Host With The Most: How To Plan The Ultimate Christmas Party

Few days in the calendar ignite a response quite like Christmas Day. Whether or not you celebrate it, support it, or even enjoy it, there’s no denying it casts an enormous shadow over the end of the year. And, if the food and retail sectors are any measure, the shadow creeps further every year. But while the actual day and the break it sits amongst can trigger just about anywhere on the emotional spectrum, when it comes to the workplace it is usually looked upon favourably. By most, anyway. And not just because it signals the approaching holiday that many feel well and truly ready for, but because it usually gives work colleagues the chance to relax their faces, both literally and figuratively, and enjoy a work Christmas party. 

And maybe this year, for the first time, you have been given the task of organising the party. And maybe you’ve been waiting eagerly all year and now feel it is your turn to shine? Or, maybe you drew the short straw and have anxiously begun scrolling through Google for Christmas party venues in Perth? Whatever the reason, we are here to help. This is a simple but helpful guide to planning the ultimate Christmas party.

Budget Budget Budget

No, we’re not asking you to tighten your own purse strings immediately after Easter in preparation. We’re not asking your company to do the same either. All we are asking is that if you only get one thing right when it comes to planning the party, make sure it is the budget. More than any other factor, the budget will shape what kind of party you are able to both plan and enjoy. The venue, the type of food, the drinks selection, all these things will live and die on the budget you are given. 

Of course, the size of the budget will vary from company to company. Some budgets will be lavish. Others will be humble. Regardless of where your budget falls on the scale, if you know how much you have to work with right from the start, the better equipped you are to get the maximum use from it. You’re also better equipped to deal with any obstacles or setbacks that will, inevitably, pop up. And perhaps most importantly, you’re less likely to overspend, which will keep both the Boss and the team from Accounts happy. Remember, it’s a Christmas party, not Grand Designs.   

Get The Admin Out Of The Way

Once you have the budget set it’s time to get the rest of the necessary details in order. Start with the venue. To be fair, you can start with the food, or the drinks, or even the theme if you like. But, if you lock a venue in early you avoid the risk of not securing a venue at all and being left to have the party at the office. Which, trust us, no one wants. 

This stage of the planning is all about balance. If you are the type who loves to surprise you can choose a venue all by yourself. But even if you are this way inclined, you can still drop hints into everyday conversations around the office to get an idea of the types of venues that your colleagues might enjoy. You can also get an idea on which factors are more important to them. Some colleagues might want the million-dollar view but aren’t fussy about what they drink, whiles others mightn’t care for the backdrop as long they get to enjoy truffles with a glass of Barolo. 

There Is No I In Team 

Now it’s time for the fun stuff. Granted, planning the venue, food, and drink can be enjoyable, but what you add on top of these can lift your party from great to we’re-still-talking-about-it-in-July great. Fancy dress? Games and activities? It’s the perfect time to unbridle your imagination and reach for the stars. And a great way to ensure that everyone in the office climbs aboard your fun wagon is to, again, ask them what they like. Whether you ask explicitly or not is up to you, but if you do the research and adopt a majority rule with the insights and opinions you receive, it’s highly likely you’ll create an environment and an atmosphere that everyone embraces. 

One way to approach this is to look at your company as a whole. Each department has its own quirks and nuances, not to mention a unique relationship with every other department. Maybe the Design team and the HR team have little to do with each other? If you have group games planned or a round of trivia, maybe this is the chance to be a little mischievous and combine the two departments, somehow? It’s a given that your company will be a mix of extroverts and introverts, but thrusting together colleagues who never get to interact with each in the work environment can work wonders. Remember, it’s all about having fun. 

When it comes to planning your Christmas party, probably the most important thing of all is to relax the expectations on yourself. The ultimate party doesn’t exist, and none of your colleagues are gonna hold it against you for this. But, if you trust your gut and put the effort in, the resulting celebration can send the whole team out on a real high note for the year. Good luck!