Holiday Cocktail Party Prepper

Hosting 101, plus a holiday spritz riff

I don't normally need an excuse to host a cocktail party, but for many people, the holidays is the one time of year they do. And like anything you do only once or twice a year — think taxes or skiing — the prep can be daunting. To make things easier, and perhaps inspire you to plan your own in the next month, I’ve put together my best advice on how to host a successful, stress-free, mostly-budget-friendly holiday cocktail party. Read on for my 15 top tips, plus a new favorite (and very easy to make) festive winter cocktail.