The leaves are turning, pumpkin flavoured hot drinks have shown up, and children are looking more bundled up than they did two weeks ago. These signs all point to the terrifying realization that summer has officially come to an end. Don’t fret, it’s almost Christmas! What!? Ok, so it may be a little early to start talking Christmas, but it is the perfect time to start formulating ideas for your holiday parties.
To ensure your holiday party success, we’ve invited Sharon Bonner, President of Bright Ideas Event Coordinators Ltd. to share her 10 tips for a successful holiday party.
For more Bright Ideas contact Sharon Bonner @ 604-303-7707
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10 Tips for a Successful Holiday Party & Special Holiday Offer
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- Venue – Choose a venue location that will work well for your group. Keep in mind where the guests live and find a central location if possible.
- Timing – Keep the timing conducive with the group dynamics. For example, be sensitive to the average age of your group, shift workers or staff with young families, and plan accordingly.
- Theme / Décor – Pick a theme and carry it throughout the entire party planning from invitation to theme décor at the event. Choose from many unique Holiday themes and don’t be afraid to try something new. Consider an “Around the World Holiday Sampler” highlighting Christmas celebrations in many cultures. Or how about a Caribbean Christmas Celebration complete with Palm Trees and real sand?
- Entertainment – Match the entertainment to your group. If your group enjoys passive entertainment, then a comedian or ventriloquist is perfect. However, if your group is interactive try choosing Theatre Sports or a Game Show to keep them engaged.
- Activities – Activities are by far the most important component of your event, next to the quality of the food. Once the formalities of the evening are complete, make sure you schedule an action packed agenda for the remainder of the evening. So many companies forget this, and merely hire a DJ for the portion of the evening after the dinner, and this is a big mistake.
- Menu – Think about your group and choose the type of menu that will work best for the evening agenda, budget and type of guests. A formal high end event will most likely be best suited to a plated dinner, whereas other events do best with a buffet. If budget is a concern, offer hearty appetizers and plan a stand up cocktail reception.
- Seating – Mix up departments with reserved seating so that guests meet new people. Make sure to plan for single guests and schedule so that they are seated with other single guests.
- Master of Ceremonies – This is a critical component of the evening and should be a professional actor or entertainer, as there is rarely someone in house that is comfortable addressing the group for several hours.
- Taxis / Buses – Be proactive and offer taxi vouchers or bus service, especially when offering a host bar.
- Guest Gifts – Take home items don’t have to be expensive to be memorable. Get creative and offer a parting theme gift as guests leave the event. It means a lot to your guests as they leave with a thank you gift. Hint: Chocolate items are ALWAYS a big hit!!!
Dec 1st, 2010