How to Host a Holiday Party 🎄

Ten tips for gathering your people, without losing your mind

Let’s Party

I’m writing this the day before hosting 35+ people in our 800-ish sq. ft. Oakland duplex. No dishwasher, just vibes. The goal is for guests to have fun, feel comfortable in our space and meet new people. I like things to look nice + taste delicious, but not at the expense of my mental health, freelancer’s budget and overall bandwidth. I am not looking to win a tablescape award or go viral for a Christmas tree-shaped charcuterie board.

I’ve been hosting a holiday cocktail party since 2009. It started back in my Park Slope days with my 3 roommates in a railroad brownstone. We hosted hoards of hipsters with jugs of Carlo Rosso and gingerbread cake. Sweet red wine + gingerbread is still an elite pairing. There was the year in Astoria when my friends hired a local mariachi band to play Feliz Navidad on repeat.

My family is full of great hosts, with one side of the family a bit more formal than the other. Watching them has been the greatest education for me. Over the years, I’ve also gleaned ideas from food and prop stylists, and leading content strategy for Williams Sonoma’s Art of Entertaining campaign. I’m more of an Ina than a Martha, despite making a Christmas tree out of clementines this year.

I could dedicate an entire newsletter publication to hosting (in fact, maybe I will) but for now, sharing 10 key tips, keeping in mind budget, bandwidth and making sure you have fun at your own party. Use this guide for any gathering throughout the year.