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When it comes to the event planning industry, Christmas in July is something we know well. This is because clients often start thinking about holiday event planning during summer, which is ideal for offering enough time to get the company’s end-of-year shindig just right. We love festive occasions, and we’ve planned and designed enough of them to offer some important tips for making sure that your next corporate or private holiday party makes all of your guests merry.
Choose a Budget and then a Venue
The first step to creating a memorable holiday party is to determine your budget. This will drive most of your decision-making process. Next, select a venue that will accommodate the type of party you have in mind. Are you interested in a family style event like a holiday festival, which would take place during the day in a large, open space, or something more formal, such as a special night out for adults, which would call for a more intimate or luxurious setting? You’d be surprised by the range of environments that can expertly welcome a holiday party, like a museum filled with airplanes, a rooftop above the Atlanta skyline, or even a brewery!
Provide Fitting Fun
When selecting entertainment, strive to choose an option that will be most appropriate for your group. If your attendees like to dance, by all means, book a band or DJ and definitely have a defined dance floor. Remember, you want to be sensitive to your guests and consider cultures that might not dance or drink alcohol. Therefore, if your attendees are not the dancing type, you will need to determine elements that would offer other fun and entertainment. Activities like different styles of photo booths, giant games, interactive coloring walls, and group murals get everyone in the mood to celebrate.
Traditional Theme or Something Fantastical?
If you would like to choose a theme for your event, some of today’s popular options include winter carnival, Hollywood Regency, period style casino, and speakeasy. These themes all lend themselves to high glamour. When it comes to holiday events, you can go all out with traditional décor or simply add excitement through subtle features and festive lighting. A rustic theme like Americana, international stylings, or something fantastical in the realm of “Game of Thrones” or a Venetian masquerade can put a fun twist on the standard holiday event.
Don’t Forget the Festive Food
The holidays are all about indulgence, whether it’s eggnog or fruitcake. Offer your guests plenty of delicious food, especially colorful desserts that go beyond what they would experience throughout the rest of the year. The sweet treats can often be the most memorable part of the party!
Get Guests Involved
Interactive experiences offer guests opportunities that expose them to something they may not have ever tried before. Consider a chocolate and wine pairing, scotch and cheese pairing or, of course, a bourbon tasting. And don’t forget to offer a party gift. This might be something related to the experience, such as a wine chiller and gourmet chocolates or a custom corkscrew. Sending guests home with a framed portrait taken at an onsite studio offers more than a memory. But don’t eschew everyone’s favorite gift, a simple holiday bonus.
The most important aspect of any event is to be a good host. Focus on making all of your guests comfortable and keeping them entertained, and you’ll have everyone looking forward to your next company gathering.
