Christmas with everyone, planned with one link
In the family group chat, Christmas usually looks like forty messages, three kinds of stuffing, no ice, and two identical presents. Here the gathering comes together in two steps. First you set the essentials — name, description, the table and the wish lists. Then you send the link, and everyone else checks themselves off.
How it works
- 01
Set the essentials
Name, date and a couple of lines of description: where, what time, what to bring. Two toggles — «Bring to the table» and «Wish list».
- 02
Send the link
Into the family WhatsApp or the group chat. One link for the whole gathering, sent by you.
- 03
Guests check in
They open the link in a browser and type their name. No app, no sign-up.
- 04
The table and the gifts sort themselves out
Who's bringing what is visible to everyone. Who's giving what is visible to everyone except the person receiving it.
What to include in the gathering
Two toggles on the first step make four different gatherings. Pick by the crowd, not by habit.
Both toggles off. Guests only confirm they're coming, so you know the headcount.
A shared list for food and everything else. You add items and can ask a specific guest; anyone else takes an open one or adds their own.
Everyone writes what they'd like and sees the other lists — once they've written their own. The «I'll get this» mark is visible to everyone except the person it's for.
The most common Christmas setup: the table and the gifts on one link.
How to plan Christmas without chat chaos
The usual failure is timing: people start on the 23rd, when it's already too late to pick anything.
- 1
Start in late November. Give people a week to RSVP, claim a table item and choose a gift.
- 2
Put everything important in the description. Address, time, dress code, budget: «ours at 6pm, gifts up to $40». Two hundred characters and nobody asks twice in the chat.
- 3
Start the table with five items. Mains, sides, drinks, ice, decorations. An empty list stays empty; a started one gets filled in.
- 4
Ask specific people. You can address an item to a guest: «Asking: Sam». They see the request and tap «I'll bring it» — and you see what's still uncovered.
- 5
Nudge whoever hasn't answered. If you set an expected headcount, you'll see «3 of 8» and know who to ping.
Gift exchange without a lottery draw
There's no name-drawing lottery here — and most groups don't actually need one.
A lottery draw solves one problem: making sure everyone gets exactly one gift. A wish list solves it differently — everyone writes their own, everyone sees what's already claimed, and nobody goes without if you agree on «one gift each». If your group likes drawing names, keep doing that, and use the list as a hint for what to actually get.
For what to put on your own list so it lands right, see wish list ideas: 102 things for different hobbies, and what to check before you buy.
Common questions
The list is free — both for the person collecting it and for everyone it is sent to.
Do guests need to sign up?
No. A guest opens the link in a browser and types their name. Nothing to install.
Can we skip the gifts and just do the table?
Yes. Turn off «Wish list» on the first step: guests will RSVP and pick what to bring.
How many people can I invite?
Up to twenty per gathering. For a bigger crowd, start a second one.
What does the person receiving a gift see?
Their own wishes and everyone else's lists, but not the marks on their own items. They find out who gave what at the table.
What happens after the party?
The lists close after the date — only who came and when stays — and the whole gathering is deleted after a month. Your own wishes can live on your personal list, which has a permanent address all year round.
Is it free?
Yes, with no limit on the number of gatherings or items.
Plan Christmas now
Name, description, the table and the wish lists — a minute's work. Send the link whenever you're ready.