How to Host the Perfect Christmas Event
Have you just been drafted into hosting the office, church, or book club Christmas party? It can be a bit daunting if this is your first time. You may find yourself worried about it, but have no fear, everyone who plans these does the same!
Here at Uplanit, we understand your need to host the perfect Christmas event. This will be the highlight of the calendar year and is great for improving team morale. Most offices treat this event as a reward for their efforts during the year. It is only normal to want it to go right.
So, are you ready to start planning? Hosting the perfect Christmas event requires time, energy, and the use of trusted event-organising tips. We share these tips and other useful ideas on how to host the perfect Christmas event in this post.
Create a Guest List
To plan the perfect party, you need to know how many people are coming. Will it be just the employees at your office, or are people allowed plus ones? How about kids? Will your event be a family-friendly one?
Knowing an estimate of how many people to plan for is the first step toward success. So, go ahead and draft a list of the people you expect at the event. You should also find out if any external sponsors or VIPs will be in attendance.
Set a Budget
Once you know how many people to expect, it’s time to set your budget. You’ll need a vision of what you want the event to look like first, of course. Plus, you may have to revisit your guest list to keep costs down, so please keep that in mind.
The main aspects to budget for will include your venue hire, catering, drinks, décor and entertainment. You may also have to include invitations, awards, and other details specific to your event. A budget will help you keep track of your spending as you plan.
Choose A Style
Do you want the event to look like a cocktail soiree, a casual dinner, or a big feast? This is also known as the style of your event and is one of the details you must hash out while planning. The first step towards determining this is to decide if it will be a sit-down or stand-up event.
The level of formality of your event will also help determine what time of the day is best for your event. To decide which is best, pay attention to the demographic of the people at your event. The older they are, the more formal you might need to go.
Book the Venue
Your event style will also determine the kind of venue you book. So, make sure you have that ready before you proceed to this step. Other factors to consider include the number of guests you expect, accessibility, and location. Price is also important, of course.
Set a Theme
Themes make other planning decisions easier, leading to a better-planned event. Can you think of any festive themes you’d like for your Christmas event? Some favourites include Winter Wonderland, Carnival, Mexican Fiesta, and even a Masquerade Ball.
Menu and Drinks
Will you be hiring a caterer for your event or hosting a potluck? The kind of food and drinks you go for will also depend on the style of your event. You can’t go wrong with seasonal favourites, as they evoke fun memories for many people.
Entertainment
If your budget allows for more than a DJ, throw in other forms of entertainment. After working hard all year, everyone will be happy to let down their hair and celebrate for a while. Some fun extras you could add include:
Photo Booth
Santa
Champagne of Arrival
Red Carpet
Live Caricaturist
Send Out Invites
Christmas is a busy time for many people. For the success of your event, it is best to send out your invites early. That will give guests plenty of notice and time to fit you into their calendars. Also, ensure that you get RSVPs at least two weeks before so you can make the final decisions.
Speeches
Speeches are a great idea if the event you are organising is for your office. They’ll give people a chance to thank colleagues for the year. The best time to schedule this is at the start of the night once everyone has arrived. Alternatively, you can also do them after mealtime.
Have a Day of Schedule
This event sheet should contain all the important information concerning your Christmas party. This could include the timeline, contacts of vendors, final numbers, and more. You can share it with one or two other key people who are assisting with your planning.
In Conclusion
Planning the perfect Christmas event is possible when you take the right steps. The above simple steps can put you on the right path to having an unforgettable and fun time. Can you think of other useful Christmas event-planning tips? We’d love to hear it.
See you next time!
Facebook:UPlanIt / Twitter: @uplanit_online / Instagram: @uplanit_online
If you’d like to plan your wedding with ease, check out Uplanit.co.uk and sign up to check out our fantastic planning features!
