Now that you’ve gotten your big-picture items taken care of, it’s time to attend to some of the details that come with planning your holiday party. One of the benefits of planning in advance is that you don’t have to stress out about last-minute things that need to be done; by sticking to a timeline, you can give yourself margin and breathing room.
Continue reading to learn about an appropriate timeline, from one month before the party to the event itself!
One Month Before the Party
The event probably feels a lifetime away at this point—but it’s coming sooner than you think! To protect yourself from getting caught off-guard, stick to your one-month timeline checklist.
Confirm Catering
Whether you’re hosting in your office, virtually, or at a local event venue, food can make or break a party. Be sure to lock in your catering options about a month before the event. If you’re hosting a virtual office holiday party, coordinate a special food offering to be sent to employees. Remember to stick to your budget so that there’s room for everything else!
Coordinate Entertainment
You may also want to research and hire entertainment for the evening, depending on the kind of party you’re having. The preferred form of entertainment for your team will be determined by a company poll; some popular options include a band, a magician, or an improv group. When you work with a venue, oftentimes their team will be able to assist with planning the entertainment. Many venues also have “shared” holiday parties where you and other organizations would all share the same entertainment. Make sure to ask your venue about options!
Two Weeks Before the Party
At this point, it’s more important than ever to stick to your timeline. Life can start flying at you fast with only two weeks left, so it’s crucial to let your checklist guide you so you don’t get distracted by unimportant details.
Plan Decor
Whether you’re into homemade decorations or all about store-bought, start gathering your decor about two weeks before the party. This gives you enough time to execute your vision and some margin should anything go amiss.
Figure Out Your Party Activities
It’s usually a good idea to get a group together and do a “practice run” of any activities you want to introduce at the party. This step can help you iron out any kinks and will give you a good idea of what sort of materials you’re still missing.
One Week Before the Party
It may be tempting at this point to throw your hands in the air and let the cards fall where they may, but keep pushing through these final seven days! If you’ve stuck to the rest of your checklist, there shouldn’t be too much to do this week.
Prepare the Venue
If you have access to the event space in advance, make use of your time by starting to decorate a day or two before the party. If you have doubts about your creative ability, remember that a little goes a long way. You may be surprised at just how far a few ropes of garland and some twinkling lights will go towards making a space feel cozy and gala-ready!
Send Reminderes
Take a few moments to send reminders to your employees or coworkers about the upcoming party. This reminder could include information about the dress code (if there is one), plus-one expectations, and what time they can start arriving at the venue.
The Day of the Party
Congratulations—you did it! By sticking to a timeline and a checklist, party planning can be less stressful and more fun.
Want to take the party planning mantle off your shoulders? Consider working with TCU Place for event options! We’d love to host you for your upcoming office holiday party. Get in touch with us today for more information about our packages and catering options—including exclusive reservations and a shared holiday gathering with other organizations to amplify the experience with budget-friendly cost sharing.