7 tips for throwing an excellent office party
While office parties are a fun event, it takes plenty of organising to pull them off properly. Event planning involves setting a date, determining a budget, choosing a venue, selecting a theme and organising food and drinks. Work events are a great way to boost employee morale, and throwing a corporate holiday party can be used to celebrate the hard work employees have put in to achieve the company’s goals. Read our blog post to discover everything you need to know about office parties.
Make lists
Use lists to break the event planning process into manageable tasks. You can also use this strategy to keep track of your process. Lists help to ensure that you don’t forget anything. Start planning as soon as possible to make sure that your office party is a success.
Decide on the type of party
The type of event you’re hosting will have an impact on most aspects of the event planning. Is it a corporate holiday party or an event to boost morale in the office? You’ll also need to decide whether the event is casual or smart. Another consideration is whether or not staff members are allowed to bring their partners to the event.
Arrange a budget
Whether you’re planning a celebration to mark a big achievement or organising an end-of-year party, setting a budget is key. You’ll need to figure out how much money you have to spend before you start planning. Once you know what your budget is, you’ll need to decide how to spend it. Food and drinks are a vital consideration when you’re allocating money and you’ll also need to consider decorations, entertainment, and venue hire.
Choose a date
When you’re planning work events, it’s important to set a date well in advance. You don’t want to go to all the effort of planning an event, only to find out that nobody can make it. Let other staff members know when the party will be happening so that they can save the date. You can also consider holding the party during office hours so that it doesn’t clash with other people’s commitments. If you’re planning an end-of-year party at a popular venue, you’ll need to book it well in advance. Knowing the date far ahead of time can help you to secure the perfect venue. The date also affects the price of the venue. If you want everyone to give their input on the date, you could select a few suitable dates and set up an online poll.
Pick a theme
A theme can be used to pull together every aspect of your event. The theme sets the tone for every part of the event, from the invitations to the decorations. You can even choose food and drinks according to a theme. If you want to personalise the party, you can select a theme that relates to your company or one of their recent achievements.
Arrange the venue
A vital part of event planning is selecting the right venue. It’s advisable to select a location that’s convenient to access. You may want to choose a restaurant or event hall that’s close to the office. You’ll need to make sure that the venue is accessible by public transport. Another option is to host the event on the company’s premises. Office parties are meant to be fun so you don’t want staff to struggle to get to the venue. You’ll need to clear the area and create a welcoming ambiance if the party is taking place in the office. When you’re choosing a venue, you’ll need to consider its capacity. The number of employees who are planning to attend will influence the size of the venue that you choose. The venue’s facilities will also have an impact on your decision. If you’re having speeches and live entertainment, you’ll need the right equipment to support them. Some venues offer packages that can add convenience to the organisation of office parties. Before you decide on a venue, check if the quote includes everything you need and find out who is responsible for cleaning up afterwards.
Plan the food and drink
Food and drink are an essential part of event planning. Make sure that you buy a variety of food that meets the dietary requirements of your staff. Ensure that you include vegetarian dishes as well as meals to cater for religious dietary restrictions. If you decide to supply your staff with alcohol, make sure that you include plenty of soft drinks for people who don’t drink.
Now that you know more about office parties, you can start planning an unforgettable event for your company’s staff members. From working out the budget to booking a venue, there are plenty of tasks associated with organising work events.
