December is one of the busiest times of years for hosting, and although it’s a lovely time for festivities, Christmas can be stressful.
The pressure to create the perfect Christmas can easily turn excitement into pressure. From making sure to get the food ‘just’ right, to keeping your guests happy, there is a lot to manage.
Luckily, the team at Platinum Spas has lifted the lid on preparing for Christmas to make sure everything runs smoothly, and that your guests are impressed.
How to host Christmas day – Plan for the best Christmas dinner
One of the biggest stresses over the festive period is planning for the perfect Christmas dinner, the kitchen is already one of the biggest foot traffic areas in the house, so it’s easy to see why this can put people on edge.
There are a few useful rules you can follow to ensure that your Christmas dinner runs smoothly. Work in advance to ensure that there is no rush on Christmas Day. Up to two days before, you can prepare the sprouts, red cabbage and parboil the potatoes, which will save time on the day.
How to host Christmas day – Stock up on the little things
In the run up to the big day its easy to get caught up in making sure you have all the essentials, like presents, wrapping paper and food. However, its easy to forget the little things that you use daily but may run out of when the house is full of guests. Afterall, nobody wants to run out of milk when making tea for the whole family.
Before the big day, make sure that you have topped up the condiments and that all toiletries in the bathroom have been topped up, including hand soaps and toilet rolls. If you are having guests stay over, make sure that you have enough clean towels and linens available.
How to host Christmas day – Remember a non-alcoholic alternative
Recent years have seen a growth in the number of Brits putting down the bottle and going alcohol free. If you have friends or family coming over that you haven’t seen in a few months, you might not know that they have given up!
When shopping for alcohol free alternatives these don’t have to be boring! If you are worried lemonade and coca cola will look like an afterthought, there a variety of alcohol-free cocktails recipes online to suit all taste buds. Alternatively, shops now offer a wide variety of alcohol free wine and beers which look, and taste, just like the real deal.
How to host Christmas day – Consider the needs of your guests
When prepping food, it has now become standard to ask if there are any dietary requirements or preferences, as the number of people seeking vegan and vegetarian alternatives continue to rise. However, it isn’t just food you have to be accommodating for.
It is important to consider if any of friends or family members have any additional requirements you should consider, this could be anything from making sure the space is clear for any disabled access, ensuring there are enough comfortable and safe seating options, or making sure that you have a selection of toys and entertainment options for kids.
How to host Christmas day – Do something to stand out!
Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to make sure that everything runs smoothly for your guests, its to leave them feeling impressed! There are plenty of small, and big, this can be done. For example, introducing a theme to Christmas gathering such as masquerade or murder mystery can add an unexpected element of fun. Thinking about the finer details to your get together such as including festive scents will also add to the atmosphere.
Alternatively, if you could do something a little alternative. When most people focus their parties around the inside, you could extend your into the garden, with heaters, fire pits and blankets for warmth. If you have an outdoor hot tub, now is the perfect time to decorate the area and get some winter use out of it!
For more information about Platinum Spas, please visit them at https://www.platinum-spas.com/.
A Modern Twist To Christmas Classics with Recipes from Doves Farm