One of my earliest and most cherished memories revolves around my mother’s legendary Christmas dinners. She was the epitome of meticulous planning, starting weeks in advance with menu designs, guest lists, and a flurry of preparation. However, one particular Christmas evening, just as guests were arriving, disaster struck – a power outage plunged our home into darkness! Our carefully planned multi-course feast was stuck in an electric oven, far from ready. Yet, with remarkable composure, my mom transformed the situation. She filled the house with candlelight, offered drinks, and encouraged everyone to play cards and games, hoping the electricity would return.
But it didn’t.
My mom, understanding that the heart of the meal wasn’t the elaborate dishes but the family gathering and festive spirit, didn’t miss a beat. She grabbed a loaf of bread, peanut butter, and grape jelly. Soon, Christmas tree and cherub-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, crafted with her extensive cookie cutter collection, became the unexpected highlight. We kids were ecstatic.
That night, despite the chaos, my mom achieved her true purpose: family connection and creating lasting memories. Candlelight laughter filled the air, and adults happily enjoyed PB&Js alongside cranberry salad and grandma’s infamous Jell-O mold. It was a truly memorable Griswold Family Christmas moment, in its own unique way.
Unknowingly, that evening became my first lesson in event management. I learned the importance of purpose, planning, simplicity, and flexibility when faced with the unforeseen. These principles, instilled by my mother, became the bedrock of my 20+ year career as a strategic event designer.
Unlikely Inspiration from the Griswolds
I often reflect on that Christmas night, marveling at my mother’s innate event planning talent. But inspiration can strike from unexpected sources.
Recently, I introduced my sons to another family tradition: the 1989 classic movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. As the Griswold’s hilariously disastrous holiday unfolded, I realized it offered valuable, albeit cautionary, lessons in entertaining.
As you plan your holiday events this year, let’s look to the Griswolds for inspiration on exactly “what not to do” by exploring SEVEN fundamental party planning principles:
1. Define Your Purpose
First and foremost, identify your entertaining purpose and set clear goals. What do you want your guests to experience and remember? Pinpoint opportunities to ensure you achieve this purpose with simple strategies that guide your guests’ experience throughout the event.
For my mother, the purpose of that Christmas dinner was fostering connection and creating cherished memories.
In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold is obsessed with creating the “perfect” griswold family christmas. He desperately wants to replicate the magical Christmas memories of his childhood for his own family. While his purpose is valid and admirable, his complete disregard for fundamental event planning principles – not to mention basic electrical safety – leads to utter chaos.
2. Acknowledge Your Limitations
You have your purpose; now, face reality. Understanding your limitations and taking on only what you can realistically manage ensures that you – and your guests – can genuinely enjoy the experience you’re creating.
Clark Griswold’s purpose – a perfect family Christmas – was clear. However, his goals were wildly unrealistic. Clark, despite lacking electrical expertise, insisted on handling thousands of Christmas lights himself. This denial of his limitations and unwillingness to seek help was a recipe for disaster.
Recently, while helping a client plan her holiday celebration, she asked, “Have you ever taken on too much trying to create the ‘perfect’ party?” My emphatic answer: “Absolutely!” My memories of those overambitious parties? Being perpetually stuck in the kitchen, fretting over uncontrollable details, and wishing I’d spent more time with my guests. Don’t fall into the trap of striving for television-perfect cocktails, recipes, or decorations. Perfectionism is a never-ending cycle and is vastly overrated.
3. Develop a Solid Plan
Don’t misunderstand; aspirations are great when entertaining. Creating delicious menus, stylish décor, and inviting environments are joyful aspects of hosting. These are all strategies to include in your plan to achieve your purpose. Once you know your purpose and understand your limits, develop a plan with strategies that are right for you. Do you have a planning partner? Are you working with an event planner? Involve them in the planning process. Collaboration can lighten the load and tackle tedious tasks.
