Top 10 Tips For Christmas Party Success
December 2010: To make this Christmas your most merry yet, Forte Catering & Events is sharing its top 10 tips to ensure your party runs a smoothly as Santa’s sleigh on Christmas day! Follow Forte’s festive party pointers below and you’ll be the talk of the town this silly season.
1. Get planning... NOW!
With venues in short supply it is essential that you start planning now, sure Christmas seems a while away but it won’t be long before ol’ Saint Nick is knocking on the door! Who wants the stress of last minute planning when you could be soaking up the Christmas spirit? Start by choosing and booking your venue, constructing a checklist and setting deadlines of when tasks need to be complete.
2. Well fed
Having enough food at your event is key to ensuring your guests enjoy themselves. There’s nothing worse that leaving a party with a rumbling tummy or reaching for a canapé only to find there are none left! Anthony Sullivan, Executive Chef at Forte Catering & Events recommends you allow for 10-15 pieces of food per person at a three hour cocktail event. Simply apply this rule to the duration of your event and you can’t go wrong!
3. Mix it up
Christmas is a time for tradition and while decadent roasts with all the trimmings are a classic Christmas choice, who really wants to be sweating it up over a hot meal on an even hotter day? For a cooler option that’s a little more creative why not try something different? The team at Forte Catering & Events has an array of Christmas recipe ideas that are sure to inject some originality to your Christmas fare. Log onto www.fortecatering.com.au for some great recipe ideas including Streaky Bay scallops, fennel and grapefruit salad and barbequed Yamba King prawns.
4. Give me more
When it comes to hosting a successful Christmas soiree more is certainly more! People really do appreciate the extra effort and it is often the attention to the finer details that gets noticed. Why not invest in some delightful festive decorations like a Christmas tree or bon bons for everyone upon arrival.
5. It’s YOUR party
It’s your party and sure, you can cry if you want to! But why not make this Christmas your best yet by enlisting in the help of some professionals? Do you really want to be tied up in the kitchen, slaving over the stove while your guests are outside wondering where the host is? Employ wait staff from Forte Catering to get in your kitchen, so you can get out!
6. You gotta have faith
If you have decided to hand over the reins to someone else, ensure you really do let go and trust in the advice of your caterers and suppliers. Companies such as Forte Catering & Events are in the business of event planning and execution so take a deep breath and leave the worrying to someone else!
7. Cater to all
Sipping on a glass of bubbly and feasting on some meaty morsels might sound delightful to you, but what about the other guests? As a vegetarian, there’s nothing worse than going to a party and realising there is nothing for you to eat, or as a non-drinker searching for a soft drink amongst a sea of sparking and sav-blanc! Make sure you are prepared for the dietary requirements you may encounter and ensure you have plenty of soft drink and vegetarian options for your guests.
8. Be responsible
Nominating yourself as designated driver can seem like a good idea at the time, however rocking up to a party, where the champagne is flowing and the cocktails are circulating can be a tricky situation to master! If guests do arrive with their keys in their hand, make sure they leave the party booze free or have taxis on hand for those who may have been lured into the land of liquor!
9. Don’t blow the budget
Big spend doesn’t necessarily equal big result and for many of us blowing the budget is not an option. But, use your creativity wisely and you can certainly create an event to remember. Why not offer fun interactive activities like organising Kris Kringle gifts between your guests or prizes under each guest’s chair.
10. Don’t go changing
Keep stress to a minimum by sticking to the plan. Last minute changes can end tragically even for the best planned event. Start your party plans early with a checklist and detailed plan of how things will run... and don’t deviate!