How to Throw a Tacky Christmas Sweater Party
Photos from the most festive night with our closest friends, plus 5 takeaways we learned
Hi! Happy holidays!
How has your week been? Can you believe Christmas is in six days and we just finished our Christmas shopping tonight? Oh, you, too? :)
We hosted our first ever tacky Christmas sweater party last weekend and it was a blast. Like, the most fun we’ve had in a while. We sang karaoke, ate tons of food, met new friends (and saw old ones we hadn’t seen in a while), and learned so much about actually hosting a Christmas party, which we had somehow evaded until now.
Have you been to any Christmas parties yet this year? Better yet, have you thrown any Christmas parties this year?
To start, we made easy invitations using Canva about a week and a half before the party, which is super last minute, I know, but I believe those who truly want to make it will always find a way to be there.
We had a party start time, but no end time, so people were free to stay for as long or as short as they wanted. There weren’t any rules besides you had to show up in the appropriate dress code. People kept texting asking what they could bring and we just kept replying with, “Just yourself and your tackiest sweater.” Easy peasy.
The whole night felt easy and super casual. Most of the people who came already knew each other, but there were a few new to-us-faces, and other friends of ours who hadn’t met one another yet, so it was fun to see new friendships form throughout the cold, cozy night.
We all chatted and drank and ate, swapping stories and catching up, but the biggest hit of the night? Karaoke!
Matt brought his bluetooth speaker and microphone and we just pulled songs up on YouTube and all took turns singing our hearts out in the living room. It took a few glasses of wine for me to get the courage to sing, but after the first song, the nerves fell away and it was just plain fun. When was the last time you sang karaoke?
Confession: I went a little overboard on the food. We had so many leftovers! PJ kept telling me all day that we had enough and to not overdo it, but I wouldn’t hear of it. I just wanted to make sure everyone had enough to eat! But in our house, we never truly waste food, so we ate the leftovers for a few days until giving it to our pigs at the farm. My favorite dish of the night was Captain Rodney’s Cheese Dip, which is the most addicting dip you’ll ever have (and the best thing to bring to parties).
The Menu
BBQ sliders
Charcuterie board
Veggie tray
Fruit tray
Beau’s Christmas tree spread (see pic below)
Brownies
Red velvet cake balls
Matt’s spiked hot chocolate
Since we’ve had a couple of days to digest the party, we wanted to share with you a few takeaways we learned:
We Made Too Much Food
Throwing a party is exciting, and it’s easy to overestimate how much food you’ll need. We learned the hard way that people don’t come to a tacky Christmas sweater party to stuff themselves- they’re mostly just here for the fun. We had a ton of finger foods, dips, and desserts, only to find most people were content with a plate or two while mingling. Next time, we’ll keep it simple and focus on a few crowd-pleasers instead of trying to cater to every taste.
Bonus tip: If you do overdo it on food, have to-go boxes ready to send guests home with leftovers.
Keep It Simple
When it comes to decor, invitations, and the menu, less is more! Tacky sweaters are already doing the heavy lifting in the festive department, so you don’t need to overdo it with elaborate decorations. A string of Christmas lights, a quirky garland, and maybe some holiday-scented candles are enough to set the vibe. For invitations, a quick and cheerful group text or e-vite works just fine. And when planning the menu, stick to easy, stress-free options like pre-made platters or a few simple homemade treats. Trust me, simplicity keeps the focus on the fun, not the fuss.
Don’t Deep Clean (Just Pick Up)
Before the party, we debated whether to do a full deep clean of the house or just tidy up. Spoiler alert: we chose the latter, and it was the right call. Guests are here to have a good time, not inspect your baseboards (though I always do my best to keep those clean). Plus, a house full of people in Christmas sweaters is bound to result in spills, crumbs, and general chaos, so a quick pick-up is all you really need to make your space party-ready.
Don’t Be Afraid to Invite Plus-Ones
Inviting plus-ones is a game-changer. It not only makes your guests feel more comfortable, it also helps everyone relax and enjoy themselves. We encouraged everyone to bring a friend, partner, or even a sibling, and it made the night feel more lively and inclusive.
Pro tip: if you're worried about having too many people, ask for RSVPs so you can plan accordingly while still keeping that welcoming vibe.
Have Something Fun to Do as a Group
A party isn’t just about mingling, it’s also about creating memories. We planned karaoke as the main event, and, again, it was a hit. Everyone got into the holiday spirit, belting out Celine and Chappel and taking turns singing whatever their hearts deserved. Our backup plan was to play our favorite game just in case karaoke wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Having some kind of activity keeps the energy high and gives people something to rally around, especially if they don’t know everyone there.
Tip: choose an activity that’s easy, inclusive, and fun for all personality types.
Another fun highlight of the night (and something we firmly believe elevates any party and instantly makes it more fun) was when we broke out the wigs. They have such a power to them! Folks become entirely different people when they wear wigs, like it gives them permission to be wild and sexy and even more comfortable with themselves.
Highly recommend investing in a few wigs for your guests to wear throughout the night!
Overall it was such a fun evening and we plan to do this every year now. We’re heading to my brother’s 7th annual tacky Christmas sweater party this weekend, which will be our third and final one of the season.
We hope your holidays are warm and merry and tacky and bright as well, friends! xoxoxo
Tuesday’s Issue
PJ's Fitness Journey Update: From Lean to Muscle Gain
For me, working out has always been more than just the physical. Yes, I love seeing changes in my body, but for years, it’s also been a mental outlet. I tend to stress over even the smallest things, and exercising helps me clear my head.
Question For the Group
When attending or throwing a party, do you prefer a hand towel or individual disposable napkins to dry your hands in the bathroom? I ask because at our own parties, I prefer to have a hand towel and PJ prefers to have napkins guests can use and throw away. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong decision, but a matter of preference. PJ thinks it’s kind of gross to have one towels for people to use over and over again, and I agree, but I hate the thought of all of those napkins being wasted! I’m curious how you feel about it?
People tend to nosh or nibble more than eat-eat at adult-only evening parties—especially the over-20, the over-30, or the over-over crowd: a little nibble, a little sip-sip, a little nibble, and then a little more sip-sip.
Thanks for sharing your silly fun!
I have never thrown a Christmas party (or really much of any kind of party beyond having maybe a couple of couples over, and that was years ago), and I haven’t gone to any Christmas parties, partly because I haven’t been invited to any, and partly because I’m just not really a party person, and when I go to a party, within 10 minutes I’m already starting to think about when I can politely leave. I will take a small get-together with maybe a half dozen people over a party with lots of people any day. That being said, I am going to a New Year’s Eve party, and there will be karaoke, and I will probably sit and listen to other people sing and never get in front of the microphone. That’s just how I roll, karaoke-wise.