Blog Post

How to Plan a Holiday Party that Your Guests Will Talk About for Years to Come

Holiday Parties are one of the best parts of the holiday season! They are something everyone looks forward to, or they look forward to some free holiday catering. Even still, there are so many reasons to throw a holiday party.

They boost the morale of everyone at the party. Leaving the year off on a high note is refreshing, and people have their moods changed the following year. Throwing the party shows that you value everyone you invite, and people will be very thankful to you.

If you are throwing a holiday party for your company it not only boosts morale but also boosts the company's culture. Your employees will love that their company is letting them have some fun. This will show them that the company not only values them as employees but as actual people. You can also invite clients, and have them feel the same way your employees will feel.

Throwing a Holiday Party is no easy task though. There are many things you need to do before the party. 

Lock Down the Date

The very first thing you should do is pick an actual date for the party.

You need to take into mind that people will be traveling around the holidays. People want to spend time with their family on and near the holiday. So you don’t want to pick a date that is too close to the holidays but close enough to where everyone feels festive.

Once you have a date in mind, you’ll need to give everyone involved enough time to prepare. They can start to include the party on their calendars, and they won’t be stressed out about a last-minute invite. No one likes last-minute parties and they wouldn’t show up.

Decide on a Type of Holiday Party

Now you’ll need to decide what kind of holiday party you’ll want to throw. Here are some of the options you could do.

Holidays Group Activity

Take everyone out for an engaging group activity like an escape room, or an ice skating outing. Your outdoor options are going to be limited by your location, there’s not much for December. Also, make sure that the activity you plan is inclusive to everyone or that alternative activity options are provided.

Formal Holiday Party or Gala

These events usually take place at night on a Friday or anytime you want on the weekend. Don’t try and host these on a weeknight because other obligations play a big role. This format is hosted at a rented event venue and has holiday catering. 

Packaged Holiday Party

Kick back and let someone else plan your party! These holiday parties either have a predetermined format associated with the venue or they are completely planned by a party planning service with their holiday catering.

If you are planning a Holiday Party for your company, here are some more options.

At-Work Holiday Party

Your company breaks from work for an extended time or wraps up early and gathers as a group at the office to celebrate. This would include food, beverages, and sometimes gift exchanges.

After-Hours Holiday Gathering

Your employees gather at an establishment like a restaurant after work for dinner. Renting a room in a restaurant is also a common practice.

Plan Your Budget

Most likely the most important part of these Holiday Parties is the budget. You’ll always want the most extravagant holiday party in town, but that’s not the case usually. You’re going to want to know exactly what you’re going to spend for the party.

Here are some things you’ll want to consider when planning your budget.

• The Venue

• Food

• Alcohol

• Transportation

• Entertainment

• Pick a Venue

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing a location to host your party. Cost, size, or entertainment. One of the more important factors is location. You will want to pick a place where it is easy to navigate. No more than 30 minutes away is best. 

Make sure the Venue is big enough to accommodate the number of people you have invited and their plus ones. You’ll also want to know what kind of accommodations the venue will have also, like a restaurant or bar.

Once you find a venue that’s perfect for your party, book it as soon as possible! It’s hard to find a good venue that isn’t booked out way in advance.

Don't Forget the Food!

Food at Holiday parties is a must! If you don’t have your party at a restaurant, you will want to consider holiday party catering. Holiday parties are already stressful as is. You don’t want to add to all the hustle and bustle by having to cook your food. Let us cater for your holiday party so you can enjoy the party you put together. Get a quote from us today!

Issue the Invitations

You should be sending invitations out to your guests at least 3 weeks before the party. Even if you think everyone at your work knows about the party, it's always good for them to have a reminder. The invitations should have all the information about the party. You can send your invitations by email but it could get overlooked. It is best to send an electronic and paper invitation. in case. 

Entertainment and Activities

Finally, the fun part of planning the holiday party. Activities and entertainment are your guests' most enjoyable part of the party. So you’ll want to have some activities in place for your party. Activities can include charades, scavenger hunts, trivia, crafts, and more.

Your activities will be even more fun when your guests are competing for prizes. These can include tech gifts, gift certificates, gift baskets, chocolates, or even paid days off.

You can also do a gift swap. Secret Santa events are always fun and can save your guests money by limiting their gift-giving to one person.

For entertainment, you can have a live band at your party. Live music always creates an awesome atmosphere.

Conclusion

Holiday Parties are the most joyous and memorable events of the year. From what you have read it can be pretty daunting to plan a holiday party. So, get a quote from us here at Command Performance catering. We will take on the most important part of every holiday party which is the food! So you can worry about executing the other parts of the planning process. By following these steps and hiring us to cater for you, your holiday party will go down as one of the best your guests will ever see.