After a couple years of no end-of-year office parties—or at least, no in-person parties—everyone is ready for a holiday party. While there are a lot of things to consider when planning your party, it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By adhering to a well-thought-out timeline, you can get planning tasks completed with half the stress.
It’s important to get as much as possible done well ahead of time, so that if problems arise (either work-related or party-related) at the time of the party, you’ll have the time and capacity to address them.
Continue reading to learn more about a good advance timeline for planning your end-of-year office holiday party!
What Should Be Planned Two Months Before the Party?
The sooner you start planning, the better. At the two-month mark, these things should be on your to-do list:
1. Confirm Your Budget
This is the perfect time to confirm your budget. Check out what you’ve been allotted to plan the party. Make sure you’re taking everything into account, such as transportation needs and holiday gifts.
2. Poll Your Officemates
Whether you’re the boss or on the party-planning committee, it’s important to get a feel for what your employees or coworkers want to do. Do you have an extroverted group who wants to play lots of games? Will your crowd prefer a more low-key evening of dinner and a show? Knowing what people are interested in will help you plan a party that strikes the right chord.
3. Decide on a Venue
The venue you choose can make or break your holiday party. Luckily, there are a lot of different choices!
Office
Depending on the space you have available, it might make sense to host your holiday party right at the office. This is definitely the lowest-budget option, as you likely won’t need to shell out any cash to stay late one evening. Be sure to designate spaces to serve food and beverages, and close off any areas you don’t want people to party in! Hosting your holiday party in your office is a great choice if economics is the primary factor.
Virtual
Virtual holiday parties gained popularity during the pandemic, and while there is a convenience factor, many people have had their fill. If you’re hosting your holiday party virtually, try to incorporate some sort of activity that all attendees can participate in. Hire a local chef to do a cooking class, or consider having some sort of holiday craft to work on individually as you follow the steps together. Send gifts and any necessary supplies ahead of time and prepare for a great virtual party! A virtual office party is a good choice if there are still concerns about gathering live, or if your team lives and works virtually out of the area. While you are not meeting in person, you are still able to connect.
Local Event Space
Meeting live is a great option if you truly want to celebrate the season as a team. Let’s face it… most of us have had our fill of virtual! Celebrating together in person is a great way to reconnect, show appreciation, and enjoy an incredible time together. There are many local event spaces that can host your end-of-year holiday party. When you choose a local venue, you can often offload a lot of the work of coordinating your event. In many cases, you’ll even be able to work with an in-house catering team to provide great food and beverage options for the party. Hosting at a dedicated event venue opens up opportunities for entertainment and class that you may not be able to find elsewhere, and look for creative ways to help celebrate the season in a unique way.
There’s a lot that goes into planning the perfect team or organization holiday party. Let TCU Place help! We offer comprehensive event packages that can make this year’s party the most memorable yet. Better yet—let TCU Place inject a unique touch into your holiday gathering by incorporating a show in our beautiful Sid Buckwold Theatre! Get in touch with our team today to learn more about what we offer!