WOMAN 2 WOMAN : How to organize a Christmas party

The countdown has begun… it is 11 days to Christmas. But before the D-Day comes or even on the D- Day, you might want to “throw” a party for your family, relatives and friends. Remember, for anything to be successful you must prepare and plan in advance. The following tips will guide you to have a successful and enjoyable Christmas party: If you are a first time party organizer, the first tip is do not panic! Christmas parties can be the highlight of the year for every company, so think about why you are giving a party in the first place and what you are aiming to do. For example, is the party a reward to your family for their support throughout the year or is it to just impress whoever cares? It is also better to have a clear purpose as to why you are having the party. However, whatever your purpose, the basics to organizing a successful event remain the same. Establishing this will help to determine the look and feel of your party right from the outset; it will also help establish who should be invited. The budget will determine what you can do and the venue you can afford so work this out before you begin planning in earnest. The sooner you do this, the more choice there will be of venue and suppliers. Your next priority should be Location. This is absolutely essential to a successful party. Take advantage of relatives and friends with spacious compounds if you do not own one. This can be a time consuming process if you intend to have your party outside home. As you check out possible venues, be keen on prices, menus and how accessible the venue is as transport issues can limit people from attending your party. Naturally, the theme of your event will have a bearing on your choice of venue, the style of the invitations, any dress code, the food and drink you choose to serve, the music and entertainment, as well as the way your venue is decorated. A well-executed theme can often be an icebreaker and sets the tone for the party. Do remember when confirming a venue to allow sufficient time for your suppliers to set-up. In addition to the usual DJ or Band, you might also want some other form of live entertainment to support the evening, maybe a traditional dancers’ troupe, comedians or a specialist act. For larger parties or where events have use of several function spaces, a great idea is to hire in interactive games and activities such as funfair rides, football game, so that your guests experience something wherever they are within the venue. If partners are invited, a sit-down meal with entertainment is the most appropriate option. I would strongly suggest a menu tasting with your caterer prior to the event to ensure what you serve is appropriate as more often than not organizers get too personal and forget about their guests’ preferences. Always establish if anyone has any specific dietary requirements before the event day, as this can be an unnecessary headache for both the guest and the service staff if the venue or caterer has not been informed. If you want everyone to interact with each other and create a more informal atmosphere, then a buffet, food stations, bowl or finger food would be a much better option. This offers greater flexibility with venue, catering and themes. With regards to drinks, consider an unlimited package of wine, beer and soft drinks; this will control the finances whilst ensuring everyone has enough to enjoy the party. Final Tip, have fun! bernanamata@gmail.com