Who doesn’t love a good holiday party to end the year of countless meetings and hard work? Other than booking your event through EventUp, there are definitely a few things you should know about the holiday party planning process.
Book Early
You might not be feeling all that merry yet, but booking your venue early is the most important step in the process of hosting a corporate holiday party. Especially in big cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, venues begin to sell out months before the holidays chime in. Work early (Think: July/August) to reserve your ideal corporate venue space. When booking the venue, keep size, budget, and ambiance in mind to ensure you are meeting your party needs.
About That “Plus 1”
It’s important to make the decision about including significant others at your company's holiday party during the planning process. If you want to extend the invitation to the “plus 1”, take it into account when searching venue spaces. In addition, it’s important you have an RSVP By date in mind. This way, when it comes time to make some final decisions and details (e.g. food), you have an accurate number of guests.
Be Inclusive
A must when planning any event! A large part of holiday celebrations are centered around food and drinks - so make sure there is something for everyone. Keep in mind of guests who may have any allergies, such as gluten or soy, or dietary needs, such as vegan or vegetarian. Also, consider featuring a “mocktail” or non-alcoholic beverages for those employees who don’t drink. Work with the venue to make sure all of your guests can be accommodated. Although it may seem like a simple task, it’s never one you want to forget!
Stick To Your Budget
While it’s easy to get caught up in planning the perfect end of year celebration for your client or colleagues, it’s important to think about your budget. Be mindful of what you splurge on - people will remember the food but they may not always remember things like the expensive decor. It’s also important to keep a little cushion in your budget for any expense that might unexpectedly come up.
Hire a Photographer!
Capture the moment! Hiring a photographer is a great investment for a corporate holiday party. You’ll get photos to show off your company culture and you’ll have an album of memories from the night to share with everyone after. Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Hire Photographers for Your Holiday Party (link blog post)
Have an Activity
Whether it’s a photo wall, a live performance, raffle, or a volunteer project (like a food or toy drive) it’s always nice to give people something to do during your event. It helps create a memorable experience and can even become a yearly tradition people look forward to!
Theme it Up!
Everyone loves a good theme. When thinking about your holiday party, consider a fun dress code or theme that employees can get into. It doesn’t need to be holiday-related, it can be Prom, Masquerade, or even Celebrity Couples. Remember, this is their chance to have some fun and relax after a long year, and show who they are out of the office environment!
Celebrate!
This is most likely one of the only times your office can all come together to celebrate every year. When the event comes, don’t worry about making sure every detail is perfect! Enjoy the event with all of your co-workers, it is why you planned it in the first place!
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