Follow these easy tips and your Christmas party will be the best thing since sliced (ginger)bread.
Unless you’re the grinch on Christmas, you know there’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than epic festive parties. Think get-togethers fuelled by addictive jingles, and decadent feasts serving honey-glazed ham and juicy turkeys. If you’re thinking of throwing your own Yuletide jamboree (and don’t want it to be a flop), here’s our fuss-free guide to planning a Christmas party in Singapore.
How to plan a Christmas party in Singapore
1. Choose the perfect venue for your crowd
First, think about how long your guest list is. If a small and intimate gathering is on the cards, consider holding a house party in your own home. Or book a fun event space or private dining room at some of Singapore’s top bars and restaurants. Make sure there’s enough space for everyone to move around, catch up, and even play some Christmas games.
Don’t forget to consider the practical stuff: What dates and times are best for your guests? Do you need a sound system, and does the venue have one? What are the terms and conditions of your booking (in case of last-minute cancellations)?
2. Set the theme
It’s so much easier to decide on the decor and food when you’ve got a fun theme to play around with. The best ones are lighthearted and silly, such as Slay Like Santa (everyone dresses up in their best Santa-inspired outfit), Holiday Movies (pick your favourite festive film’s characters), or Pajama Party (get cosy in Christmas-themed PJs).
Alternatively, Christmas in the Tropics is always a good one, because Hawaiian-print shirts go best with our humid weather. Other theme ideas include Glam and Glitter (so everyone’s dressed to impress), Ugly Christmas Sweater (this one’s self-explanatory), or Christmas Around the World (if you have an international crowd of party guests).
3. Order the food and drinks
If you’re wondering how else to plan a Christmas party that’s memorable, we can guarantee good food makes any gathering stand out. Crank out the kitchen tools and equipment and whip up a huge feast. Or, if you’re feeling lazy (and still want a meal that’s out-of-this-world), check out restaurants in Singapore that are offering amazing Christmas takeout menus that are bound to impress your guests. Don’t forget the booze, too. We’re huge fans of these cocktail and wine delivery services.
4. Bring out the festive decor and make it fancy
Don’t just invite guests down for a simple dinner. Jazz things up with a theme and related festive decor. Think along the lines of wreaths, fairy lights and candy canes for a more cosy, traditional look. Or, you might want to do something out of the box. We personally feel The Nightmare Before Christmas makes a fine fancy dress party idea. And don’t forget the mandatory Christmas tree to lay your presents under.
5. Turn dinner into game night
Bring on the party games to keep your guests engaged. We promise this is the trick to making your Christmas soiree a night to remember. Go for a round of Christmas-themed trivia or charades. Or, if you’re the type to go all out, why not plan a full Christmas murder mystery? You can even turn the space into a karaoke studio. All you need is a mic and a projector screen.
6. Plan a Christmas gift exchange
What’s Christmas without a gift exchange? Once you’ve confirmed attendance for your party, put everyone down for a little game of Secret Santa. There are tons of online generators available to make this easy. Just input your list, and guests can draw names for other guests and purchase a small gift for them before the party begins.
Alternatively, everyone can bring a gift of their own to add to a common pool and select one that’s not their own to take home at the end of the night. Don’t forget to set a price range so everyone leaves with a present of equal value to what they’ve spent.
7. Put on a Christmas movie
We can’t imagine a better Christmas activity than putting on a cosy movie. There are so many Christmas classics out there. Think everything from Bridget Jones to Gremlins to Frozen. And you don’t have to pop into a cinema to catch some of the latest Christmas movies either. Hop onto streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ for a slew of new holiday-themed films. We’re eyeing the new Lindsay Lohan festive flick on our watchlist.
8. Jam out to festive tunes
Now, what’s a Christmas party without jolly tunes? Stick to the tried and true by putting together a playlist of classic holiday songs and well-known carols. For a more happening party, you can never go wrong with festive songs everyone knows and loves. Mariah Carey? Definitely. Michael Buble? Of course. Don’t forget to throw some Pentatonix in the mix. Be merry and sing along to the music, so long as you keep the volume down after 10.30pm.
Now that we’ve shared our top tips on how to plan a Christmas party, the (snow)ball’s in your court!
[This article was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2024 by Benita Lee.]
