Holiday parties can be so much fun. But what if you are the one planning the party for your company or social group? That can be stressful! If you do them right, you enjoy a get together of friends, family, or coworkers that is a relaxed and festive part of your holiday season. Do it wrong, though, and you are more likely to end up with an event that mimics the Nightmare Before Christmas. Save Jack Skellington for Halloween and put together a holiday party to remember with these simple but important tips.
Plan your holiday party early.
The most wonderful time of the year is also the busiest time of the year. Parties, shopping, decorating, mailing, card writing, and more can turn the holiday season into a hectic season in no time at all. Not to mention that party venues book up early and you may not get that holiday party date your boss asked you to reserve.
That is why, if you want your party on people’s calendars, you have to get their attention early. Start planning your event as early as possible- we’re talking July. Smart event planners have their space reserved and deposit made at the same time fireworks are going off! Once you have the venue locked down, you can relax until it is time to send those invitations out 4-6 weeks ahead of time. If you are reading this article in October and haven’t selected a date for your party yet, you should probably do that.
Ask for RSVPs.
In order to plan accordingly, you need to know how many event guests are coming. Not only do you need to know how much space you will need, but also how much food to serve. If you want your party to be remembered for its fun and not its faux pas, you should probably request RSVPs from your guests.
Find out from your fun activities venue when they need a final head count. Put that RSVP date on your invites. With RSVP’s, you will know exactly how many people to plan for, and your party will be exactly right.
Find a fun activities venue.
You can always hold your holiday party at home. But if cleaning and decorating isn’t really your thing (see previous point about December being a busy month), then you might want to find an event place to celebrate.
The place you choose will depend upon what you want to do during your party. However, we naturally recommend a certain venue that has lots of activities, modern American cuisine, and all the space and amenities you need for a holiday party you don’t have to set up for.
Reserve a private space for your holiday party.
A party in the middle of a busy restaurant doesn’t quite have the same festive charm as a party held in a dedicated, and decorated, space. If you want a holiday party to remember, reserve a private area for your event. Not only will you have more space for more guests, but you can enjoy A/V capabilities, the option of decorating however you want, choosing whatever music you want, and being almost as loud as you want.
Offer a variety of food.
The traditional Christmas banquet menu is pretty popular. However, if you want to branch out with a different menu lineup you can always review the list of platters and banquet options. You might need to plan for those with certain food allergies or restrictions. Create a menu that is as diverse and delicious as you . Here at PINSTACK, for example, we offer a wide variety of modern American cuisine to delight the taste buds of all of your guests.
Make a signature cocktail the star of the drink menu.
Create a holiday party to remember by creating a star of the show: A signature cocktail. Having that one drink that stands out, that is totally unique, and utterly delicious, is the perfect way to start your festive season.
Here at PINSTACK, we have many options from which to choose. Our seasonal selection always offers tastes of the holidays. Select a signature cocktail at one of the best fun activities venues in Plano, to create a holiday party that stands out as nicely as does your cocktail selection.
Consider incorporating a fun holiday theme or activity.
A holiday party should, naturally, have a holiday theme. We suggest going beyond the traditional decorations and embracing a fun theme or activity that will define your event. What should you choose? Try some of these possibilities:
- Ugly Sweater Party
- White Elephant Gift Exchange
- Cookie Decorating
- Charitable Focus ( PINSTACK offers these activities for team building options)
Create lots of entertainment options.
Avoid boredom at your holiday party by offering your guests plenty of entertainment options. Gift exchanges and ugly sweater contests are only part of the fun. You should also choose a fun activities venue that offers you incredible entertainment options for any party. Here at PINSTACK, for example, you can take your party to the laser tag arena, bowling lanes, video game arcade, indoor rock climbing wall, and more.
Play (creative) holiday music.
Let the holly jolly into your holiday party with holiday music. The private banquet room you book at the venue you choose should offer you state of the art A/V capabilities that make this music possible. We do suggest moving away from the clichéd carols and embracing creative holiday music. Make it fun, make it popular, and maybe even make it something your guests will dance to.
If you want to hold a holiday party to remember, then you want to hold it at PINSTACK. Our fun activities venues in Las Colinas, Plano, Allen, Austin and San Antonio offers you the space, food, drink and atmosphere you need to put on the fun. Don’t forget to plan now and get RSVPs. Then, let PINSTACK help you and your guests celebrate the holiday season in style.
