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Tis the Season!
It’s not too late to plan your holiday party. Here are some tips to get you started and to ensure everyone has a good time.
1. Save The Date
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Send an email out to all staff to “save the date” even if you are not sure of all the details
TIP: It is a busy time of year and people can get booked up early, secure your date now.
2. Budget
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Determine your budget up front so you can manage everyone’s expectations in terms of the type of event.
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You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great time. The key is to bond with your team members and let them know you appreciate all their hard work this year.
TIP: Lighting and music go a long way in building atmosphere on a budget. Also, The Dollar Store is a great place to find decorations for accents.
3. Preparation: It’s helpful to think of the type of event you want to host before booking any details.
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Is this a Xmas or holiday party?
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Is there a theme? Dress code?
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What month will the party be held in? Some companies choose January over December since it’s a quieter time of year.
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Are clients, significant others or family members coming? Or is this just for employees?
TIP: Your budget can help determine the number of people and type of party you will host.
4. Location: Thinking about where your guests live and what is most accessible to the group is a good first step.
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Select the area you want to be in and then do a search for venues in the area.
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Choose your top 3 and then reach out to find about pricing and availability.
TIP: It’s important to book a site visit before confirming the venue. Online photos can often be out of date and it’s hard to get a sense of atmosphere from photos.
5. Food & Drinks: This is one of the most important features of your event! People always talk about what they ate and drank.
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Determine if you want a sit down dinner or a cocktail style event.
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Decide if the event is about mingling & networking or if it’s a more formal affair.
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When it comes to the bar you will need to determine if it’s paid, ticketed or an open bar.
TIP: If you are providing alcohol you are legally responsible for ensuring your guests get home safe. Thus, make arrangements for a designated driver program or provide rides home with an arrangement with a taxi company or Uber.
6. Entertainment: There are many different ways to animate a party, from simple mingling games like Secret Santa to performers. Budget will determine what is possible, either way, incorporating an activity of some kind will add a lot to the event.
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What do you want guests to take away from the night? Meet new people? Have fun with their team? Be engaged and interactive or passive and relaxing?
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Think about the kind of music will be at the party, do you want a live band or a DJ and dancing?
TIP: If you hire a DJ, you can ask people to submit their favorite songs in advance and have the DJ create a custom playlist. This is a great way to ensure you cater to everyone’s taste and get people on the dancefloor.
If you think about all these elements in advance you guests are sure to have LOTS OF FUN!!!!
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