Office Christmas Parties: How to Plan a Corporate Holiday Party

With the holiday season just around the corner businesses and event coordinators are hard at work planning perfect holiday parties. To plan a successful end-of-the-year bash for your office, follow this easy blueprint:

The Basics: Whether you are planning a company Christmas party or a mixer for corporate clients, make a list of the basics: time, date, and location.

Party Venue: Location is the most important aspect of throwing a successful holiday party, so start by searching for your venue. Think about the type of party you are planning to throw, and how many people will be invited. If it is a formal cocktail affair, consider choosing a hotel or conference center that will be elegant, offer service, and provide enough room for a large party to mingle comfortably.

Refreshments: Like a wedding, the start time of the event will determine whether dinner should be served. If the party starts before 7 p.m., plan to serve dinner to your guests. After 7 p.m., light appetizers are fine. If it is a casual party, consider catering a nacho bar or selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, and dips to keep guests satisfied.

Drinks: If alcohol will be served at the party, consider whether the party's budget allows for unlimited beverages, a small selection of wine and beer, or a certain number of drinks per guest.

Entertainment: Consider asking someone from the office to play MC for the evening, hosting interactive games, live musical entertainment, or a mix of both. While cocktails and appetizers are important, you want the office to do more than just eat and drink!

Drawings or door prizes: Shake up the party by offering fun drawings or door prizes. If there is enough money in the party planning budget, go for a big ticket item like a 3D television. If the party budget is limited, get creative. Guests could take home extra vacation days, tickets to client-sponsored events, or gift certificates to local restaurants, movie theaters, or retail stores.

Invitations: Depending on your company culture, email invites may be perfectly acceptable. Just be sure to get them out early, as holiday social calendars tend to fill up quickly. Also make sure the invitations clearly specify the event theme, dress, and who's invited. If employee family members are invited, be sure to say so.

Decorations: A little goes a long way for company Christmas parties. While the decorations will depend greatly on the party's theme, you can't go wrong with traditional snowflakes, brightly-lit miniature Christmas trees, and soft candles.

Before starting your office Christmas party planning, talk with last year's party hosts and coworkers to get a better idea of what has been done before, what they liked, and any company traditions you may want to incorporate. Keep all of this in mind, and you are sure to throw a memorable holiday bash!