With all of the rules that encompass a great dinner party, if we want to do something a little extra special, especially in the run-up to the holidays, a Christmas dinner party can seem like a bit more work, especially when you're trying to get your home ready for the big day itself. This is why you need to bear some of the following in mind to make sure that it is easy on you, reduces the pressure, and ensures you all have a great time.

It's not as easy as just opting for traditional Christmas food. The fact is that people are going to have their own Christmas dinners on the big day itself, so you may want to offer something a little more alternative, yet Christmas-themed. You will have to consider dietary requirements, especially if you've got vegan friends, but you also need to make sure that the main meal itself exudes that Christmas equality. 

You could invest in a platter holder to show the food off in a good light, but you may also want to think about the types of foods that are easy to eat. Buffet foods may seem like an easy option but you can dress them up. A pasta bake that has a bit of turkey and just a note of cranberry sauce in the tomato mix can be on the right side of Christmassy without making people feel fed up with consuming everything overly Christmassy!

When it comes to any sort of party prep, if you want to save money, you can plan ahead. As easy as it is to purchase pre-chopped vegetables and desserts that are already fully formed, you are better off in the few days before the party just doing a little bit here and there. 

There are ways to keep your vegetables fresh before you put them on to cook and this means that when the big day arrives, you only need to do the cooking. It all depends on what you are making, but all those little things don't need to be done on the day itself. Making the dessert the night before and even creating your playlists are all things that can help take the stress away.

What do you want from your dinner party? Is it a big affair or is it going to be an intimate setting with a few close friends? If this is your first Christmas dinner party, you don't want to invite two individuals that are likely to clash as this is only going to feel like that awkward family encounters on the big day itself! However, if there are people coming along and you're planning on minimizing conflict, always make sure those two individuals are sat at the opposite end of the table to each other and have a few festive-themed events throughout the dinner party. It's not like you need to get the board games out, but a great Christmas party would be nothing without some great songs and great conversation. 

And when it comes to the ambiance, don't forget the lighting. An intimate dinner party always benefits from candles and tea lights to create the appropriate atmosphere. If you're lucky enough to have a dining room, now might be the opportunity to install a dimmer switch so you have more control over the lighting. If you have concerns the guests may knock candles over, you can purchase LED candles that look just like the real thing. 

When it comes to music, it might not be a good idea to go for wall-to-wall Christmas music. Most people in the run-up to Christmas have had an earful of the Christmas classics. Think about mellow dinnertime music, and ensure that it builds up gradually throughout the evening. Always make sure the volume is low enough to stimulate conversation. It should be background music.

The most stressful thing about being a dinner party host is that you may think it's not as good as the last dinner party so you end up in apology mode. It's important to let the guests enjoy themselves, and this is why you've got to set the right tone. Rather than drawing attention to the food you feel is not as good as last time or being an overeager host, just remember that you are ruling the roost. You can make sure drinks are topped up, but as long as you've covered the basics there should be nothing else for you to worry about, apart from the washing up!