'Tis The Season

Seven Simple Steps for your Corporate Christmas Celebration.

Many of our clients tell us that the Christmas party is one of their most important events in the calendar. Sheer Edge always advocates giving staff rewards and supporting a happy workforce. Ideally, the Christmas party should be a way to end the year on a high, giving staff a well-earned treat and a big “thank you” from their employers, with the hope that they start the new year with renewed vigour and increased productivity.

Here we take a look at some top tips to ease the organisation and to make your Christmas party one to remember… 

 1. Set the date and time

It might sound obvious, but this is the crucial first step. Make sure that date fits in with your employee’s diaries. If you have a “shut-down” then the last scheduled day may be a good opportunity to relax and unwind. Otherwise, try opting for Friday and Saturday dates to avoid lost productivity in the ensuing days.

Plan early! Venues for Christmas get booked well in advance, and often the year before. Consider putting the Christmas party on the agenda once the new financial year has started.

2. Choose the right venue

Not surprisingly, this is near the top of the list for Sheer Edge. We are passionate about finding interesting, quirky and unique venues for you, to make for a special night. What do you want to include in the night? Just a meal out on the town? Something with entertainment? Consider something different - rather than a town restaurant you can book a meal at a hotel venue … everything laid out for you; entertainment included and accommodation on-site to boot You might also be considering an activity-based party so there are plenty of ideas for team building winter ventures…

In any event, it is always advisable to find an external venue, whatever the size and status of your own company facilities. A night away from the office environment is much more pleasing for the staff.

3. Send out invitations well in advance

People begin to make their Christmas and holiday plans quite early. As per point 1, choose a time that would suit most people then get the invitations out before they start making their own plans. The earlier the better.

4. Agree and use your budget well

Most organisations will have a budget for Christmas parties, knowing how important they are to their employees. You need to make this work its best for you.

• Obtain quotes for a number of venues, caterers, entertainment, décor, etc. making sure that you are getting the best value for the money.
• Remember that Sheer Edge offers a free venue finding services to take the headache away from your initial research and planning.
• Spend on the important and larger elements first. Most people will enjoy a Christmas party with plenty of food and drinks. Don’t skimp on this important component. Allocate funds to these things first then see what is left for décor and the other niceties.

5. Hire the right entertainment

Most party planners immediately think to hire DJs or a band, but if your employees aren’t keen on dancing, why not consider hiring something a little different; a stand-up comedian, a comedic magician, or some other unique form of entertainment? Try thinking outside the box to make this Christmas party fun and fresh!

6. Consider event management

It's good and advisable to have someone support you to ensure your event runs smoothly. Larger companies with larger parties would benefit from a third-party event manager to ensure everything runs according to your plans; they will be the point of contact with the chosen venue.

You may think this is an extravagant cost, but if you have a clear budget as above, this is something that can be included. It takes off the pressure from your own employees so that they can also relax and enjoy the party too.

7. Theme it!

It’s the norm for the theme for a Christmas party to be simply “Christmas”. 

But is that how you should always do it? Why not try a fun, creative theme instead?

• Alpine Ball – Organise your party in the glamorous surroundings of an Alpine Ball to enjoy the sophistication of an exclusive Alpine ski resort, make your guests feel like they’re in a ski resort complete with snow and log cabins.
• Gatsby – Take a journey back in time to the roaring 20s and the underground world of forbidden drinks, gangsters and glamorous flapper girls – for a night of pure, raucous entertainment. The roaring 1920s always signifies F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic, The Great Gatsby. This can double as a costume party where attendees arrive in the formal attire of the era. 
• Winter Wonderland – Cover everything in white artificial snow and have an ice luge to serve the alcohol. Serve cold snacks, icy drinks, and keep the décor dazzling white and sparkling! Including a lot of fake snow on the floor (and falling overhead if possible) is a nice finishing touch.
• Tropical – How about going in the opposite direction this year? Instead of hosting a typical stuffy Christmas party, crank up the heat, install bright lights, and go for a tropical theme, beach, volleyball and many other ideas to transport you to warmer climates. It’s a great way to do something new, and it can be a fun change to the Christmas vibe.
• Christmas Mardi Gras - This theme offers a fantastic carnival-like theme with plenty of live performances. Incorporate Mardi Gras theming, with jazz music playing in the background, and the spacious dance floor, guests can get their groove going on while a DJ or live band churn out music that’s typical of old Louisiana. 

We want you to have the best experience and a very Happy Christmas and hope that the above pointers have helped.

If you're really stuck and need support, don't forget, we are here and would love to help.

Jo Ferreday is the Managing Director of Sheer Edge and co-founder of Inspiring Dining. With nearly two decades of experience in corporate hospitality and events industry, she is committed to providing excellent customer experience through her services. Finding the perfect venue and creating a unique experience is her priority.