Corporate Christmas parties are what every employee looks forward to at the end of the work year. They’ve put in the hours to make the business a success this year, and the Christmas party is a way of saying thank-you.
It’s can also be a great morale-booster, one that will end the year on a positive note and encourage employees to come back to work next year happier and more productive than ever!
If you want to throw a Christmas party for the office, it’s wise to start planning several months in advance. There are quite a few points to consider if you want the event to be a success.
Choose the Location of the Party
Pick a place to have the party. There may be dozens of different venues available in the area where the office is located, making it convenient for the guests to get there with no problem. If the party is a small one, you may be able to throw it in the office at a certain point, but you may simply prefer having it elsewhere, such as a cocktail bar in East London. You’ll need to decide where you’re going to have it, making sure there is enough space for all the people you’re inviting.
Pick the Date and Time
The next step involves choosing a date and time that works for you and all the others in the office. You probably want to make sure everyone is going to be able to make it to have a fun night celebrating Christmas with one another. If you’re indecisive about the date, pick out a few and then ask the office staff to help choose a good date and time for the event.
Invite People Early
After booking the venue, begin sending the invitations out to the people you’re inviting. You can send out physical invitations or send them via email to work addresses to ensure each person gets them. It’s better to send your invitations out earlier because then guests can clear off their schedules, find babysitters, and get ready for the event.
Choose A Party Theme
If it’s a shared party, you don’t have to select the theme, but if you’re the only one handling the planning process it’s something you’re going to need to do on your own. There are both simple and more extravagant themes for you to choose from. Spend some time searching for a bit of theme inspiration before choosing one for your event. You may then get all the decorations you need.
Plan Out the Menu
Start working on figuring out what to serve to the guests. You may want to have a buffet available for the guests, allowing them to choose what they want to add to their plates instead of making them feel like they’re forced to eat something they might not necessarily like. Always make sure to have options available for picky eaters as well as those following gluten-free, low-carb, and vegan diets.
Preparing food on your own is a lot of work. It may be easier for you to work with a catering company that could supply you with the different types of food for your event.
Make Decisions on the Drinks You’ll Serve
If drinks aren’t included in the venue package, you’ll need to decide on the drinks you’d like to offer to your guests. You may want to have an open bar while offering other refreshments, such as sparkling water, soda, and even juice. It’s best to have a combination of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks available because then your guests will get to decide if they want to drink or not. Not all of your guests are going to want to have an alcoholic beverage while at the event, especially if they’re planning to drive home from the event when it’s over.
Choose Your Entertainment
Make sure the night is even more interesting and exciting for each of your guests by hiring some genuinely good entertainment for the event. You should definitely have someone who can play good music for the duration of the event. People may want to dance around while having a good time because of the holiday season. Aside from finding someone who can play good music, you can always look into other entertainment sources for additional excitement, such as caricature artists, comedians, and bands.
The planning process isn’t too difficult, but it’s better to start now than to wait until the last minute to begin planning. Once you’ve got things all figured out, you’ll likely feel like a weight has been lifted right from your shoulders because everything will start falling directly into place.