Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Christmas 5 Steps to a Stress-Free Holiday Party What's the point of a party you can't enjoy? By Nicole Sforza Nicole Sforza Nicole Sforza is a former senior editor at Real Simple and Home Magazine with more than 15 years of experience. Today, she is is the executive editor of Yahoo Lifestyle, Commerce. Highlights: * Former vice president of marketing at Underbuilt.com * Author of three books: "Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home," "You're So Invited: Panic Less, Play More, and Get Your Party On," and "Domino: Your Guide to a Stylish Home" Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Katie Holdefehr Katie Holdefehr Instagram Website Katie Holdefehr is the associate editorial director at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Want to host a holiday party everyone will remember, but without the stressful party prep you want to forget? Let our step-by-step plan be your guide. Cut down on time spent in the kitchen with a simple menu and some store-bought extras. Rather than play bartender all night, create big-batch cocktails that allow guests to help themselves. Then, let a few easy decorations and a scented candle set the scene. With these party tricks up your sleeve, hosting that holiday dinner party just got easier. 40 Elegant and Easy Christmas Recipes for Delicious Holiday Dinners 01 of 05 Make only easy, impressive food. Johnny Miller This stress-free menu comes complete with make-ahead recipes (a few savories and a sweet) and some delicious store-bought extras. Even better: This grab-and-go, finger-food-only menu requires no utensils, meaning less cleanup. Menu: Appetizers: Mini crab cakes with lemon-chive mayonnaise and Artichoke dip Main Event: Raspberry-maple-glazed pork tenderloin with Make-ahead holiday salad Dessert: Chocolate peppermint shortbreads Store-bought goodies: Stock up on mixed olives, pickled vegetables, pistachios, and clementines to set out for guests to snack on before the main meal and between courses. 02 of 05 Step away from the cocktail shaker. Making each guest custom cocktails? Forget about it. These big-batch drinks are crowd-pleasers, and guests will enjoy helping themselves. Mix up a few of these recipes before the party starts, and then set them out on a bar cart—along with a bucket of ice, cocktail napkins, and garnishes: Holiday punch Boozy apple cider slushie Golden ginger-lemon vodka punch Minty Moscow mule punch White Negroni punch 03 of 05 Manage the mood. LightFieldStudios/Getty Images Create atmosphere: Turn off your bright overheads and light candles to give off a warm glow and cozy scent. Enliven with music: To infuse the party with holiday cheer without subjecting folks to back-to-back tracks of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Feliz Navidad," mix traditional holiday tunes with modern favorites. If your party is scheduled for later in the holiday season, guests will be especially grateful for a mix of new and old favorites. 14 Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas That Take 5 Minutes or Less 04 of 05 Work some behind-the-scenes magic. Spiderstock/Getty Images Rent a coat rack: It beats having guests pile jackets on your bed. Check party-rental sites: Coatracks cost about $20, and often include hangers. Set the rack in the entryway against a wall. Soak dirty dishes: Fill a large plastic bin with warm, soapy water and keep it in the kitchen. Toss in used dishes during the party to save time scrubbing later. Clear the air: Remember to crack a window open to bring some fresh, cool air into the room. You may need to adjust as more guests arrive and the room heats up. 05 of 05 Wind it down with subtle hints. magnetcreative/Getty Images Subtly signal that the party is over: Lower the music, blow out a couple candles, and turn on one light. If guests don't get the hint, resort to Plan B: Start cleaning up. Dole out leftovers: Buy to-go boxes for guests to take leftovers home. Tidy up a tad (then hit the hay): After guests are gone, take out the trash and recycling so your house doesn't smell when you wake up. Check for any spills or stains on furniture, but leave the heavy cleaning until tomorrow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit