The holidays are coming, and part of the magic is in planning a fun and memorable gathering for family and friends. Christmas may look a little different this year, but don't get your Tinsel in a Tangle; this bright and cheery party plan is packed with holiday party ideas like an eye-catching table decorated with Reindeer Centerpieces and brightly colored Christmas bulbs. Try your hand at the Candy Cane Carnival of "reindeer games" with free printable signs, and win adorable holiday themed prizes! Pour a steaming hot cup of holiday cheer at a festive cocoa cart, and experience the joy of giving with a well stocked Holiday Wrapping Station, loaded with goodies for creating a perfectly coordinated package.
Deck the Halls with Holiday Color
The holiday color palette for this cheery party is based on traditional Christmas colors of red and white with touches of green. Pattern mixing magic also takes place with the addition of assorted plaids as well as holiday bulbs. Touches of these patterns are present throughout the party, as you'll see!
A Christmas lights tablecloth roll is laid across the surface of a large dining table, then shimmering red metallic fringe table skirts are added, surrounding the dining table in dazzling style. White chairs are placed around the table for each guest. Keeping this year's gatherings small means you can really indulge each guest a little more than usual, and pay extra attention to the details that make guests feel so special.
Give 'Em the Old Razzle Dazzle
The red metallic table skirt is my absolute favorite decor element from this party! The reflective, glittering fringe really dresses up the table and anchors the room. The sticky adhesive backing stays put fantastically.
Festive Place Settings Welcome Special Guests
Red square dinner plates are positioned vertically, so they look like diamonds. On each one, a smaller, round Christmas bulbs dessert plate is added, and topped with an adorable felt reindeer candy cane cover. The candy cane covers are so cute, and look hand made (Don't worry... your secret is safe with me)!
Coordinating Holiday lights napkins feature another cute reindeer with lights in his antlers. This happy little guy was the basis for this entire look! A patterned bulb napkin is a nice contrast against the red, and the black premium forks and knives stand out nicely as well.
Placed at each guest's holiday place setting is a whimsical ornament cup with straw. The ornament cups come in either red and green. They are hung with free printable reindeer labels for an added touch of pattern. Dashing Reindeer Racers Pull Back toys are sure to inspire a few holiday shenanigans at the table!
Don We Now Our Lighted Apparel
Light up Reindeer Glasses are also set out at each place setting. These are a flashy treat that will really shine when group picture taking time comes! It's always fun for guests to have a little wearable element to enjoy during the festivities. These also make fabulous stocking stuffers for adults and kids alike.
Crafty Christmas Centerpiece Doubles as a Cute Gift
Down the center of this jolly tablescape is a sequined table runner, topped with darling DIY Reindeer Mug Centerpiece with pine branch antlers and colorful holiday lights. The faces on these cute reindeer mugs are amusing, and can be used in many ways, including as mugs after the party! See how you can make your own DIY Reindeer Mug Centerpieces here! Shatterproof ornament garland is wound among these cute holiday centerpieces, and small wrapped packages in solids and plaids are added. The younger guests at your party will delight in learning whether these contain real presents!
Sip Some Holiday Cheer
Near the dining table, a contactless cocoa station is set up. Candy jars are filled with micro marshmallows and cute red and green rubber holiday bracelets that read, "Jingle all the way". Perfectly coordinated insulated cups with lids bear the same heartwarming antler and holiday bulb pattern in bright colors. These are the perfect size for parties; 'tis the season to be jolly, indeed!
Honeycomb tissue bulb garland also adorns the adorable white candy cart. The bright colors stand out beautifully and the classic Christmas bulb shapes impart a feeling of nostalgia.
A black and white patterned paper fan is used to decorate the wheel of the white wooden cart, and a larger Christmas bulb honeycomb accents one corner of the adorable Christmas cocoa display. This works well as a holiday coffee or cider station, too!
Layer on the Holiday Decor
Behind the table, a shining fringe backdrop of red, silver and white is placed directly on the wall with its self-adhesive backing. I just love this layered look! Colorful balloons in red, white, black and green, black marble and red marble are strung together to create trendy holiday balloon garlands, placed throughout the party. This holiday wall decor centers the table, and is more fun than a bowl full of jelly when used as a photo spot for guests.
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
The spirit of giving is made even more special with the addition of pretty packaging. Set up a DIY Holiday Gift Wrapping Station with free printable labels to keep all your holiday wrapping supplies organized and easy to find.
Free printable labels for everything from gift wrap to tape, tissue, ribbons and even fun tie-ons have plaid borders that carry the party colors nicely. They can be set out as table tents or flat labels.
A collection of coordinated packages are so pretty beneath a slim white pencil Christmas tree. With so many fun embellishments like pom poms, patterned gift bags, pinwheels and holiday bandanas, you can create endless coordinated presents.
A Fun and Tasty Craft For the Whole Christmas Crew
Hung from the white Christmas tree is...you guessed it... another adorable reindeer! This DIY Wood Slice Candy Cane Reindeer Ornament is a fast and easy Christmas craft for kids and adults to make. Their emerald green satin bows and sparkling silver antlers are especially festive.
Time for Some Reindeer Games
What's a holiday gathering without a little friendly competition? Free printable posters show off three games of the Candy Cane Carnival. A snowman themed bean bag toss comes with red and green bean bags for two players to compete. The prize for this game is a faux snow in a tiny jar (It mixes with water and grows to many times its size!).
"Holiday Hero" is another fun Christmas party game where competitors don fat Mickey Mouse gloves and try to race to untangle a complicated string of colorful holiday lights. A red or green slime in a holiday bulb bottle is the coordinated prize. This party game makes for hilarious family photos too!
The final game of the Candy Cane Carnival is a fun inflatable antler toss game. This cute pair of blow up reindeer antlers can be worn as a hat, or displayed on a table as shown. Participants toss inflatable red or green rings to score points and win an adorable Dashing Reindeer Racer. These Christmas games are fun for all, and everyone walks away with a prize. Use extra prizes as stocking stuffers or class gifts later on!
Get Merry Everywhere!
Touches of decor are added to all the gathering places, but these don't need to be expensive in order to have big impact. Some colorful balloons and a "Merry Christmas" banner adorn a window and are accented with more large holiday bulb tissue balls. Nearby, a plain white Christmas tree looks elegant with or without decorations added.
A large painting over the sofa is overlaid with white rolled paper, then layered with assorted solid and patterned "presents", which are just flat cardboard pieces wrapped up and adhered to the background with glue dots in a fun pattern. Add real ribbons and bows for dimension. Toss a few seasonal pillows onto the sofa and you're set!
Holiday Host or Hostess with the Mostest!
With these holiday hosting tips and incredible products in your party arsenal, you're well on your way to the title of "Most Merry"! Tip your fetching patterned Christmas fedora to none other than... yourself!
