After a couple of challenging years – with so many employees returning to the office or working in a hybrid mode – an end-of-year holiday party presents a big opportunity to bring people together. This makes it a top priority for organizers but also faces them with the challenge of organizing a celebration that will make everyone feel welcomed.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make sure your office holiday party is exciting, engaging, and full of cheer.
In this article, we’ll go over the exact steps and timeline you need to plan the perfect holiday company party.
- Two Months Before the Party
- One Month Before the Party
- Two Weeks Before the Party
- One Week Before the Party
- Conclusion
Planning for an office holiday party is often overwhelming, but there are tools that really help. Below is our corporate guide to helping you with your holiday party checklist.
To make it easier for you, we’ve also created a selection of holiday party planning ideas to get you started in creating the ultimate experience for your team! Click here to discover.
Two Months Before the Holiday Party
Believe it or not, planning an office holiday party should begin soon after the start of Q4. There are some aspects of company holiday party planning that need to be addressed well in advance to ensure a successful event.
1. Poll your staff
First thing’s first – come right out and ask your staff what kind of company holiday party activities they enjoy. Some people prefer drinks and dancing (in non-pandemic times, that is), while some might prefer a more interactive company holiday party with games and prizes.
Check out Thriver’s polling feature to learn more about what your employees love – it will help you make informed decisions about the best holiday party activities for your work team.
2. Decide on the date
Once you’ve decided what type of event you’re going to host, it’s time to pick a date. As a general rule of thumb, a Friday or Saturday night in early December works best – it’s late enough in the season to ensure that everyone’s properly in the spirit, but early enough that it won’t add stress to the busy holiday season.
You might consider sending a calendar invite or casual save-the-date as soon as you know when the party will be. Formal invitations will come later in the timeline.
3. Decide on the budget
Managing the budget will ultimately be a huge part of your company party checklist. As you can imagine, holiday parties can run the gamut from ultra-affordable virtual game nights to over-the-top extravagant galas.
As a general rule of thumb, you should expect to spend at least $75 per person on your event. Be sure to take into account the cost of the venue (if any), food and drink (including shipping refreshments to virtual attendees), and tips for any staff that work at your event.
4. Pick a venue
Here’s one area where planning a company party for work doesn’t need to be complicated – the venue. Decide on exactly what type of location you intend to hold the party and begin the process of securing the space.
In the office
Whether you choose to have a day or evening gathering, many offices are the ideal location for an office holiday party for smaller crowds. Heck, if you have a space at your company large enough, you might be able to accommodate a hundred or more. Prepare space to serve appetizers, cocktails, and mocktails. Put out the party favors and enjoy a pleasant party at your workplace.
Virtually
If your company employs a large number of remote or hybrid workers, the virtual party route might be best for your crew. You can book an engaging activity to create something together, like a cooking class with a renowned chef or a DIY holiday-themed workshop.
Send ahead gift boxes to your teammates and prepare yourselves for a lively get-together online.
Local venue
Rid yourself of the hassle of coordinating and planning an office holiday party from the ground-up. Contact our team to get a custom proposal for your company holiday party with a top selection of venues, catering, drinks and entertainment, based on your needs and budget. We’ll take care of the rest.
5. Plan party gifts and setup delivery
Employee appreciation is more important than ever. Both remote-first companies, hybrid, and those who are back in-office typically pick holiday-themed gifts to help their teams feel connected and appreciated.
Be sure to consider shipping times for any packages that need to be shipped to remote employees. It’s a nice gesture to ensure that those staff members receive their gift on the night of the party, just like the rest of their on-site teammates.
Gifting is time-sensitive. Companies start ordering holiday gifts as soon as September for celebrations happening in December. Check out the locally-made, one-of-a-kind gift boxes and swag options to surprise your team on Thriver’s marketplace.
One Month Before the Party
At one month in advance, the countdown is officially on. Make sure the following to-do items are addressed as you finalize the details.
6. Send invites
If you’re opting for formal invites, send them out about four to six weeks in advance of the party. At the very least, it’s helpful to send a calendar invite so attendees can block off the date.
7. Lock in catering
Explore your options for food and beverages, and choose one that fits your taste and budget. If you’re hosting a hybrid party, now is also the time to arrange for food and drinks by means of specialized snack boxes to be delivered to at-home employees.
For a catered event, you can expect to spend $30 – $60 per person, depending on the formality of the event. Buffets, for example, cost only $23 per person, but formal sit-down dinners can run well over $100 a plate.
8. Plan and hire entertainment
Depending on the type of party you’re planning, you’ll also want to research and hire entertainment for the evening. Your company poll will determine what kind of entertainment your team prefers; options include a band, a magician, or staff to work the tables at a casino-themed event.
9. Plan and hire staffing
Some events require specific staff in order to run smoothly. You might consider the need for bartenders, wait staff, entertainment, or door security. At the very least, it’s likely you’ll need help setting up and tearing down any event space that you use.
Two Weeks Before the Party
Time will start moving quickly at about two weeks out – stay on top of your checklist for smooth-sailing until the big day.
10. Purchase/make decor
If you’re DIY-ing decor, you should start executing your design about two weeks in advance of the party. This will give you ample time to make other arrangements should your plan not come to fruition.
Even minimal holiday decorations can go a long way in helping the party feel more festive, so allocate some funds in the budget for a bit of sparkle and cheer.
11. Plan party activities
It’s also time to think about the specifics of your party activities. It may sound unnecessary, but it’s a good idea to get a small team together and do a “practice round” of whatever activity you plan to host. This way, you’ll have firsthand knowledge of the exact materials you’ll need, and any snags that are likely to come up when executing with a larger group.
One Week Before the Party
When Party Week finally arrives, it’s likely you’ll feel up to your neck in planning and logistics. Hang in there! The devil is in the details, and your efforts will pay off in just a few short days.
12. Set up the event space
If you have access to any on-site event spaces that you plan to use, try to set up a little bit at a time over the course of the week before the party. Again, this will give you some buffer time to make alternative arrangements if needed. It will also ease day-of preparations — which almost always require more effort than you initially plan on.
13. Send reminders
Send a quick and festive reminder to your employees that the party is quickly approaching – one week away!
14. Order baked goods or perishables
Depending on your refreshment situation — and how much will be handled by a caterer or chef — you’ll also want to take time out to order your perishables and desserts.
Some catering companies handle this all from start to finish. In such a case, there’s no need for anything further on your part. If you need to, you can handle all of it yourself, or delegate tasks to trusted helpers.
Perishables can be finicky, so speak with your supplier about the best time to order, as well as the best way to store the goods until party time.
Conclusion
Planning a company holiday party can be a challenge, but it’s a fun one. There’s nothing better than treating your employees to a cheer-filled night where they’re free to let loose and then being recognized as the office hero who put it together. Follow our corporate party-planning checklist to make sure all of your bases are covered.
If it turns out that one (or all) of these areas need some work, that’s okay. We have dedicated Culture Experts that will help you build, manage and maintain a memorable company event – we are here for you!
