Tis the Season: How to Plan the Perfect Holiday Party

Spread holiday cheer with a party for your co-workers and clients. Whether you’re the owner of a small business or the person in charge of planning a large corporate Christmas party for your employer, there are some simple tips that can help the process go off without a hitch. Read on for some inspiration for your next workplace gathering and learn some ideas for business gifts that are perfect for the holiday season.

Choose the Location

When selecting a location for your company party, you’ll need to choose a space that’s conveniently located and has enough room for all your event attendees. You could book a banquet room or a meeting room at a hotel or restaurant. Of course, you could also host your holiday party at your workplace if there’s enough room. For small offices, this might be the easiest and most cost-effective option.

If you do book a restaurant or hotel for your holiday party, say thanks to the venue by gifting them with promotional products. For example, you could hand out logo pens featuring your business name and phone number or web address. Even if you’re not trying to network at this time, you could make a connection that helps your business in the future.

Make Holiday-Themed Invitations

You can make your own party invitations with word processing software, or you can order custom invitations from a printing company. To keep things festive, choose holiday colors or include holiday illustrations on your invitations. Make sure to include the party date, time, and location on the invitation. It’s also a good idea to specify if attendees can bring a guest, or if the party is suitable for children to attend.

For a cute finishing touch, tape a miniature candy cane to each invitation. Slip each one into a red or green envelope and hand them out at your workplace. You might even want to place a box in the office for RSVP cards so you’ll know who is planning to attend. Give out your invitations at least 30 days ahead of time to ensure people can fit the event into their holiday schedule.

Get Festive with Decorations

Whether your style is business casual or more formal, the holidays are a time to have fun with decorations and fashion. It’s easy to create a holiday mood with decorations in traditional red and green. You could go for a festive tablecloth, or place Christmas-themed snow globes on each table as a centerpiece. Even a poinsettia plant in a brightly colored pot can serve as a decoration for your corporate gathering. You can also reflect the holiday theme with dinnerware in a seasonal color or print if you’re serving food at the party. There are even paper plates and cups in festive hues that you can find during the holiday season.

Celebrate with Food

When it comes to the menu for your holiday party, offer options for employees who may be vegetarian or vegan, as well as those who are gluten-free. If you’re hosting a dinner party and ordering meals from a caterer, have attendees fill in their meal preference ahead of time. Otherwise, you could serve a buffet-style dinner where people can serve themselves.

If you don’t plan to serve a formal dinner, offer appetizers and snacks. You could provide fresh fruit and vegetables with various dipping sauces, along with sliders in different varieties. For dessert, you could serve mini cupcakes in a holiday flavor like red velvet. Offer water, soft drinks, and eggnog or holiday punch as beverage options. You could put custom company cups on the tables as party favors for each attendee.

Hosting a Gift Exchange

Most holiday parties include a gift exchange as part of the festivities. If your workplace does a “Secret Santa” program where co-workers buy for each other, use the party as an opportunity to exchange gifts. It’s a good idea to set a monetary limit for gifts prior to the party so that employees don’t overspend. You might also want to give out employee gifts at the party, such as custom hats or canvas totes.

Custom uniform work hoodies or jackets also make great gifts for employees, especially during the winter season. Or, consider gifting your team with fleece blankets embroidered with the company name. Even custom coffee mugs or water bottles make excellent presents for a holiday party.

It’s the Thought that Counts

Planning a holiday party can be fun and easy if you give yourself enough time to put things together. Get creative and think about what your employees, co-workers and/or clients would enjoy. The holidays are all about spending time together and enjoying the simple things, so your associates are sure to love whatever you come up with for the festivities.