Andy Williams sang it right. It is “the most wonderful time of the year.” When people smile and bring a happy vibe wherever they go, you know that Christmas is drawing near. And what better way to celebrate with your officemates than with a party for some holiday cheer!
If you are in charge of your holiday celebration, the first thing you need to do is scout out a couple of work Christmas party venues. The usual Christmas party is all about a non-work-related get-together with co-workers, so setting up a party at the office is not a good idea. Make it a party to remember by making sure that your venue is already memorable. Besides that, there are also other factors that you need to consider when organising the event.
Set a date
Aside from hunting for work Christmas party venues, you also need to study the perfect date for your event. Checking for the availability of all employees and bosses should be the first thing to do. The last official day of your work year is the best day to plan for a party.
Finalise the party budget
Everything comes with a cost, and a Christmas party is no exception. Your responsibility as the organiser is to stretch the budget as humanly as possible. That means you need to look for affordable vendors. Going for an all-in-one service will also help extend your party finances. Food, venue, drinks, and music should be your top priority. Everything else comes second.
Reserve the party venue
Most company Christmas parties have an allocated budget for an out-of-the-office venue. So forget about boring festivities where you gather around the punch bowl for a slight chat. Check out venues with a lot of fun, pre-packed activities just for the holiday spirit. You can even go for bowling, karaoke, and escape rooms for those who are not of the faint of heart. And once you decide on the venue, be sure to have it reserved at least two or three months before the party.
Put up a party planning committee
Teamwork makes everything work. And since no man is an island, it is best to have people you can delegate tasks to. A party planning committee helps in making event organisation smooth and hitch-free. It would be best if you had different people in charge of food and drinks, games and prizes, decorations, and ingress/egress.
Get feedback from previous Christmas parties
Some of your office mates may have ideas on the kind of party they want. You can send a group email to get feedback on the previous parties of your company. The informal survey would give you an idea of what works for your co-workers and what their idea of fun is.
Set a theme
Having a theme sometimes excites the office people. Deciding on it earlier gives them time to work on a budget for their costumes and how the gift-giving will proceed. Decorate the venue with Bargain Balloons and try unique theme for the venue.
Send out the invites
At least a month before the actual party, you need to send out emailed invites to your co-workers. The following information should be in your email: Date and time, theme and dress code, food and drink details, whether it is strictly for employees or with their families, etc. You can also opt to ask for a confirmation reply for headcount assessment.
As exciting as party planning is, you know that you have your work cut out for you. Fortunately, some work Christmas party venues may already have packaged catering, a bar, and some prepared activities, which will already be a big weight off your shoulders. So relax, have the best time with your work buds, and make it a party to remember.
Erica Jones is a freelance writer and a GOT fan. Apart from writing Technologies, she likes to read & write fiction. More than anything, she loves to spend her time with her family, explaining technologies to the elders.
