Christmas Tree Trimming Party

Tree Trimming parties are an excellent way to relax with friends and family before the big holiday crunch comes. You can schedule it earlier in December when everyone is still relaxed and full of Christmas spirit (by December 22nd I am pretty frazzled myself). So gather your close family and friends for an evening full of Christmas cheer (and a little eggnog!) as you deck your halls for the Christmas season.

Tree Trimming Party Invitation
Send a bright and fun personalized Christmas tree invitation, guests will know they’re in for an incredible party as soon as they open it. Add a little Christmas confetti to the envelope for some extra holiday sparkle!

A fun and unique idea is to include a blank wooden ornament (available at craft stores) in with the invitation and tell guests to decorate it however they wish and bring it with them to the party! At the party you can have each person stand up and describe the ornament they brought with them, and what inspired them in creating it.

Get the kids involved: Have the kids cut out ornaments from construction paper and decorate the front with markers, sticker and glitter. You can write the party information on the back with gold or silver markers. Punch a hole in the top and add a little string, so instead of hanging the invitation on the refrigerator, your guests can hang them on the tree instead!

Tree Trimming Party Decorations and Party Supplies
Start with a little prep work. Buy your tree and set it up. Clear out the area around the tree so everyone has easy access. String the tree with lights before the party, since this is almost NEVER fun. Unpack all of your ornaments and make sure to pull out any broken ones. And buy some extra hooks!

Now you can decorate your home. Well, needless to say you probably have your decorations up in the attic, no? Every year people bring out the box of decor and "do the house." You may want to add garland or pine roping the fireplace, over the doors and throughout the house. Add Christmas lights anywhere and everywhere.

Then, of course, the mistletoe. Don't forget that. Ever.

There are great Christmas scene setters that can be put up around the room to create a fun look. Place colorful ornaments in decorative glass bowls and vases, and place them on the mantle, side tables and coffee table. Scatter tinsel on the tables like confetti (unless you have pets in the house, then skip the tinsel, it can be dangerous to them). Put on some relaxing instrumental Christmas music and you are all set!

Tree Trimming Party Table Decorations and Menu
Decorate your table with fun paper goods and accessories. Try Christmas paper goods to complement your theme. Don't forget to add more Christmas confetti on the buffet table. Tie more garland around the napkins to top things off.

Around the house, use the seasonal candy that comes out this time of year. Scatter it as confetti or use it as snacks: Hershey kisses in red and green, red and green M&Ms, foil-wrapped red and green bells and more!

Serve hors d'oeuvres in lieu of a formal dinner. Whip up some appetizers that are great to eat while you are up and about socializing and decorating. Crab-stuffed mushrooms, hot cheese and artichoke dip, stuffed cherry tomatoes, barbecued chicken wings, and cheese log with crackers are all good choices. Hot chocolate (maybe with a bit of vanilla flavored vodka) garnished with marshmallows and a candy cane is the perfect tree trimming beverage.

Tree Trimming Party Activities
Besides decorating the tree, a few more structured activities will provide entertainment and make many happy memories. You can set up bowls of popcorn and cranberries for guests to string as decorations for your tree. And remember when you used to make homemade Christmas ornaments as a kid? It is a fantastic project for children and adults, so why not make some at your party? Here are 2 easy recipes:

Cinnamon Ornaments
Combine 1 cup cinnamon, 1 tbsp. ground cloves, 1 tbsp. nutmeg, and 3/4 cup applesauce in a medium bowl. Work the dough until smooth. Dust the rolling surface and pin with more cinnamon, and roll the dough to 1/3 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shape, and make a hole near the top with a straw or pencil. Bake in the oven for 2 1/2 hours at 150 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet, flipping halfway through the baking time. Cool on a wire cookie rack. String a piece of ribbon or raffia through the hole. Makes 12-14 medium ornaments.

Salt Dough Christmas Ornament
Combine ½ cup salt, 1 cup flour, and a ½ cup water in a medium bowl. Work the dough until smooth; add a little more flour if sticky, or a little more water if crumbly. Dust the rolling surface and pin with more flour, and roll the dough to 1/3 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shape, and make a hole near the top with a straw or pencil. Bake in the oven for 2 hours at 250 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet. Cool on a wire cookie rack. When completely cooled, paint with acrylic paints. String a piece of ribbon or raffia through the hole. Makes 15-20 medium ornaments.

An ornament scavenger hunt might be fun as well. Ask your friends to look through different rooms to find the ornaments. Assign them teams, and give them clues. They'll have a ball!

Tree Trimming Party Favors
Send guests home with their own bottle of champagne or wine with a personalized bottle label that matches your invitations. Many companies release special edition Holiday wines and champagnes.

A personalized mint tin for your guests to take home would also be a perfect for this party. Speaking of sweets, our personalized Christmas candy bar wrappers look great wrapped around a chocolate bar gift.

For the kids you may want to give them a stocking filled with a few Christmas goodies:

Christmas puzzle
Santa coloring book with crayons
Christmas candy
Plastic snow globe
Red and Green Play-doh
Candy cane glow sticks

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Party411.com!