Mark Your Calendars: A Head Start on Holiday Entertaining

It’s hard to believe we’ve already worked our way through November. Already, holiday invitations are starting to arrive, filling your mailbox and your inbox. It’s time to pick a date and stake your claim. If you’re committed to a prime Friday or Saturday evening, be prepared for some competition. Consider hosting a “holiday open house” on a popular evening—inviting friends to stop by between 6 and 10pm, share a drink or two, enjoy some tasty canapés or a hearty bowl of soup, join in the holiday cheer, and then make the rounds of other parties if necessary.

Personally, I’m a fan of Thursday or Sunday evenings for both larger cocktail parties and more intimate dinners—they’re generally a little bit quieter and you’re likely to have your guest’s undivided attention for the evening.

Once you’ve decided on a date, send out invites as soon as possible, asking guests to R.S.V.P. in a timely fashion so that you're able to get an accurate headcount. You can design and customize paper invites at paperbuzz.com or, if you want the latest party stats—who’s just viewed the invitation, who’s already messaged you desperate to know what they can bring—at your fingertips (or on your smart phone) check out pingg.com.