While everything usually runs pretty seamlessly at your holiday gatherings, for whatever reason, there always seems to be a guest (or two) on the invite list who settles in on your comfy couch and lingers long after the party is over.
The good news is that you don't ever have to be all bah humbug about getting a guest out of your space when the evening's cheer has officially come to a close. To help put a stop to certain party guests who never want to go home, here are six quasi-polite tips for having a memorable holiday gathering without any (human) leftovers.
Your holiday invitation is the perfect place to inform guests of your upcoming seasonal get-together. The invite gives you a chance to include important details like the time.
Take it a step further by stating when the soiree starts and when it ends. This way, your guests arrive to the bash knowing it's not going to run until the wee hours of the morning.
A sure-fire way to get guests to depart from a party is to ask for help cleaning up. And while a few good buddies might lend a hand, there are usually plenty of others who will take it as a “hurry up" exit cue.
As for the kind souls who remain to help you clean up, you can pass it forward at their next party.
If you're having a holiday cocktail party, split it up into segments that make sense. For example:
By keeping the party on a hostess-inspired timetable, the evening runs smoothly and wraps up with a solid exit by design. Following dessert, guests depart.
It's commonly known etiquette that once there's a last call at a bar or club, people usually begin departing and make for the exit en masse. How about trying the same thing at your holiday party? Don't be shy about it either. Exclaim “Last call partygoers!"
Include a chalkboard by the front door with numbers for local taxi services for your guests to call for catching rides home. Or suggest the new traditional method and encourage your guests to order an Uber or Lyft. Their exit will be gracious and they'll thank you in the morning.
Everyone always loves your holiday song playlist. So why not make CDs as party favors? Close out the night by the door with all of the CDs wrapped and stacked on a table. Your guests will happily head out the door, knowing they can enjoy hearing your favorite mix of seasonal tunes post-party by popping their gift into the CD player for the ride home.
Or, if you want to be extra clever (because who listens to CDs anymore?), just buy CD cases and put a piece of paper inside with the link to your shared Spotify holiday playlist.
It's a given that holiday party hosting is a lot of work. But don't let your stress level go from 0 to 60 just because you have guests refusing to leave your apartment and overstay their welcome. The holiday entertaining season is your happy time. Be sure to enjoy your party just as much as your guests.
Susan Friedman is a lifestyle journalist with a background that includes real estate, interior design, architecture and kitchen and bath design. The former senior editor of Florida Travel + Life magazine, Susan resides in sunny south Florida and loves exploring the next great place to live, local culture and neighborhoods with cool vibes. Whether it’s in her own backyard or beyond, she has the pulse on what’s trending now in apartment dwelling and more.