“Keep your list to those people who make you feel special, who you really want to be there,” says entertaining expert Lory Parson of To Have + To Host. “If you tend to spread your Christmas decorations on every available surface, wall, and window, you can lose each element’s special impact,” says Benjamin Bradley, host of Netflix’s Holiday Home Makeover With Mr. Christmas. “That’s why a theme often works best—or select certain areas of your home to focus upon.” Bradley suggests using themes based on characters (such as Santa, the Grinch, or Elf), objects (candy, cookies, or winter forest), or even just colors, such as a silver-and-gold or red-and-white theme. “This allows us to group like themed items or colors and immediately create impact and order.” “Anything you can do to add an extra personal touch to your event will go a long way,” Parson says. She suggests placing a handwritten note on everyone’s seat, letting them know how much you care about them. “Another year, I did a Nordic Christmas with very minimalistic decor details like white birch branches, lots of candles, glass terrariums, and sheepskin blankets over the chairs,” she says. “Pick four favorite foods—a relish dish, a shrimp bowl, a cheese or dip, and one warm element—and serve those in abundance,” Bradley says. “Put your dollars into quantity, not variety. Mounds of shrimp, bacon-wrapped dates, overflowing relish trays, and scrumptious cheeses will look festive and provide something for everyone.” Just make sure you’re attentive to your guests’ food preferences or intolerances. “One of the easiest ways to make guests feel special is to ask ahead of time about any food aversions, restrictions, or allergies,” Blanner says. “Being considerate of our guests’ dietary needs is one of the most thoughtful ways to approach an event with food.” And don’t forget dessert! Individual tiny cakes or treats will be a perfect finish for your party. Consider offering a little something they can enjoy the next morning, such as homemade granola, your favorite coffee or tea, or even a pair of muffins for their morning breakfast. Blanner is also a fan of letting guests take home their favorite treats at the end of the night—so she doesn’t end up with too many leftovers. “We will often include some cute little takeaway treat boxes near our desserts at gatherings. Guests can grab what they’d like on their way out the door at the end of the party.”
