Christmas is just 8 short weeks away, meaning Christmas parties are even closer. Planning a Christmas Party can be daunting but we have put together a quick guide of the items you should consider.
-
Establish the budget.
The budget will have an impact on the type of party you organise. Items such as venue choices, catering choices and days of the week will all be affected by how much you have to spend. As will whether your company will pay for the drinks bill, part of it or none of it.
-
Pick a date and venue.
I have put these two together because like the budget they have an impact on each other. The date you choose may limit your venue choices and vice versa. Once you have a date and venue be sure to send out an email place-holding it. Even better, get your invites out.
-
Decide on a theme.
Some venues already come themed for Christmas. If your venue doesn’t come with a set theme you should decide whether you want to theme, or not as the case may be. A theme can be great fun and add some extra sparkle to your event.
There are plenty of themes to choose from such as traditional ones such as Winter Wonderland through to different ones such as 1920/1930’s Prohibition, Heroes and Heroines etc. Whichever theme you pick just ensure you undertake your research in order to get the look and feel right.
-
Feeding the masses.
Food is an important part of any party or function. Bad food can break a good event so make sure you put lots of thought into your catering. The type of party you are holding may decide your catering for you. For example, a lunch-time event may suit a buffet or sit-down meal better. For evening functions there are many choices. From canapés to bowl food to finger and fork buffets to sumptuous three course meals.
Your chosen caterer will be able to help guide you on the choices that best suit your budget and theme. At Anna’s Kitchen we ensure that menus are decided together and always undertake a tasting session so that our clients are confident in the catering we will be delivering.
-
Entertainment.
Think about whether you’ll have a DJ or a band. Will you organise extra entertainment? Over our time we have seen everything from stilt walkers to casino tables, from lookalikes to chocolate fountains. Your theme or budget may decide this for you.
-
Extras
Will there be speeches at your function? Who will make them? How long will they be? Will there be awards? Also, will you have additional extras for your party such as a photographer or goodie bags for the end of the night? Take some time to think about the little extras sooner rather than later.
-
Action
Once all main parts are sorted you’ll need to ensure invites are sent out, transportation is considered and guest lists are compiled. Try to find others to help you as managing food choices and guest lists can take some time. Remember, this is your Christmas party too. Enjoy it!
