How to Host a Casual Company Party

Company Party
March 24, 2021
77 / 100

Hosting a company party might seem intimidating. You want to make sure it’s casual, fun for everyone, and easy on you. With the right amount of planning, you can host a casual company party with ease.

Notify in Advance

One of the best ways of making sure a party goes well is informing guests well before the party. Without advance notice, you’re more likely to get a lot of declined invitations due to people already having plans. In some cases, people may like to have previous notice to prepare for the event. It can be a bit sudden to hear about an event just a few days before. Part of notifying everyone is sending out invitations. These can be simple and event sent via text or email. Make sure you provide your guests with all the necessary information, like date, time, and location.

Set Your Budget

Another important aspect of planning a company party is creating a budget. You need to set limits for yourself to prevent overspending. It’s important to determine beforehand whether you’ll be responsible for the costs or if your company will reimburse you. Either way, a budget can help guide your decisions. You can decide what you can splurge on and in what areas you should be more conservative. Of course, there are plenty of ways you can throw a party on a budget.

Order Catering

One of the most essential elements of a party is the food. You want to have good food that everyone will enjoy. If you’re hosting a party for the entire staff, however, it can lead to quite a lot of work preparing the food. The best option is to simply have your party catered. This way you can shift your priorities to other elements of the party and be reassured that the food is already taken care of. You can pick from a variety of options and get professional guidance on the menu. The catering company will also manage all of the set-up and clean-up the food and serving requires.

Plan Appetizers

In addition to a meal, you should also plan for appetizers. These appetizers can help fill time as people are arriving. They also provide a setting in which people can chat and relax before the main event begins. You can create a variety of appetizers. Just make sure you keep them simple. For example, you could provide a veggie platter, artichoke dip, cheese, crackers, and so on. You can hold bite-sized appetizers together with toothpicks. This makes it very easy for your guests to enjoy them. Make sure you also provide some small plates and cocktail napkins.

Pick a Theme

While it may not be the first thing you think of, picking a theme is an important part of planning your company party. A theme can do many things for you. First of all, it sets the tone for your party and it can give your guests something to get excited about. Second, it helps you make your planning decisions. Knowing the theme of your party can help you pick out the decorations, the entertainment, and even the food. A theme also helps to tie the whole party together, so don’t skip out on this step. As you brainstorm some themes, you can consider different color schemes, popular culture, famous time periods, or even locations. Feel free to get creative with your theme. Just make sure you pick one that will be appealing and inclusive for all guests.

Pick a Thoughtful Venue

Picking a venue for your party is very important. First of all, you want to make sure it will accommodate everyone. You don’t want a space that will be too cramped or crowded. At the same time, you shouldn’t choose a space that’s too big, as this will often discourage interaction and make your guests feel awkward. As you pick your venue, you should also consider whether or not it will be convenient for your guests to get to. They shouldn’t have to travel a long way to get there. To make it easy, you could host your party at or near your place of work, as this should already be a fairly convenient location for everyone. Another thing to consider is the needs of your event. You’ll want to find a venue that will fit the activities you have planned as well as the tone of your party.

Provide Entertainment and Activities

You don’t want your party to just be people talking and eating, and that’s not what your guests want either. You need to have games and activities for your guests to participate in. For example, you can create games that are related to your business. You can also have little contests or even a scavenger hunt. Depending on the budget, you can also hire entertainers. These could include a live band, dancers, or even a magician. Additionally, you should make sure you have a good playlist going throughout the party. No one wants to be left in an awkward silence, so always have some appropriate music playing.

Recognize Employees

Even if it’s just a casual affair, you can use your party as a chance to recognize employees at your company. People love to be recognized for the work that they do, and a casual party can be a great time to spread appreciation for everyone. You can offer awards or superlatives that recognize employees individually for their efforts or even to show what everyone in the office likes about them. This can also be an opportunity to show gratitude for special efforts that have been made. You can create plaques, hand out certificates, or even give personalized gifts. In addition to specific acknowledgment, you can also provide favors for all of the employees. While you’re already throwing a party for everyone, the extra effort of providing favors always makes people happy. 

As you can see, a lot of work goes into a company party. However, you can still make it a manageable affair. Just be sure you put in the proper amount of planning and consider working with a partner or your company to make things even easier.

