For the person hosting this year

Host the holiday party without the last-minute scramble

Checklists, game rules and theme ideas for ugly sweater parties, office gatherings and gift swaps. Plan early, keep it simple, enjoy the evening.

Start your party plan

The plan, in four stops

  1. 3 weeks outPick the theme and the dateSend the invite and say whether there is a gift swap.
  2. 1 week outLock the guest list and the gamesPrint the rules you will use and mark any house rules.
  3. The day beforeSet up and shopSnacks, prizes, a playlist and a spot for the gift pile.
  4. The eveningHost, then relaxOne game at a time, and leave room for people to just talk.

Pick your party

The December classic Ugly sweater party Contests, voting categories and how to keep it fun for people who forgot a sweater. Rules that settle arguments White elephant swap The common rules, the steal limit, a budget that works, and variations labeled as house rules.

New from the host’s notebook

Game rules on this site follow the most widely used versions. Any changes are marked as house rules, so you can decide what fits your group. More about how the guides are made