How to Plan an Adult Holiday Party

Grown-up Party Overview

Going to a great adult celebration is something that everyone looks forward to. It's a great time to just think about yourself and not have to worry about the kids making a mess at the party. Planning a grown-up party for the upcoming holiday (Christmas, Halloween, or Fourth of July) that everyone will remember is what your goal should be. Whether you want a themed party or a simple straight-up celebration for the holidays is up to you, and the choices can be limitless.

Host To-do's

Pre-planning: 1 month before your adult holiday party

This is just enough time for you to get the fundamental elements of your party ready and done.

1. Decide on the location — if you're having a theme night or are planning some kind of activity that needs a lot of room, you might want to rent a place. Renting a place might be expensive but the perk of just leaving after the party without the worries of cleaning up, might be a good motivator. However, if you want to save money, then you can always do it at your own place or at friend's backyard.

2. Make your guest list — it's important that you create a list of all the people you'd like to invite to the party. An organized list would also allow you to budget how much you'll spend on each person.

3. Save-the-date invitations — it's also the perfect time to let your guests know as early as now that you're inviting them to a holiday celebration just for adults. This much time will guarantee that there's a big chance they can attend your party.

4. Settle on a budget — once you've gotten all the major details of the party settled, it's very important to set aside your budget for the holiday party you're throwing. This will keep things in perspective and ensure you won't go over the limit you've set on your finances.

Planning: 2 weeks before the big bash

This is the time to get the nitty-gritty details in order and finalized. It's just a few weeks till the party and you don't want to miss or leave anything out at the last minute.

• Invitations. You've sent save-the-dates now its time to send the actual invites with all the details necessary for your chosen guests. If you're celebrating a specific holiday, make that the theme of your invites as well so there'll be no confusion.

• Decorations. Just like the invitations, your decorations should well match the occasion you are celebrating. If it's Fourth of July, the dominant theme should be red, white, and blue and the American flag. If it's a Halloween party, then it's something scary and ghoulish. Just keep it simple, as unlike kids, adults are more into a subdued tone so it's easier to mingle and talk with one another.

• Food. It is the most important part of the party. Without it, there's no party to begin with. If you're having it catered, then you might want to advice the caterer on the party's theme so they can coordinate with table settings and menu. If you're going to do it yourself, then it's important that you plan the menu early and buy most of the ingredients you'll need. You might want to remember to serve some alcoholic drinks as well as some hors d' oeuvres for the party for your guests to snack on during conversations.

Grown-up Holiday Party FAQs and Etiquette

Find out what you need to know before the big day arrives. Here are some of the frequently asked questions when planning any adult party:

How do you politely ask your guests not bring their kids to the party?
Sometimes it's difficult for parents to find a babysitter for their kids. However, you can put somewhere in the invitation "parents night out" or something to that effect and hope that they'd understand it too that the party is supposed to be a night out for the adults.

What should I do when an uninvited guest arrives at my party?
If the guest is someone you know, then there's no other way but to invite them in so they won't get offended. Just remind them in a friendly tone that next time, they should call you before coming to the party.

Can I serve hard alcoholic drinks at the party knowing that most of the guests would have to drive home?
It is ok for you to serve alcoholic drinks at the party, just make sure to remind your guests to have a designated driver.