5 Elegant Christmas Party Themes That Are Festive and Delightful

No ugly Christmas sweaters or jolly Jell-O shots here. These elegant Christmas party themes are a fun and sophisticated way to celebrate.

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Beautiful holiday decorated room with Christmas tree
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Elegant Christmas Party Theme 1: Dreaming of a White Christmas

Not sure where to start with your party theme? Keep it simple with a White Christmas party. Display white decorations like string lights and artificial snow for a chic, effortless look. Encourage your guests to get in on the fun by wearing their best winter white.

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Christmas Party Invitation - INSTANT DOWNLOAD - printable digital custom Editable Template tree silent night company corporate stars elegant
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Beautiful Invitations

Kick-off your party with simple, festive invitations (like this) or get crafty and make your own. Use a free website like Canva to design a “Dreaming of a White Christmas” card. Or break out the scissors and go old school with paper snowflake invitations.

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Blue Moon Crescent Cookies
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Themed Food

One of the best parts of hosting this type of party? No dangerous red wine spills! Stick with the ivory theme and serve white wine and homemade eggnog. Display a variety of white Christmas cookies for guests to snack on while they chat and catch up.

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Table served for Christmas dinner
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Set the Table

Hosting a sit-down dinner? No Christmas table decorations are complete without some festive touches. Look for rustic white linens and dishware and decorate with white tea candles and sprigs of evergreen. Glistening white ornaments and tiny trees complete the look.

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Sweet home. White Christmas decor on vintage natural wooden background.
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Decorate With White Lights

White lights instantly elevate any gathering. Place them around the tree, the mantle and windows. If you’re feeling ambitious, purchase large wooden letters from your local craft store or online ($8 for one letter) and spell out JOY.

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Christmas drinks, pink peppermint martini cocktail with xmas decoration and candy cane sweet on white marble kitchen table
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Elegant Christmas Party Theme 2: Mistletoe and Martinis

December is a crazy busy time, so opting for a happy hour party makes perfect sense. Your guests will be able to stop by for the perfect martini without missing out on other dinner and party plans. This adults-only party theme is a fun way to connect and relax amidst the holiday rush.

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Start With the Martini

The best part about a mistletoe and martinis party is the fun cocktails. Go for vibrant colors and clever names. This pomegranate martini will become part of the holiday decor with its deep red hue and cute garnish. Offer naughty and nice versions for those who steer clear of alcohol.

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A piano with christmas lights and tree
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The Music

Every cocktail party needs a jazzy playlist. Include classic Christmas carols, retro classics from crooners like Frank Sinatra and modern favorites. Look for mellow songs that will add to the relaxed atmosphere. Think more along the lines of Michael Bublé ($8).

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Broom from green mistletoe on wood desk.
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Don’t Forget the Mistletoe

Hang mistletoe throughout your place for a cheery look and some delightfully awkward situations. If you have some Instagram-loving friends coming, set up a photo wall with plenty of mistletoe and fun Christmas props like Santa hats and Rudolph noses.

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Fun Invitations

If you’re sending paper invitations, look for fun cocktail-inspired ones on Etsy (like this). You can choose from red martinis with tiny candy canes or chic clear martinis with a single sprig of pine. Be sure to let guests know that this is a child-free evening.

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Winter home decor. Christmas rustic interior.
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Elegant Christmas Party Theme 3: Rustic Winter Wonderland

It’s time to channel your inner Joanna Gaines and throw the rustic chic Christmas party of your dreams. Think farmhouse decor, classic comfort food and lots of shiplap. This theme is great because you’ll be able to reuse the gorgeous decor every year for your own holiday decorating.

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Candle decorated with cinnamon sticks and red apples, christmas decoration
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Simple Decor

Keep your decor simple with fresh green garland, pine cones and mason jars of ornaments. Look for large vanilla-scented candles and wrap them with fresh cinnamon sticks for a Joanna-approved touch that will make your party smell amazing.

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Rustic Invitations

There are plenty of invitation options for a rustic winter wonderland party. Look for sweet farmhouse designs (like this one) or create your own with brown paper glued to a square of burlap. Try your hand at calligraphy for hand-lettered invitations or save time with a rustic font.

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Christmas jam
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Comfort Food

Think elevated comfort food for your rustic gathering. Finger foods and sparkling holiday punch are great for an afternoon gathering. Instead of butter, serve your Joanna Gaines biscuits with homemade Christmas Jam with strawberries and cranberries. Create a buffet station for your guests to sample a bit of everything.

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Woman's hands hold christmas or new year decorated gift box.
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Wrapped Favors

Send your guests home at the end of the evening with a memento from the party. Wrap small Christmas cookies or homemade candies in brown paper with a bit of red string for a chic gift. Stack them under the tree as part of the decor during the party.

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Elegant Christmas Party Theme 4: Great Gatsby Christmas

What better way to ring in 2020 than with a 20s themed Great Gatsby Christmas party? Everyone loves an excuse for a costume party, so grab your favorite pearls and bedazzled headband for a glitzy evening.

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Cherry Chiffon Gelatin
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Vintage Dishes

Stick with your Great Gatsby motif with a Roaring 20s menu. Serve vintage desserts like gelatin molds and fancy appetizers like oysters Rockefeller. Set out finger foods that are easy for guests to grab in between Charleston dance-offs.

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Champagne Cocktail
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Champagne Cocktails

It wouldn’t be a Great Gatsby party without shimmering champagne cocktails. Add festive garnishes like a sprig of rosemary and frozen cranberries. Other old-fashioned cocktails to offer include gin rickeys, long island iced teas and manhattans.

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Roaring ’20s Invitations

When choosing an invitation, go for anything gold and sparkling. Check Etsy for swanky designs (like this one) or create your own on black art paper and add some sparkle with gold jewels or stickers. These invites also work well for New Year’s Eve parties.

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Elegant Christmas Party Theme 5: Christmas in New York

You watch the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, browse festive window displays and take in a Rockettes show at Radio City Music Hall. These are all iconic Christmas in New York moments. Recreate all the magic of a New York Christmas with your own spin on Big Apple holiday celebrations.

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Whimsical City Decor

Help your guests feel like they’re in Times Square with small touches like cutouts of the skyline and festive taxi decorations. These cute ornaments ($20) could also make great favors for guests to take home and display on their own trees.

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NYC Invitations

Grab your boarding pass (download this one here) and pack your bags, it’s time to be a part of it. Find a New York-themed invitation on Etsy or print your own featuring the skyline or famous skating rink.

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Cherry Cheese Cupcakes
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New York Cheesecake

The best part of a “Christmas in New York” party could be the food. Give a nod to New York cheesecake with these party-friendly cherry cheesecake cupcakes. They’re easy to grab as guests mingle, and you know they’ll go fast.

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Hot Pizza Dip
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New York Pizza

Serving giant, piping hot slices of New York-style pizza could get a bit messy for guests. Instead, opt for an NYC pizza dip. It’s delicious, simple to prepare and much easier for to sample as they sip their cocktails and chat.

Carrie Madormo, RN
Carrie is a health writer and nurse who specializes in healthy eating and wellness through food. With a master’s degree in public health from the Medical College of Wisconsin, she strives to translate the latest health and nutrition research into interesting, actionable articles. During her six years at Taste of Home, Carrie has answered hundreds of reader questions about health and nutrition, such as if pomegranate seeds are safe to eat, why pregnant women crave pickles and how much caffeine is in a shot of espresso. Carrie is also a former health coach and food blogger.