Early in Christmas Vacation, after a comically disastrous Christmas tree hunt, Ellen pleads with Clark to reconsider hosting Christmas at home, suggesting vacation or anything else. Ellen wisely says, “You set standards that no family activity can live up to.” With Ellen’s realistic perspective, Clark could have developed a smarter plan, with achievable strategies for creating a memorable griswold family christmas.
4. Embrace Flexibility
Like my lesson from my mother’s candlelit Christmas, flexibility is crucial. Imagine planning a dinner party, and uninvited guests arrive, followed by even more curious faces at your door. A great host welcomes them warmly, offers drinks, and improvises extra places at the table.
During the Griswold’s chaotic Christmas dinner, Clark carves a seemingly perfect turkey, only to have it collapse into a desiccated mess. Despite the obvious disaster, Clark, fixated on his “perfect Christmas,” served the inedible bird. He was so rigid in his plan that he missed the opportunity to pivot. Perhaps PB&J might have saved the day (and the movie’s plot)!
Flexibility is also vital when transitioning from planner to host. Trust your preparations and be present with your guests. If you’re stuck in the kitchen, you can’t adapt to unfolding needs. Move forward with your plan, but be ready to adjust while keeping your purpose in focus.
Unlike the inflexible Clark Griswold, I recently produced a Halloween party for a client. Plans were set, games ready, treats prepared. We awoke to freezing temperatures and gale-force winds. With mostly outdoor activities planned, we had to be flexible. Instead of panicking, we quickly adapted, moving some activities indoors and canceling others. These changes didn’t detract from the guest experience; they were none the wiser. We remained focused on the purpose: fun and engagement.
5. Keep it Simple
Clark aimed for the most memorable griswold family christmas ever. While he certainly achieved memorable, simplifying his plan could have minimized the mayhem. He chose an outrageously large tree, dangerously strung thousands of lights, and pressured everyone to meet his impossible standards. Great for comedy, but in reality, simplicity allows you to enjoy the process and connect with your guests.
One way I simplify entertaining is by seeking shortcuts for food, decorations, and supplies. For Thanksgiving, instead of kitchen marathons, I might buy a pie from my favorite bakery and add a homemade touch, like cinnamon whipped cream with crushed Clark Bars (a nod to Clark Griswold!). Or, I might purchase pre-made pumpkin bisque, reheat it, and garnish with nutmeg and basil. Find easy ways to impress without excessive work.
6. Prepare in Advance
Another simplicity shortcut: advance preparation. When planning events with clients, we always create a “do-ahead” list. This strategy significantly reduces hosting stress.
For food, understand what can be frozen or refrigerated in advance. Many hosts are surprised that freezing components earlier in the week and thawing just before serving is a great way to manage complex menu items. For decorations, create as much as possible in the weeks leading up to the party and stage them in a spare room or garage. Review your plan, acknowledge your limitations, and find shortcuts to achieve your entertaining purpose efficiently.
7. Oh, and Have Fun!
The final step… Have Fun! (Yes, planning can be enjoyable when it lets you enjoy your own party.) Once you decide to host, define your purpose, understand your limitations, plan effectively, keep it simple, and find shortcuts to make your holiday entertaining season about connection and lasting memories. Don’t get trapped by unattainable “perfect” standards like the Griswolds.
As Ellen Griswold famously lamented, “I don’t know what to say, except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.” Make it your goal to avoid the griswold family christmas pitfalls by applying these seven fundamental party planning principles.
And before you finalize your holiday party plans, one more thing: gather your family, pop some popcorn, and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. You’ll discover hilarious lessons and create some lasting memories of your own!
With over 20 years designing Event Experiences, developing strategies to Build Human Connections for corporate and private clients, Trace is a professional event designer who develops Strategic Event Strategies and designs innovative experiences that foster human connection and create lasting memories. Explore more strategies and ideas on Trace’s blog at www.tracekingham.com. Follow Trace on Twitter @tracekingham.
