4 Christmas Dinner Party Tips to Try this Holiday Season

The holidays can be stressful for many people and with such a short stretch of time between Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of planning & energy this season requires. 

 

 

To help you get into the holiday spirit, relieve some of that stress and inspire you with good ideas for your holiday celebrations I put together this list of 4 brilliant Christmas dinner party tips that will make this season one you’ll never forget! 

 

1. Instead of plated dinner service, opt for buffet style 

 

Buffets are a classic dining option that will always be a popular choice for large gatherings. It is a solution that offers guests plenty of space to mingle, move around and enjoy each other’s company. I especially love doing buffets for Christmas family dinners!

 

Buffets are super easy to set up, usually cost less to host & almost always create fun memories for everyone involved. 

If you’re limited on table space, you can use your sideboard or counter to hold all of the food and drinks and then set up some smaller tables for people to set their plates down & sit if they wish to.

Style your buffet table with festive elements like ornaments, candles and flowers. Anyone can do this, so don’t be afraid to get creative. I especially love using wood log candle stands. 

 

 

They are very versatile and work incredibly well for mixing in between all the greenery on the table. 

PRO TIP : These stands are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive so if you want to invest in a set of universal candles for decorations, I would vote for these. ⁠

 

2. Take the decorations beyond the dinner table 

 

To elevate any dinner party, I like to incorporate festive little touches all around the room and anywhere guests may go. 

With just a little creativity, you can dress up any surface with decorations that tell a story, connect with the occasion or simply make for a beautiful display that your guests will enjoy. 

For my table settings I use a mixture of lights, flowers, candles, and other decor items to make sure guests feel welcome and enjoy the festive atmosphere. 

3. Set up generational spaces 

 

When it’s our family’s turn to host the Christmas dinner party, I love to give each person ample time to come together with the rest of the tribe. To do this, I got into the practice of  designating different spaces for each generation to stay connected. 

This way, children can play, teenage cousins can sit and chat with each other while parents and grandparents enjoy their own time to chat and be merry together.

This works great for our family as there is enough space for everyone to have their own area where they can get to know each other, without feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. Consequently, this tactic not only leads to less stress all around, but also to better conversations around the dinner table! 

 

4. Be intentional with how you divide your party space 

 

This is something I started paying close attention to when planning our large get togethers and it’s been a game-changer. 

A family Christmas dinner party is expected to run long. Sitting on a chair the entire time can get uncomfortable for many. As a good host, I want to think ahead and relieve some of that discomfort by being really intentional with how I divide my party space. 

I do this by setting up different festive little corners for people who want to get out of their seats & move around more. 

 

These festive dinner party tips can help you plan your holiday celebrations in an easy, stress-free way that leaves plenty of room for good food, fun, laughter and lots of heartwarming memories. I hope these ideas inspire you to come up with creative solutions of your own!

Remember, when it comes to hosting a successful night, every detail counts on your tables. Getting the whole family around a dinner table is not always easy, so take the extra effort to dress it up and make every moment special. 

 

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Hi, I’m Alice

I started Ascape Living because I noticed that tables are where we meet, dine, chat, laugh, and connect. Now I’m on a mission to share the joy of putting in the extra effort so that you can create a space filled with love, meaning and life.

I can help you create your very own keepsakes moments with easy to use tablescaping solutions, tips, inspiration and more.

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