14 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Hosting A Holiday Gathering

The holidays can feel like a never-ending series of cocktail parties and family gatherings. There’s always an excuse to throw a party in the winter, and you may even plan on hosting one or more parties at your home this year. While no concrete entertaining rules exist that you must abide by as the host, there are many mistakes you should avoid to ensure every holiday event you plan is flawless.

Some of the most common mistakes people make when hosting a holiday party include serving food that is late or cold, and not factoring in guests' dietary restrictions. Ensure you have plenty of serving platters and utensils, as well as ample seating for guests. Don’t try to take on more than you can execute, and never over-serve alcohol to your guests.

As you plan a holiday party, it’s essential to think of everything that can go wrong and then do what you can to stop these errors before they start. Even a simple holiday get-together can go off the rails when you make a simple yet easy-to-avoid mistake. Below is a list of the most common mistakes to avoid the next time you host a holiday party.

14 Mistakes To Avoid The Next Time You Host A Holiday Party

1. Forgetting To Ask About Dietary Restrictions

Allergies and other dietary restrictions are more common and diverse than ever before. You must have a firm grasp on your guests’ dietary restrictions, whether someone has a severe allergy to peanuts or a mild gluten sensitivity.

The best way to know this is to ask them about food allergies, sensitivities or restrictions. If you send an invitation for your gathering, you can include a line for guests to list dietary restrictions and allergies. Factoring in dietary limitations will go a long way toward impressing your guests and making them feel acknowledged.

2. Serving Cold Or Soggy Food

When hosting a holiday party that involves serving food, timing is everything. Many gatherings last for hours, but food only stays fresh for a fraction of that time. To avoid serving cold, soggy food, serve it when it’s fresh.

If you are hosting a cocktail party, consider serving food in phases. This way, it isn’t getting cold on a table, but instead it is regularly replenished. Consider adding menu items that stay fresh and tasty for longer, such as dips, crackers, and charcuterie. 

3. A Lack Of Serving Dishes And Cutlery

If you don’t throw parties often, then it’s easy to overlook a few basic things, including equipment. One common mistake people make when hosting holiday parties is not having enough serving dishes and utensils. The result is serving delicious food on ugly sheet pans.

Before hosting a party, take inventory of your kitchen equipment. If you need more platters, take a quick trip to the thrift store or a local home goods retailer to buy what you are missing.

4. Creating A Menu That’s Too Complicated 

It’s normal to have a desire to impress your guests when you host a party. The home should look immaculate, and you want the menu to be equally impressive. While there is nothing wrong with making this a goal, you should avoid creating a menu that’s too complex to execute effectively.

Only cook foods you know you can make well. If you are worried one dish might take too long, or won’t taste great, then swap it out for something you know you're skilled at preparing.

5. Not Enough Food

It’s entirely possible to host a holiday party on a tight budget, but you should never save money by cutting out food. People come to holiday parties hungry and thirsty, and it’s your job as host to ensure there is plenty of food and drink to go around.

To avoid the mistake of running out of food, it’s always good to have some backup. If you are worried there won’t be enough food, consider making a few extra side dishes or purchasing some frozen appetizers to heat up if you run low on other items. 

6. Over-Serving Alcohol

The holidays are all about being merry, and for some people, that means drinking a bit more alcohol than usual. The vast majority of adult holiday parties involve alcoholic holiday beverages, but you must do your best to avoid over-serving your guests.

If you prepare a signature cocktail or batch of holiday spirits, don’t make it too strong. Instead of leaving an open bar unmanned, consider keeping alcohol in the kitchen or in a designated serving area. Never provide your guests with too much alcohol, as it can be dangerous and have dire consequences.

7. Parking Issues

Depending on where you live, parking can be a challenge when you host a party. While you can’t magically create more parking spaces for your party, you can find ways to make parking as seamless as possible.

Encourage carpooling among friends and family members. You can also speak with neighbors (especially if you’ve invited some of them) and see if guests can park in their driveway as well.

8. Not Enough Seating

When you host a party that lasts several hours, your guests will eventually want to sit down and rest. While you don’t need seating for all your guests at all times, if you are hosting a cocktail-themed event, you must have as much seating as possible.

A lack of seating is a simple oversight, but it can make your guests uncomfortable and even restless.

9. A Lack Of Theme Or Concept

When hosting a holiday party, you don’t need elaborate decorations and themes, but you should have a clear concept. Try to serve food and beverages that complement each other, rather than a bunch of random flavors. 

When a party lacks direction, it can appear sloppy and disorganized. When in doubt, keep things simple and stick to a winter holiday-themed menu.

10. Trying To Do Everything Yourself

Just because you're hosting a party, it doesn’t mean you need to do everything yourself. In fact, trying to complete every task and cook all the food for a party yourself is often impossible.

Instead of stressing out and making mistakes, consider asking for help, or at least accepting it from friends and family when they offer it.

11. A Failure To Prepare In Advance

If you’ve never hosted a holiday party before, one important tip is to do as much cooking, cleaning, and cooking prep as possible at least a day or two before the party.

You can prepare many menu items the day before and simply reheat them on the day of the party. Instead of scrambling to do everything on the day of an event, accomplish everything you possibly can in advance.

12. Forgetting To Clean And Organize Beforehand

In addition to decorating your home, ensure it's as clean as possible. Deep cleaning should be done at least one day in advance. This ensures you don’t cut into valuable cooking and decorating time on the day of your party. 

Furthermore, you don’t want your home to smell like cleaning products the day of your party.

13. No Music, Ambience, Or Activities

Hosting a party is all about creating a welcoming ambience. One mistake many hosts make is forgetting about music, mood, and activities. It’s easy to neglect the “vibe” when you are singularly focused on cooking and cleaning.

Have a playlist and games at the ready, and have music on while you cook, so the mood is merry when your first guests arrive.

14. A Lack Of Communication With Guests Beforehand

Invitations aren’t necessary, but there’s a reason they exist. They provide essential information, including your address, RSVP information, and the start and end times of the party. When you neglect to communicate with your guests, they are less likely to arrive on time or arrive at all.

Ensure you have an accurate headcount and that each guest is aware of their arrival time. Clear start and end times will result in fewer latecomers and can help prevent people from overstaying their welcome.

Summing Up Mistakes To Avoid When Hosting A Holiday Party

When hosting a holiday party, it's essential to prepare for all the potential things that can go wrong. When you are aware of common missteps people make when hosting a festive gathering, you are less likely to make these errors. Some of the most common mistakes to avoid when hosting a holiday party include serving cold food or insufficient food, lacking a theme or entertainment, and over-serving alcohol.

Accept help when people offer it, remember to clean your home in advance, and do as much advanced prep cooking as possible to ensure you aren’t overwhelmed on the big day.

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