Gift Wrapping Party

 Adding another party to the list of holiday dinners and events may seem a little crazy, but I wanted to bring together friends for a casual yet meaningful afternoon.  I thought a gift-wrapping party would not only be fun, but productive since we all have gifts we need to wrap this time of year! Even though I had about a week to throw this fete together, it turned out perfectly.  Check out my tips for hosting a fun gift-wrapping party!

COCKTAILS

For every party I host, I create a signature cocktail that is thematic to the party and to keep things simple. I always make extra in a pitcher so I can easily refill drinks without missing out on the party. Apple cider is my favorite holiday drink, so I used it as the base for the gift-wrapping party cocktail (recipe below)!

Spiked Apple Cider Cocktail Recipe

2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider
1 cup sparkling water
1/2 cup Smirnoff Wild Honey Vodka
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
cinnamon sticks

Mix ingredients in a pitcher.  Pour the cocktail over ice and garnish with pomegranate seeds and cinnamon sticks.

FOOD

Much like the cocktail, I love to keep food simple.  I like to stick with small finger foods that are easy for guests to eat while gift-wrapping.  It also makes munching easy since it’s not a traditional sit-down meal.  I made a variety of holiday inspired cookies and scones and a delectable cheese plate.

GIFT WRAPPING

This may seem obvious, but be sure to stock up on gift wrap, tags, ribbons, and other adornments.  For a group of 8 people, I purchased 10 rolls of gift wrap, 10 ribbons, and a variety of adornments.  I opted for super bright hues to match our tree but to give the gifts a fun color burst.

This year, I contacted the local Ronald McDonald house to inquire about adopting children to surprise with gifts. They provided me with a wish list for some of the children who will not be going home for the holidays. They also said they would accept gift wrapped gifts, which fit perfectly with the gift wrapping party. I encouraged all of my guests to come to the party and bring some gifts to donate for the children at the Ronald McDonald house.  Most of us hadn’t started holiday shopping yet, so the gifts for the children became the focus of our party which was great!

GUESTS

I always love to mix up the guest list for all of my parties – blogger friends meet childhood friends meet work friends! This mix up always keeps the mood fresh and encourages people to mingle. As much as I love tons of company, I think a smaller group of about 10 people is perfect for a gift wrapping party.  It’s enough to keep it fun so people meet, but it makes conversation and the task at hand manageable.

Laurie and Jamie wrapping gifts for the Ronal McDonald House.