Being asked to organise the Christmas party for either work
or your friends is both an honour yet also something that can lead to a whole
lot of stress if it’s not planned carefully!
That’s why we've put together these tips on how to get everything
organised.
Set the date in
advance. WELL in advance.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when planning a
party is leaving the date too late. This
is a bad idea for two reasons: firstly, it will mean you might struggle to book
locations and entertainment at shorter notice, and secondly you’re running the
risk of the main attendees being asked to do something else! If you set the
date well in advance then any time off work can be booked, and everyone can
avoid committing themselves to anything else.
Work out budgets
On too many occasions, the organiser ends up shelling out on
something that not everyone can actually pay for, and they end up out of pocket
as a result. Ask everyone up front how
much they can afford to pay, and work with that budget. This way, everyone will be involved and
no-one will have to be left feeling awkward because they can't pay their share.
What type of party
are you having?
There are a whole host of options out there for Christmas
parties. Many people choose to go for a
meal at a restaurant before heading out for drinks, but others will prefer to
actually rent a function room out and enjoy their privacy. Others will, of course, want
entertainment! It's important to consult
everyone that you think will be attending, and then democratically go with the
most sensible option. As a general rule,
as long as you take the time to actually ask and canvas opinion, most people
will usually be happy with the end results: they just want to know they’ve been
asked!
Don't forget the theme
If there's one non-negotiable in throwing a Christmas bash,
it's making sure that whichever venue you go for is dec'd out with a festive
theme. The whole point of having a party
is to celebrate and get everyone in the Christmassy mood, so ensure that you
break out all of the classics: the tinsel, the mistletoe (though feel free to
keep it away from certain people!) and of course...the tree! Christmas decorations can be purchased at a
fairly low price these days, so there's no excuse for not spending the money on
getting the right vibe.
What food does
everyone want?
Providing food as part of the evening is pretty normal, but it’s
not uncommon to find that rather than going for the classic Christmas dinner,
some people prefer something a bit different.
After all, they'll get their Christmas dinner on Christmas day!
Again, make sure you canvas opinion from
everyone, and see if they'd rather go for something more unique. There are many restaurants out there that
will lend a festive air to their meals, even if their cuisine isn't typically Christmassy. Thai and oriental food is popular with almost
everyone, and an Indian might go down well during the chilly winter weather. It's
important to provide a few different options for people to choose from - that
way even if they do go for the
classic Christmas dinner, at least you've given them the chance to choose
otherwise!
The party planners at local entertainment agency The Partyman Company are full of tips and advice for those who are nervous about hosting their first Christmas dinner party! Check out their range of Christmas party packages here if you think you need a little help.
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