Read this next: Personal Finance Tips for Every Business Owner

Categories

More Posts:

Explaining the What, Why, and How of Strategic Alliance

A strategic alliance is a business arrangement in which two or more companies come together to form a partnership to pursue a common goal. By teaming up, these companies can leverage each other's strengths and resources to achieve their objectives more quickly and...

How to Gain the Skills You Need to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Being a successful entrepreneur takes many skills. You need knowledge in business, leadership, and critical thinking, among others. Having the necessary skills is what separates a successful from an unsuccessful entrepreneur. To gain the skills you need you can get...

How To Conduct An Instagram Competitor Analysis

As an entrepreneur, it’s best to keep in mind the following: in a world where brands and businesses compete for attention, you must have the right strategies to stay on top of your game. Analyzing competitors is one of the few proven ways of replicating the success of...

Are leaders born or made?

While some people might already have the qualities and skills that make them great leaders they can still improve their leadership abilities. Even if someone doesn't seem to be a leader, that doesn't mean they won't learn leadership skills from a leadership training...

What Makes an Effective Leader in the Workplace

There are many aspects of a business and workplace that impact the success and efficiency of the business. Everything from office layout, to morale, even to the type of tasks assigned to different employees, can make or break the efficiency and success of a business....

All you need to know about Staff Augmentation: Business Solutions

With the Information Technology sector looking for better avenues to improve their work productivity and scalability, an innovative alternative to hiring. While the method is still in progress and is slowly gaining more visibility, staff augmentation is one of the up...

Why Email Archiving Is an Important Part of HR Processes

Regardless of the size of the company, an enterprise email archiving solution is required to give the transparency and visibility required. Many HR managers, on the other hand, still don't have complete visibility into employee correspondence. This can cause...

5 Essential Social Media Marketing Services Your Agency Should Offer to Attract More Clients

If you don’t provide the social media marketing services your audience need, they’re bound to find other agencies. While you can’t offer every type of social media marketing service known to man, the key is to focus on the services that your target market most likely...

Organizing a Big Office Move

Anyone who has ever moved will tell you that it isn’t easy. After all, there are about a thousand little things you need to take into account when moving from one home to the next. However, moving an office, and especially a big office, offers an entirely different...

Workplace Issues That Can Cost Your Business Money

Your business requires more than just a good product or service to make money—the workplace itself is a hub for your company that needs to run smoothly in order for anything to get done, and get done well! This means that when there are issues in the workplace, they...

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Why Your Business Should Offer HSA-Compatible Health Plans

Why Your Business Should Offer HSA-Compatible Health Plans

As a business owner, you have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to taking care of your employees. If you offer good benefits, such as healthcare, you’ll be more likely to hire and maintain the best employees.  Here are a few reasons why your business should...

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

As your business continues to expand, it might be a wise decision to employ an HR specialist who can help you manage and optimize your workforce. An HR expert brings with them essential services that will streamline the operations of your company while keeping your...

Why Your Office Needs High-Quality Chairs

Why Your Office Needs High-Quality Chairs

For any business or organization, the right office furniture is vital. Quality chairs are essential and can help bolster productivity, decrease employee health issues, and remain operable longer than budget substitutes. Investing in quality office chairs provides...

How to Quickly Capture Attention on Social Media

How to Quickly Capture Attention on Social Media

Social media is invaluable for marketers and business owners, especially those working with small businesses. It’s a great way to get the company in front of more people, allowing you to attract more customers. Of course, it’s not enough to just get seen on social...

Tips for Starting a Gardening Business in Your Community

Tips for Starting a Gardening Business in Your Community

Embarking on a gardening business is a bewildering journey that promises both intrinsic satisfaction and monetary success. The paramount initial step is to scrutinize the varied gamut of services you would want to render, followed by an intricate search for tools and supplies to substantiate the execution of those services. Crafting a business and financial plan is an absolute must, especially given the burgeoning competition from fellow green-thumbed entrepreneurs amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Establishing an online presence through a website and social media and designing business cards and flyers are integral to drumming up business. Lastly, building a loyal clientele and network is paramount for sustained success in the horticultural realm.

How to Protect Your Personal Finances From Black Swan Events

How to Protect Your Personal Finances From Black Swan Events

Life throws us an occasional curveball; it’s just a part of life. But what if your finances take a hit due to something outside of your control?  Black swan events are rare, but they occur and can cause massive financial losses. The key is to be prepared for the worst...