:45 PMFinal walk-through, music on
- 5:00 PMGuests arrive
- 5:30 PMFestive ritual or activity
- 6:00 PMFood
- 7:00 PMSweets, games and music
- 9:00 PMParty ends, start clean-up
Menu ideas
- Beef sliders
- Chicken wings
- Caprese skewers
- Hummus and veggie platter
- Cheese and charcuterie board
- Mini tacos
- Dessert bar
- Mocktails and sparkling water
Shopping for 25
- Plates38 plates
- Cups75 cups
- Napkins75 napkins
- Drinks75 cans or bottles
- Ice3 × 10 lb bags
- Trash bags2 bags
Tips from the plan
- Send invites before December
- Four weeks out is the minimum and six is better. Office parties, school concerts and family visits fill the calendar fast.
- Let guests bring a dish
- Open a sign-up two weeks out. People like bringing the thing their family always makes, and it takes the food bill down a long way.
- Decorate two days ahead
- Lights and a tree take an afternoon. Do it while the house is empty and leave party day for the food.
- Plan one thing to do together
- A gift swap, a quiz or carols, about half an hour after the doors open. It gets everyone in one room before the food comes out.
Questions
How far in advance should I plan a Christmas party?
Six weeks if you can, because December weekends go first. Send invites at four weeks at the latest, open the food sign-up at two, lock the headcount a week out and put the lights up two days before.
How much should I budget for a Christmas party?
Food and drinks take about half. Decorations and lights are a bigger share than at most parties, around a fifth, with plates and supplies, an activity and a buffer making up the rest.
What's a good schedule for a Christmas party?
Four hours from late afternoon: guests arrive, a gift swap or activity follows about half an hour in, food at the hour mark, then sweets, games and music.
How do I run a gift swap?
Set a price limit on the invite and ask everyone to bring one wrapped gift. Draw numbers on the night. It works as the party's one organised activity and costs the host nothing.