{"id":16628,"date":"2016-09-21T13:47:13","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T19:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/?p=16628"},"modified":"2022-09-23T09:53:08","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T14:53:08","slug":"when-to-start-planning-your-holiday-party-hint-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/when-to-start-planning-your-holiday-party-hint-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Start Planning Your Holiday Party. Hint: Soon!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Party<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A holiday party might seem like a simple-enough event to organize. However, those with experience planning a company-wide holiday party<\/a> know it is no easy feat to host a successful yuletide gathering. For those new to holiday party planning, or those who are looking to make the process easier than years past, use this timeline and tips to put together a memorable, spectacular, and festive soiree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Months Before the Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Confirm Party Budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meet with key decision makers to set a budget for your event. Without knowing your budget, it\u2019s impossible to make the necessary arrangements for this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Potential Venues<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Start exploring your venue options. This will help you ascertain the feel or mood for the party, thus allowing you to start planning the smaller details of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Two Months Before the Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Book the Venue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve had some time to consider what this year\u2019s holiday party will look and feel like, so now it\u2019s time to commit to a party locale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compare Vendors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve booked the party venue. It’s time to start researching caterers, decorators, and entertainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop the Holiday Party\u2019s Theme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Share the information you\u2019ve found along with the broad party details with the company\u2019s decision makers to ensure you\u2019re on track with this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6 Weeks Before the Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"cute-christmas1\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Send \u201cSave the Date\u201d Notices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make sure the entire staff has marked the date on their calendars for the company holiday party. It might seem like too far in advance to send a \u201cSave the Date\u201d<\/a> for a holiday party but this season is one of the busiest of the year. Before you know it, people are booked solid during the month of December and because you sent out a late \u201cSave the Date\u201d, half the company\u2019s workforce has other holiday events to attend instead of yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tastings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Work with caterers or possible venues so you can decide who will create the food for the holiday party. Food=fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider Hotels Near the Venue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contact nearby hotels about group rates so you can encourage staff members to really enjoy the evening without anyone finding themselves in a drunk driving situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Month Before the Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Send Out Invitations<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Formally invite all staff members to the holiday party. Include RSVP, dress code, themes, who is invited (significant others, kids), location details, nearby hotel accommodations, and other relevant information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Merry<\/figure>Connect Vendors with Venue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to connect the dots for your holiday party. Make sure each vendor is in contact with the venue so they coordinate times and any necessary deliveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confirm Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contact vendors and the venue to double check that everything is on track. From the appetizers to music, the servers to the holiday-themed decorations, you want to confirm that all of the arrangements you\u2019ve worked so hard to put together are in order for the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Send RSVP<\/a> Reminders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contact party invitees who have not yet responded to the invitation to confirm their plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Three Weeks Before the Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Create Supply List<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You want to make sure there are disposable cameras on all of the tables. Or maybe you\u2019re handing out goody bags at the end of the event. Take the time to make a list of the odds and ends you are responsible for getting to the venue. You\u2019ll find you are using this list up to the day of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Week Before the Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Send Party Reminders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Include all of the information from the invitation, except for the RSVP details so everyone knows where to go and when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confirm Schedule with Vendors and Venue<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is the final pre-party check-in before the big day. Go over every detail with a fine-toothed comb to save yourself a headache on the day of the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Day of the Party\u2026.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have fun! You might need to connect with vendors and the venue for any last minute details but on the day of the party, it\u2019s time for you to kick back and enjoy yourself with your co-workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the party, you want to share photos and send a feedback survey to see where your party succeeded and where it might have fallen short. This is also the time to reconcile the party budget. While it can be stressful to plan a holiday party for a business, your hard work will be appreciated by everyone in attendance. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A holiday party might seem like a simple-enough event to organize. However, those with experience planning a company-wide holiday party<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":16630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[150],"tags":[470,469,140,447],"class_list":["post-16628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christmas-holiday-party-tips","tag-business-holiday-party","tag-event-planning","tag-holiday-party","tag-party-planning"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16628"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16628"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16628\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19435,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16628\/revisions\/19435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}