How to Throw A Successful Office Christmas Party

A Christmas party can be a memorable and exciting event that can help increase morale, build relationships and help workers feel valued and appreciated. It is a chance to show your staff how much they are admired and to celebrate the success of the past year.

Pick a convenient date, early on.
At this busy time of year your staff are likely to have other important commitments and events to go to, therefore it is important that you start thinking about a date earlier on in the year to make sure people have adequate notice of when the party will be held and time to add it to their diaries. You should consider holding the party in during office hours so you won’t be competing with other holiday events and obligations they may have.

Choose a convenient location
The office or somewhere close to the office would be ideal, such a local restaurant, bar or function hall. If you do choose to hold your party in the office, make sure it is somewhere in the building that is convenient for holding social gatherings such as a boardroom.

Provide ample food and drink
Provide sufficient food and drink for your staff and make sure that there is enough to go around. You also need to be sure to cater for all dietary needs such as vegetarians and also non- drinkers. If you are sending out party invitations then it is a good idea to add a line at the bottom of the invite instructing people to advise you of any special dietary needs they may have.

Don’t skimp on decorations
You need to ensure that the atmosphere says “party” by investing the time, energy and money on the decorations to spice up the office or whichever location you go for.

On a budget?
You can cut your costs drastically by limiting the amount of alcohol you serve. Don’t plan to offer too many choices, stick to just one or two options such as mulled wine and beer. Simplify your invitations; consider emailing invitations or designing your own to post or hand out around the office. If you need to manage invitations and RSVPs for a larger crowd, take advantage of free online services such as Eventbrite.com where you can email invitations, promote your party via social media and manage your attendees. Finally, consider making your own decorations and certainly keep your party in the office where you can save on expensive venue hiring costs.