A classy Christmas party...your suggestions?

Question

Come one, come all!
Seriously, come suggest me great ideas for a classy christmas party that my friend and I want to throw. We are normally pretty trashy to say in the least, and are on a tight budget, so if anyones got some great cheap ideas, toss them at me!
The party will be before christmas, (maybe after), and we want people to dress up in clothes like dresses and stuff, like red lipstick, really old fashioned kind of thing. anyone got any good music/clothing ideas/decorations/beverages to serve/snacks to serve/ANYTHING, you name it! please help out :] i will be picking best answer!

Answer 1

Best way to keep things classy is to give people a definite direction - ie. a clear theme.

Drinks: if it's BYO ask them to bring champagne only (anyone with real problems with this will turn up with beer, but there's a limit to what you can do!), you can get plastic champagne flutes cheaply in bulk. If you want to make it a bit posher have white-clothed tables sitting out with a basic strawberry champagne mix ready to go already in flutes or in bowls with spoons to dollop into flutes (http://www.recipezaar.com/122141, vanilla essence is cheaper and works just as well, people can add their own champagne), makes it look like you've made a bit of an effort.

Decor: Go with the tealight candles everywhere (they actually don't make too much mess as they're usually burned down by the time people get a bit messy), or white Christmas lights if you have them - avoid colour except for red. So you have a mood set with the dim lights and and if you can get everyone into black and white, people will be more likely to stay a bit better behaved.

Prepping people's ideas of the party: Try sending an Evite (http://www.evite.com/app/invitations/create/event.do?template=nongreenxmas&eventType=winter_holidays&customDesign=yes&src=thmb&) with a classy theme and emphasise that the theme is maybe 'winter with a dash of red' or something - a good way to get guys into black and white is hint towards 40s movie idol, or Tarantino - think Pulp Fiction. Girls usually love a chance to dress up - think Audrey Hepburn as ultimate class.

Music: if possible, find a friend with decks or just a computer with heaps of music who actually loves setting up playlists and messing around with music at the party. Unless you & your friends actually like Christmas music or jazz I wouldn't try to theme the music - someone will throw a hissy fit and change it anyway. Think of the music they play at your favourite bars/clubs - if you're into clubbing download some good recent music for later in the night, get playlists set up beforehand so people don't have to think about the music. Last thing you want is people chopping and changing the music and breaking up the atmosphere. Try http://www.mixlister.com/party.php for making your own list and getting ideas off friends. I don't know how old you are but this list would work for people who went through high school mid-90s and like a bit of nostalgia: http://www.fiql.com/playlists/the_perfect_house_party_playlist_predrunk_rock_to_hip_hop/, or try this for more recent stuff: http://boards.muchmusic.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1746324&Main=1719170 (look at the posting by luke_is_terrified in particular!). Music is the one thing that HAS to be ready to go before the party.

Have a fantastic night!

Answer 2

Classy Christmas Party

Answer 3

Classy Christmas Dresses

Answer 4

If you are looking for classy, you need three things: 1) classy people; 2) a classy joint to hold the party, and; 3) approriate food.

The decor of the joint and the food should compliment the theme of you shindig.

Of all the above, it is usually the people that are the most limiting factor.

Talk about classy? One soon becomes aquainted to the customary behavior where I'm currently visiting relatives: cow manure on their boots, spurs ripping floors coverings and scratching furniture,heads used as hat racks for Stestons, parking in the yard and flower beds, and hogging all the bottles of Black Jack, chewing tobacco and spitting on the floor, and emitting a variety discusting noises is not consucive to my idea of classy behavior, and I'm only talking, with all due respect, about the women folk. There are simply no words in any language I know, that would addequately describe the men. God, I love this place and I love these people!

Answer 5

Classy is as classy does, I always say! It's getting a little late to be planning a shindig for the holidays, so I'm going to suggest that you plan your party for around New Years. You won't need a lot of money, but make your money count by investing in some tried and true things. Here are some ideas:

1. Take down the tree if you have one, and clean everything up.
2. If you have some poinsettias, they make a nice addition
3. Little white lights everywhere create a nice glow
4. Invest in some silver candle holders and white tea lights. Go easy on the fragrant ones, though!
5. Decide to have one signature drink, such as a champagne punch or serve wine and sparkling water only. They have some great inexpensive reds and whites to choose from that your guests will like.
6. Invite your classiest friends and their classy friends. The party you're wanting to pull off isn't the place to bring the folks you usually play darts with!
7. Invest in some great tunes!
8. Food: keep it simple and elegant! Now is not the time to bring out the buckets of chicken and potato salad!
9. Invest in some great holiday paper plates and napkins, clear plastic utensils, and clear plastic wine glasses.
10. Wear something black and classic, with diamonds (or what you can afford!). Get your nails done in a vibrant burgandy and purchase some great lipstick. Keep makeup to a minimum, remembering less is more.

Food to consider:

Cheese Platter: Brie, Spanish Manchenga, Cheddar, Cambozola. Add some crisp green grapes for garnish and serve with artisan crackers.

Chicken skewers: Marinate boneless, skinless, chicken breasts overnight in Italian dressing. Grill them until finished and place on wooden skewers. You'll need some great dipping sauces, such as peanut sauce, chili sauce etc.

Sliced English cucumbers topped with smoked salmon, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprig of dill.

Quarter Pillsbury cresent roll dough and roll each quarter around a lil smokie. Bake until puffed and golden.

Mini meatballs in a bread bowl. Serve with extra sauce.

Hot artichoke dip with blue corn tortilla chips

Vege platter with ranch dressing

Hummus with fresh pita chips

Salami rollups made by taking thin slices of sopressata or salami, smearing them with cream cheese and wrapping them around a cornichon and securing with a toothpick.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 6

Ok, a classy and cheap decoration white christmas lights all over and candles all over that will make it look elegant. If you are trashy you can buy the wine in the box, hide the box, by pouring the wine in the punch bowl lol. Good luck!

Answer 7

We just had a "Christmas n Cards" party where we had two poker and one blackjack tables setup. All you really need is a few card tables, a blackjack dealer and a bunch of cheap chips. Good Luck.

Everyone loved the party! Regardless of what you do, make it interactive for everyone and it will be a winner.

Answer 8

here's an idea for chocolate ice-cream

you'll need- large bowl of ice cubes
a glass of double cream
4 tablespoons milk
two teaspoons of sweetened chocolate powder

mix the double cream, milk & chocolate in a glass. put the glass inside the bowl. put some salt in the ice. put a damp towel over the glass for a couple of hours. after 1 hour give the mixture in the glass a good stir. you can do this again & again. after 1 more hour chocolate ice-cream is ready.