Follow this advice to make your next office party unforgettable.
You’ve worked hard all year and so have your employees. Now, it’s time to let loose and throw the event of the season. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you plan the best party your workplace has ever seen.
What’s the purpose?
To pull off a rocking office party, the first thing you’ll need to do is to understand what the party is for. Is it to celebrate meeting targets or to promote a product or new release? Maybe it’s just to get everyone together for an end-of-the-year holiday party? Finding the purpose will help you organize and market the event.
Negotiate the budget and stick to it
With the purpose of the event mapped out, it’ll help you negotiate a budget. It’s a good idea to mark out a rough guide as to how much things are going to cost. Do your research and slightly overestimate the price of things to ensure you have enough funds to create the event, and also to have a safety net if unexpected problems need fixing.
How many people will be attending?
The bulk of planning will help you smooth out those finer details you need to complete before sending out the invites. Deciding on how many people you need to fill a room, the theme, and the date of the event will all need to be thought about in the initial planning stages.
Decide on a venue
Where will the office party take place? Are you planning on hiring a venue, or will it be within your offices? Depending on how big you want this party to be, it can be cheaper to have the party within your office canteen. But, do remember you’ll have to factor in the cost of decorations to transform the space.
Communication is key
Once you have the venue and the date sorted you can start sending out the invites. Start with just a save the date — your employees will be thankful for the advanced notice and it can rouse up some excitement while you get things prepared. Once you’ve sorted a few more details for your office party, send out the invites with all the needed information, such as the theme or the food options. Make sure you include if their partners can attend, or if it’s for employees only.
Don’t forget the food
Food! Everyone loves food. It can be the make or break element of an event so it’s important to get the tone right. If the event is formal black tie, then a sit down three course meal would be suitable. If the event is more of a casual affair or with limited seating, then choose either buffet or food stalls, so your guests can help themselves. As well as savory, don’t forget the sweet treats too. Surprise your employees with a custom-made creation. The cakes from Anges de Sucre are spectacular, with their vibrant color schemes and jaw-dropping designs.
Think about theme and decorations
You’ll want to create an atmosphere that’s not too taxing and won’t put off employees from attending the event. Stray away from fancy dress but keep the theme interesting. Or, if you really want to throw a Masquerade Ball, for example, give your employees plenty of notice. After the theme, choose the decorations to match. Turn a drab function room into an exciting playground where everyone can come together and celebrate.
Choose the entertainment
This will go hand in hand with the theme of the event. Music is a given, but you should also add in other entertainment. A photo booth for your guests to remember the party, casino tables to support a Las Vegas theme, or even giant board games like Jenga or Twister can be a great idea.
Prepare before the big day
Preparing the night before will help you feel relaxed on the day of the event. You won’t want to be rushing around fixing problems at the last minute, so make a list of things to do and check it twice.
Enjoy yourself
The last thing is to enjoy yourself. You put in the hard work so it’s important you have fun and celebrate along with your employees.
Written by: Jessica Foreman, BOSS Contributor
