I don’t know about you, but I look forward to the Christmas party all year round. It’s the only time of the year when everyone has the same excuse to rejoice in merriment (regardless of their religion and credo – because we all get the holiday), let their hair down and enjoy each others company (whilst also enjoying the companionship of a little splash of alcohol).
The most successful events incorporate a take home message and a tangible memory from the event, to allow people to remember what a great time they had. I think this is especially important for evening soirees as it is nice way to remember the fun you had. Recently, I went to a corporate event where they had a Photosnap booth with dress ups, and it was a great way to get everyone interacting together and having fun. The next day when people wake up and find these little photographic gems in their bags or pockets, it will only produce a smile.
Now, when planning any Christmas party, your first priority will be to set the date for it! Like I mentioned earlier, everyone has the same desire to celebrate, and therefore sending out a save the date email, card or even text, is very important, as people are social cats and will most probably have a number of party options available come this festive season. Not to mention that venues will start to get booked up quickly too. Everyone knows when the holidays are coming around, so you can start looking for your venue in January if you want to (and you’ll probably get a great deal because of it too).
Now you’ve secured the date (or at least thinking about it way in advance), it’s time to think about what will make your company Christmas party stand out from the rest. It pays to spend some time making it special, as this is a key opportunity for you to show your staff members just how much their hard work and support has meant to you. It’s also a great chance to strengthen the company culture and make people thankful that they work for a fun and appreciative company, who understands them.
Therefore, embedding the company culture into the Christmas party, the venue and the theme really do go hand in hand. The initial question to ask yourself is; will it be a daytime event, or an evening soiree? Although when I hear the word ‘theme’ I automatically jump to thinking of fancy dress, the theme can be more about the tone than anything else. Depending on what feeling you want to create – be it winter wonderland or the Great Gatsby – the decorative touches are endless.
Once you have an idea of the type of event (or let’s say ‘experience’ you want to create), the dreaded budget constraint will come into play, but by understanding the maximum budget allowance, it will then let your creativity be in full flow. Knowing your budget lets you decide which aspects of the party are most important and which aspects can be oh-so-slightly scrimped. This will allow for a more positive experience all round.
I think that the most important thing when organising a Christmas party is to induce as many smiles as possible and to cater for everyone, making sure the location is easily accessible, that the food covers all dietary requirements (and there is a selection of alcohol to make sure everyone is content and merry). Really, at the end of the day Christmas is a time for being thankful and being around friends and family, and then having a party which gives you something to smile about and to remember until next year comes around!
