We may be a little biased, but we think the best events start with food. There’s no time like the present to start planning this year’s holiday party (seriously, get started, the holidays are here). Just starting now? Don’t worry, Fooda is here to help with all your holiday party catering needs. But food isn’t the only piece of the party pie. Check out the 6 steps below to pulling off a great holiday event.
Step 1. Set a Budget. Estimate the costs and write a proposal, or just ask. Whatever you do, don’t skip this step! Can you imagine the tragedy of finding out your professional sword swallowers are over your budget after you’ve already booked them? Avoid this by knowing exactly what you can spend before you get carried away. Here’s a great tool to get you started.
Step 2. Identify Your Space. The space you choose depends on your budget. You can Yelp search the top 10 bars or restaurants in your area, or you can choose to stay more local (like not leave the office because free venue means more beverages and food). A lot of office parties happen in the workplace and usually start just after the workday ends, lasting about 4 hours. As soon as you have agreed on the space and date, you should send save-the-dates to your office. Everybody gets busy towards the end of the year so you want to make sure you get dibs on people’s calendars.
Step 3. Holiday Party Catering. Will you cater from a few different restaurants? Will it be a mix of hot and cold appetizers, a couple of hot entrees, a sweets table and a spiked holiday punch bowl along with the usual beer and wine? Will you setup a fun taco bar, sushi spread or dessert table? The options are endless. But don’t get overwhelmed, we’re here to help.
Step 4. Decide On Music. This is very important. Actually this is on par with figuring out food and drink, because music feeds the soul. It sets the tone for the entire evening. And the music you choose should match the audience and venue. This can be an easy place to save some cash. Avoid the cost of a DJ with a Spotify holiday playlist. Have fun with this and get suggestions from your coworkers! You can create a shared playlist on Spotify and ask the people who look like they know how to have a good time add a handful of songs to the playlist.
Step 5. Organize Activities. Want to finally do some good this year? Now’s your chance and you can get everyone in on it. Revolve the party around a special cause or charity, set up a raffle (small prizes for the winners) and feel really good about it. Some other ideas include a White Elephant gift exchange, Secret Santa (make sure you practice your fake smile for when you open your gift to find some weird socks or something).
Step 6. Purchase Decorations. Decide on a theme and go from there. From ice sculptures to ornaments to LED candles. Get really creative and put the boss in a Santa suit or dreidel costume. Get a giant bag of Styrofoam peanuts and an industrial fan, close the conference room door and voila! You’re having a party in a snow globe. The important thing is to be inclusive of all religions, cultures, and beliefs.
Looking for help with Step 3? This year, your holiday party catering needs are covered. Every single person at your company can actually enjoy the company holiday party, because Fooda will handle all the logistics for you.
No gluten? No meat? No problem. Just pick your favorites from our top-rated restaurant partners and we’ll take care of everything else.
Cheers, and Happy Holidays!
