Automated Holiday Party Ideas (2025): Ninja, HP Sprocket, Cricut

However, there is an automated solution. At my last party, I brought the HP Sprocket Photo Booth Machine ($600), and it was a huge hit. It’s a 21-inch portable photo kiosk that automatically prints 3 x 4-inch photos and lets you download digital versions via QR code. I love that you can create events on the device and set up custom filters — the bottom one had the word “Soupsgiving” even though it was in an incredibly small font compared to regular filter designs — and you can also add settings like the number of prints of a single photo that guests can print. We left the default setting of two on for our soup-themed Friendsgiving, but I think I’ll increase it to at least three for future gatherings. Be sure to stock up on refills of HP’s Zink paper ($40 vs. $50) for photo booth printing, especially if the gathering is large. You will need both Wi-Fi access and a power outlet.

How to automate your drinks

I love a good cocktail, especially at holiday parties. But not only is it difficult to come up with a good holiday recipe, it’s not easy to keep those cocktails flowing while hosting, either. Fortunately, there are now home bartending machines that can prepare drinks quickly. I tested the Partizi Cocktail Machine over Thanksgiving, and it was a huge hit for everyone to pour their own drink before Thanksgiving dinner. It works similar to a Keurig with cocktail glasses you place in the center console, and there are four cans of alcohol you’ll fill and connect so the bartender can mix the right booze.

It worked out pretty smoothly, but for my next party, I’m going to put up a sign that says “The tab should point to you”; Many people don’t realize that you have to fit the cocktail glass properly into the machine or it won’t work. Gin and rum cocktails also share a common spot, but I don’t want to switch liquors all night, so I’m taking out all the gin cocktail containers so no one ends up with a gin-filled Christmas Hurricane like my husband did (he said it was still good!). I also really like all of the holiday options that Bartesian has to offer — the Festive Collection ($25) and Holiday Collection ($25) were a big hit.

How to automate your appetizers

Screenshots: Nina Farrell

Feeding a crowd is difficult. Feeding a crowd that includes some serious allergies and dietary restrictions doesn’t make it any easier. In the spirit of automating everything I could, I turned to ChatGPT to create my own appetizers for a group that included two vegans and one person whose allergies include avocado, beans, shellfish, and eggs. (Having these two groups of friends need protein at the same time has a unique overlap in a Venn diagram of what they can all eat: tofu.)