With the holiday season in full effect, everyone is ready for the best part of the season…holiday parties. Atlanta is full of beautiful new homes waiting to be used as the perfect venue for a holiday party.

Hosting parties for the holidays can certainly get everyone in the spirit of the season, but it can also be stressful with the thought of having to make everyone perfect. Here are a few tips for homeowners to kick off the holiday hosting all while staying jolly.

Find the finest venue. To begin holiday hosting, it must all start with a venue. Your new home in Atlanta is the best place to enjoy family and friends. There are so many beautiful and spacious home options with ideal locations and floor plans that make holiday hosting a breeze. Everyone enjoys a warm environment for friends and family to celebrate the best time of the year together, and Atlanta new homes can provide just that.

Invite the guests. Once the warm and welcoming venue is established, the guests must be invited. Whether you decide to send out personalized invitations or a simple online invitation, make sure you gather all of your loved ones for the special holiday celebrations.

Enjoy the season with local food and drinks. Now that the location and guest list are determined, all that is remaining is fine food and drinks. The metro Atlanta area is known for providing the best local food, and certainly the best local drinks. Depending on the size of your party, find a restaurant or catering company you love that can provide you with all of the food needed to make your event a hit. Then, select one or two signature cocktails to serve that will complement your meal or theme.

Staying home?

Christmas is just a few weeks away, and the holiday hustle is in full swing. For many of us, party planning can be overwhelming. You may be asking yourself, “How can I deck the halls, light the candles, bake the cookies, wrap the presents and hang the mistletoe before my guests arrive?”

We’re no stranger to throwing a good party, and our lifestyle team has offered some time saving tips to make your holiday planning stress-free. So, pour yourself some eggnog and take a look at this candy cane-to-sleigh bell checklist.

1. Skip the expensive paper invitations. It’s 2013, so while a printed invitation is always nice, it’s perfectly acceptable to save some money by sending an evite. Guests can RSVP immediately and save event information on their calendars.
2. Plan a stress-free menu. Serve foods that can be prepared ahead of time. Limiting beverages to sparkling water, juices, and red and white wine should satisfy everyone and it makes a bartender unnecessary.
3. Organize glassware and serving items. The rule of thumb is two plates, forks and glasses per guest. Figure out which you’ll use for each menu item, label each serving dish with a Post-it note and borrow or buy extras if you don’t have enough.
4. Hire a helping hand. Hiring a kitchen, serving or bartending assistant—a professional or a neighborhood teen—can free you up if you’re expecting a big crowd.
5. Mix-up the music. To infuse the party with holiday cheer, without subjecting folks to back-to-back tracks of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “Feliz Navidad,” mix traditional holiday songs with favorite party tunes in a ratio of three to 10.

For more tips on how to host the best holiday party, click here. If you haven’t found the perfect home for hosting all of your big holiday events, Atlanta Real Estate Forum can help you out. Visit www.atlantarealestateforum.com to find your perfect home today.