9 Tasks to Complete Before Hosting a Holiday Party

Prep Your Guest List

If you’re already looking at your calendar and marking off dates for your holiday soiree, Fiocchi tells us there’s one thing you can definitely get a head start on. “First and foremost: compile guest lists and guest counts,” she says. 

Use Your Guest List to Pre-Plan Your Menu

Once your guest list is finalized (or at least outlined), then it’s time to make sure you have all the critical information about your guests. “Find out if anyone has allergies or dietary requirements, and use this information to gather ideas for the menu and a signature cocktail or mocktails,” Fiocchi says.

From there, decide how you want food arranged and served. If you're serving more than passed hors d'oeuvres, Fiocchi notes that there are plenty of meal options.

"Buffet style, family style, or sit down?" Fiocchi suggests asking yourself. "Next, consider how you want your guests to flow through your home.” This will help determine if the meal will be entirely seated or not.

Map Out Your Decor

Once you have an idea of how you’ll serve your food and drinks, Fiocchi says it’s time to start thinking about where you'll serve it—and namely, the decor involved. “Brainstorm a vibe for tablescapes and select a color theme," she advises. "Shop or choose table linens, dinnerware, and server ware."

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Consider Your Special Touches

Once your food is planned out, Fiocchi says you can start focusing on the smaller details. A special detail she loves is to leave a "goodie" for guests on their place setting that they can take home. This definitely requires some advanced planning but is worth it to make guests feel special.

“My mom always baked gingerbread men for her guests’ place settings with their names handwritten on them," Fiocchi shares. "Embroidered linens also offer a personalized touch."

Prepare Food Shopping Lists

One week before your guests arrive, Fiocchi says it’s time to prepare a shopping list for meals, purchase dry goods and non-perishables, and set out and organize dinnerware. "I also like to pre-style my table in advance and play around with tablescapes,” she notes.  

Then, the night before your event, Fiocchi says it’s officially time to finalize lighting and set the table. The show is about to begin!

Tidy Up—and Don’t Forget the Bedrooms

As you clean your home before the party, even if you’re not expecting overnight guests, don’t assume any room is off-limits. “You never know if a guest needs a moment of privacy,” Fiocchi tells us.

Clean Out the Coat Closet

Whether you have a dedicated coat closet or not, Fiocchi says you should also plan ahead for where to direct your guests upon arrival. “Make sure there is plenty of room for guests’ coats and belongings,” she tells us.

Buy Your Flowers

Fiocchi tells us that she buys her flowers ahead of the big day, but she saves the final arrangements for the morning of the party. “I shop for flowers in advance, but I like to assemble flower arrangements the day of, as I find it a relaxing activity before guests arrive,” Fiocchi says. 

Prep the Easy Food Early

The night before the event, Fiocchi advises prepping any food you can, especially anything you'll need for the start of the party.

“Sometimes everyone arrives at the same time, so I like to prepare and assemble easy hors d’oeuvres—such as cheese boards and crudité—and refrigerate the night before,” she tells us. “It’s effortless to pull out when guests arrive.”