3 Christmas Party Ideas That Will Make Your Office Christmas Party a Success

On Saturday, November 6th, 2010 at 7:47 pm, No Comments »

Depending of how the office Christmas party goes, it can often be the talk of the office long after the event has come and gone. So, for those whose daunting task it is to organize it, it is vital to get the planning right.

Here are 3 ways to make your office Christmas party a success by identifying 3 main areas to consider: the venue, food and drink, and entertainment. But before you consider any options, you must determine your budget. Talk to your company’s financial manager to find out exactly how much you can spend.

To begin with, let’s take a look at where you will hold your office Christmas party. There are many factors to consider here. If it’s to be in the office, will there be space for catering? How many guests will be at the party? Will others such as spouses, partners or children be included? If children are invited the venue may have to be completely different to that of an all adult party. Certain health and safety issues need to be looked into as well. If you decide on an off-site Christmas party you need to make sure you have a reservation before you announce the event. You can work on other details later, such as menu and decorations.

Now that you have the location lined up, food and drink is your next area to plan. If you are in charge of providing the food on-site, consider getting staff to bring a dish each and sign up on a sheet to say what they are bringing. This can keep the cost down if you are on a limited budget. Keep in mind, even though it is a nice idea, you don’t have to have traditional Christmas holiday food.

Think about a theme and organize your food to relate to it. This can be followed through in your choice of decorations. If you are hosting your office Christmas party in the office, you may need to hire a bartender. Alternatively, you can set up self-service bars.

If you choose an outside caterer, you will need to select a menu and determine serving options. A restaurant may have a set menu or a few options so you have a selection of meals. Be sure to include some vegetarian options and check to see if any people have certain allergies that need to be taken into consideration. At an off-site venue you will need to choose the wine, beer and spirits you want to serve, but don’t forget the non-alcoholic drinks as well.

Be sure to draw up a contract with your choice of location that will outline the cost of the event, including add-on expenses such as cleaning up, transportation and alcohol. Most venues have a person in charge of events management, so it’s good to get their name and contact details.

Finally, you need to address possible entertainment at your office Christmas party. This is very much determined by your budget, venue and the group of people that will be attending. Music is essential for the atmosphere. Either in the form of a DJ, band or your own selection, it is something that can get the party off to a good start. For example, renting a Karaoke machine is easily done and can get people involved.

Whether on- or off-site you might also want to consider some games or activities. These can be fun for the family and kids if present, as well as a great icebreaker at parties. Consider a quiz game or charades. For parties that include children, having a Santa at the party is always welcome, especially if the company can provide small gifts such as candy.

And last but not least, make sure to send out all your invitations in plenty of time. Christmas holiday season is one of the busiest of the year, so you will want to give plenty of advance notice to ensure a good attendance. This, plus good planning, is sure to make your office Christmas party a great success!