Harden House Top 10 Holiday Theme Party Ideas

Who doesn’t love a great cocktail party?  Add in a creative theme, and you will have a unique experience that your guests will always remember.  There are so many different themes to choose from so I thought I would first go over the logistics of how to plan a themed cocktail party and then I will share with you my Top 10 Holiday Themed Parties.  The Harden House Museum would be a lovely place to host your themed holiday cocktail party or sit down dinner. 

A themed cocktail party or dinner can be as formal or as informal as you would like.  In the early stages of planning, first decide if you’re looking to host a dressy evening or something more casual. 

Here are some helpful tips when planning your party:

• Set the Date:  While Saturday evenings may be the first day you think of, don’t rule out a week night either.  Weekends are booked up for many and a Thursday or Friday night may work for most.
• Set the Time:  For example, cocktail parties usually last for 3 hours and start a little earlier than a dinner.
• Choose your Dress Code:  This will also help with your theme, by selecting your dress code; you will narrow your selection of themes down.
  
• Consider Hiring a Bartender and Caterer:  Don’t put all the work on yourself.  Your bartender can even be a friend willing to mix and pour drinks for your guests and the caterer can be something as elaborate as hiring a restaurant to make and serve passed hour devours or platters of food set out for your guests to enjoy.
• Serve a Signature Drink:  This is an easy way to add another special touch to your party.  The signature drink should complement the theme you have selected.  For example, if your them is Candyland perhaps serve a candy cane cocktail with Bailey’s.  Or, maybe you’re a fan of the show Mad Men and that is your theme; a Martini would be the appropriate choice for that.  Don’t forget to offer other drink options as well, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and water.
• Select Background Music:  This is KEY for your theme and should also compliment your theme.
• Invitations, Paper or Paperless:  I highly suggest going paperless and using a website such as www.evite.com to email your invitations out.  There are many fun holiday cocktail party & dinner invitations to select from and some are even FREE!
  

Now that we have gone over the logistics of how to plan a themed cocktail party or dinner, let me share with you my TOP 10 Holiday Themed Parties that go beyond the Ugly Sweater Party, although I do love a good ugly sweater!

#1) Christmas Carol Karaoke Night:  Who doesn’t love a good night of Karaoke.  Add some cocktails and familiar tunes and you’ve got yourself a party! 

#2) 12 Days of Appetizers:  Christmas cookies are great, and I am sure we have all been to our fair share of cookie exchanges, but how about sharing savory holiday finger foods instead?  Have friends bring their favorite seasonal appetizers for an app-only-potluck and this will save you on the catering as well.
#3) Santa’s Workshop:  This theme is centered on charity, focusing on giving back by asking your guests to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to an organization of your choice. 

#4) The Chocolate Factory:  This is a fun, casual theme with Willy Wonka at the center.  Select big, bold colors and plenty of chocolate to indulge in or maybe you call it “Candyland” and expand the treats you will be serving.

#5) White Christmas:  Turn your entire party into one big winter wonderland through your décor, food and attire your guests will arrive in.

#6) Retro Christmas:  This theme allows you to step back to a simpler time and your guests may really enjoy cruising through thrift stores to find their attire.  How fun would it be to pull out old decorations from your childhood along with taking your menu back to old school foods like clam dip and ambrosia!
 
#7) We Three Kings:  A bit more elegant in theme with this gorgeous black, gold, and white theme.  The sky is the limit with how much you want to express these colors, from the decorations, to the attire. 

#8) Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer Party:  How fun it will be to have a game filled evening for you and your guests to enjoy!  An evening full of reindeer games for all!

#9) Nutcracker Party:  Do you have a collection of Nutcrackers you would like to show off?  Here is the perfect occasion for that.  Make it festive by playing music from the ballet for your guests. 

#10) Old Fashioned Dickens’ Christmas Party:  A Victorian affair, filled with vintage charm.  The Harden House Museum would be the perfect setting for any of these themes, especially this one. 

The Harden House Museum is a very special venue to host any of these themed cocktail parties or even a sit down dinner.  Perhaps you have a different idea and would like to see if the Harden House Museum is the right place for your gathering.  I would love to show this beautiful place to anyone who would like to call or email me to set up a tour.
 
Happy party planning!
Valerie
harrybrookeweddings@gmail.com
860.799.6520