Joanna James
Christmas is a time for nostalgia – warm and fuzzy and celebrations with friends and family. As this festive time of the year approaches, you might be stressing about planning the perfect party. How do you plan a great Christmas party without letting all the work involved kill the joy out of the entire event? Let’s put together a checklist to help plan a great party.
Before you make the decision to set the date, think about the people whom you wish to invite. Check online forums like the Events and Festivals Blog for information about famous festivals and events to see if something might affect the timing. Keep an eye out on social media for events. Timing is vital and it is better to change your date than clash with another event. If the party is going to be a small gathering, ask your attendees about a feasible date. If you choose a day early in December, you can be ahead of the game and enjoy better venue options.
This should be a priority, and the decision should involve the kind of event you wish to organize. Are you planning on live music? Will there be dancing? How large is your party going to be? And, if there are kids at the party, you have to think about safety too. Try to match the size of the venue to the size of your party. If you are going to hire a DJ, you’ll need a sound system. How about parking? You would absolutely need to make sure there is space for parking; otherwise, your guests are going to come into the venue disgruntled. And, finally what is the cost per head? Make a list of all these requirements and tick the boxes to see if the place is a good fit.
When you set the budget, you have to consider whether you are going to charge for tickets to the event or cover the cost in some other way. If there are going to be tickets, you have to make sure that your guests can afford the price. In the meantime, you have to make sure that the cost is covered. You have to allocate sections of the budget for décor, food and beverages, sound system and other logistics. Calculate how much each item would cost and allocate funds accordingly.
Here are some Christmas party themes you could consider.
You could give your guests a say in the food and beverages. Leave room for allergies and preferences. Think about what type of service you can offer. Are you going to serve plated meals or spread out a lavish buffet? If your budget is restricted, perhaps you can invite some food trucks. Some venues cater the food themselves. Bring your own dinner or potluck would be a good idea for a small gathering of people who know each other well.
Unless the event is between a close-knit group of people, it is a good idea to organize some games to make sure people have a good time. Here are some games you can consider.
In addition, you can add some entertainment like karaoke, children’s entertainer, Kids’ corner with Santa and even live music.
Send reminders to everyone two days before the party. Do a pre-event set-up to ease out any potential glitches. Talk to all the vendors and make sure everyone is on top of their game. Do a logistical run and buy any additional requirements. Use your common sense in grouping your guests. Set up the essentials in time and rest well before the big day.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
