Aren't Christmas parties outdated?
No! Many thought that Christmas parties would fade into obscurity, especially after the 2020 pandemic, but research suggests otherwise. A study from PubMed Central surveyed 359 employees and found that a relaxed atmosphere, an off-site location, fun activities, and meaningful traditions were the biggest contributors to how much employees enjoyed their company's Christmas party. Consider building some of these features into your own event — after all, employees still look forward to these parties each year.
How much should we budget?
This varies widely depending on your company’s size, location, and how elaborate you want the event to be. A casual get-together with appetizers and drinks at a local restaurant will run very differently than a formal, catered event. Hosting the party in your own office space can help keep costs down and works well for a lunch or after-hours gathering, while booking an offsite venue tends to feel more festive and gives you more room to bring in entertainment and catering. Besides booking a venue instead of using the office, here are a few additional factors that will vary the cost
- Having a catered meal instead of appetizers or having a potluck
- Providing an open bar instead of drink tickets or not having alcohol at all
- Having entertainment (DJ, a live band, photobooth, lighting) or not
- Whether you give gifts or bonuses, and how elaborate those are.
What we would suggest – set your budget range early, before you start reaching out to venues or vendors, so you know what you're working with. From there, a quick consultation with an event planner can help you figure out what's realistic for your group size and vision, and where there's room to adjust — whether that means scaling back on extras or upgrading a few key details.
What should happen at a Christmas party?
More research
on workplace holiday parties points to a few consistent factors in what makes
them successful: games and activities, music, good food,
and positive behavior from leadership. It can seem daunting if you are
the one in charge of scheduling and planning the events of the night. We know
that's a lot to figure out, and the questions can pile up fast.
· · Should you provide alcohol or not?
o We suggest – offering non-alcoholic options and considering an alcoholic drink ticket limit.
·
Should the event be optional or mandatory?
o Our take – making it optional. Nobody wants people there who don’t want to be there!
·
Should you do a gift exchange?
o We recommend – making it voluntary (with a price cap!).
·
Should we serve a full meal or keep it simple?
o Our advice – matching your catering to the venue and time of day. Heavy appetizers or stations work well for an evening cocktail-style event, while a seated dinner suits a more formal affair.
·
Who should be invited?
o
Our thoughts – inviting employees (of course!), donors,
founders, and significant others. Children and families should be included if
it is not too late or too formal. Also, if you have an open bar, it may be best
to make it an adult-only celebration.
While we wish we could give you all the answers you are
looking for in your specific situation, we can’t. However, we have been in business
for 20+ years and have seen a lot of holiday and corporate parties. What
we can tell you without a doubt is that all Christmas parties should be a fun
celebration that everyone can enjoy.
Now you might be wondering: how can I make sure everyone actually enjoys the party? We would recommend a meeting to discuss this very thing or have all employees fill out a survey to get everyone's opinions and preferences. This not only helps you decide what to plan, but it also gets your employees personally invested. Also, consider adding an employee to the planning committee for this event. That way, you will get insight from the people who will be the majority at your event. If you are unable to appeal to everyone, find what works for most people while making sure no one feels excluded. You won't be able to truly please everyone, but the benefits of a celebration are well worth it.
Do we need to hire a professional DJ?
This does depend on your company and your goals for the Christmas party. If you are a small company and just want to go out and do a team building activity to celebrate and build camaraderie, then no, a DJ will not be needed. However, if you want an upscale event at a venue, a DJ really is a package deal. Not only does a DJ offer dinner and dance music, but a DJ can usually MC as well and make announcements for the event. Additionally, a DJ may also offer uplighting, monogram projection, or photobooth services to really set your event apart and make it a party that is the highlight of the year.
When should I start booking?
It really is never too early to start booking your venue, photobooth, or DJ. Early fall is actually a great time to start booking and planning (or even earlier!). We normally start booking Christmas parties in August or September. These things take time to plan, and there's always something that comes up out of the blue — you might forget about centerpieces, or a shipment gets delayed. Vendors can get booked up fast, especially in the weeks leading up to the holidays, so the earlier you lock things in, the more flexibility you'll have if something needs to change. Starting early gives you breathing room to handle the unexpected without feeling overwhelmed.
Ready to start planning?
A great company Christmas party doesn't happen by accident — it takes an early start, a budget that fits your goals, and a plan that considers what your team actually wants. Whether you're aiming for a casual team celebration or a full night out with a DJ and all the extras, the earlier you start, the more options you'll have.
If you're ready to bring your vision to life, contact us — we'd love to help
make this year's party one your team remembers – for all the right
reasons.
