The team of Holiday Part Planning wants to warmly wish
to all the readers 'Merry Christmas'.
We hope that the new year is going to bring you the new, exciting ways to plan
and spend your holidays.
Happy New Year!

Planning a holiday gathering this year? For a festive celebration that will wow your friends and family, think like a professional party planner.

A good party planner's first task is to create a schedule that outlines deadlines for decorating your home, creating your menu, and shopping for party favors. Planning ahead is the key to eliminating last-minute chaos.

First on your list should be the decorations. Making your own will personalize the party and set the tone for the evening. Whether you are looking for a casual feeling or something more upscale, your decorations will help create the right mood.

Décor

"The first impression of your holiday party begins at the front door," said Larrisa Gleason of Beckett Corporation. "Create an elegant entryway by floating poinsettias or decorative glass ornaments in your existing birdbath or reflection pool."

Once inside, your table is the center of the party and you'll want your centerpiece to be impressive. Here's a simple idea that is also striking: a cake stand centerpiece. Decorate a plain cake stand with thin velvet ribbon and miniature pinecones using Perfect Glue 1, an adhesive made to work on a variety of surfaces. Once you've assembled it, add some festive pillar candles of different heights for a dramatic effect.

Party Food

Next on your schedule should be planning your menu. Will you serve cocktails and hors d'oeuvres or prepare a formal sit-down dinner? Once you've decided on a menu, it will be easy to put together your shopping list and a cooking schedule. Determine what items you can make ahead of time or the day before.

If planning a formal party, one elegant touch is to include individual dinner menus at each place setting. Compose the list of courses (first course, main course, and dessert) and print it out on lightweight vellum. Using pieces of cardstock cut slightly bigger, place a drop of Perfect Glue 1 at the top of each piece of cardstock and press menu on top. Finish by decorating with velvet ribbon and miniature pinecones.

Party Favors

Party favors can serve a dual purpose as a decoration during the party as well as a nice parting gift for your guests. From elegant treat cones that hang on a small tree to playful matchboxes filled with goodies, use your creativity to personalize your favors.

If the party you are planning is very large or you are just lacking the time to plan a party at this point in your life, you might want to consider hiring a professional party planning business for help. These skilled experts know how to handle all facets of your upcoming party and can take the burden off your shoulders.

Here are some tips for hiring a party planning professional:

• Ask for referrals from friends, colleagues, caterers and local businesses. Set up appointments for consultations.
• Scope out the Better Business Bureau before hiring a party planning business to see if any complaints have been made against that business.
• Interview prospects. Ask how many events like yours the planner has done in the past. Ask for her creative ideas. Ask how she troubleshoots and handles mishaps.
• Consider his or her track record. Every event planner worth his or her weight has a portfolio.
• List the tasks you want taken off your shoulders.
• Discuss whether you will be billed by the event, by the hour or as a percentage of the total cost of the party. Talk about how willing you are to go over budget.
• If it would make you more comfortable, call references or drop by an event the professional you are considering is conducting in the near future to scope out the scene.
• Jot down your ideas, theme, color considerations, entertainment preferences, and anything you feel you want personalized for your professional.
• Once you hire someone, let go. If you micromanage that person, you might as well have saved the money and done it all yourself. Keep in mind that the purpose of your hired professional is to ease the burden on yourself.