Top ten tips for organising your office Christmas party
There’s a chill in the air, Strictly will soon be back on our screens and the countdown to Christmas is just around the corner – time to start thinking office Christmas parties!
Anyone who has ever volunteered to organise the work Christmas do will know that what seems like a relatively straight-forward task can soon turn into a major hassle. Don’t fret – with our top ten tips you’ll soon be a party-organising ninja!
- Nominate one organiser
It can be tempting to enlist some help but things soon get confusing when you lose track of who’s doing what. Stick to one organiser and avoid those “oh, I thought you were collecting deposits” moments! - The early bird
Venues get booked up quickly so don’t dilly-dally. Get online nice and early and scope out some different venues to run past your colleagues. You might even bag yourself an early bird discount. Here at the University of Hull, if you book 12 or more places by 30 August the organiser goes free! - Identify dates
Before phoning around venues, check everyone’s availability so you can enquire about specific dates – it will save you numerous calls back and forth (and endless frustration). - Set a deposit deadline
Your venue will usually require a deposit a few weeks before your event. Don’t wait until then to start collecting money from colleagues. Set your own deadline a few days earlier and avoid the embarrassing phone call to the venue asking for more time. - Gather menu choices
The exciting part – choosing your meal! If your venue offers a menu choice, they’ll need to know what people will be eating ahead of time. Put everyone’s choices on a spreadsheet and bring it with you on the night – we can guarantee that someone will forget what they ordered! - Dietary requirements
Speaking of menu choices, remember to ask colleagues if they have any special dietary requirements and let your venue know so that everyone has an enjoyable meal. - Bottoms up!
Be nice and organised and order a drinks package. Many venues offer a discount so you’ll save some money and your drinks will usually be ready and waiting for you when you arrive. Cheers! - Choose your table name
When you book, your venue will ask you for a table name. Go wild and be creative – a funny name will help break the ice with other tables (and they always give us a giggle too). - Book your taxis
You’ve had a fantastic night, you’re full of festive cheer, then the evening comes to an end and you realise you haven’t thought about how you’re getting home. Standing in the cold, ringing around taxi firms is guaranteed to get you feeling like The Grinch. Book taxis in advance! - Have fun but remember who you’re with
Christmas parties are great for team building but remember that you’re still with colleagues. Let your hair down but remember that everyone has a camera with them these days and your entertaining moves to Gangnam style could soon end up doing the rounds around the office.
If you’d like to celebrate with us at The University of Hull, we have party nights starting from £23 per person. Beyond Events Christmas Brochure.
Get in touch and put the ooo! in your Christmas do! T: 01482 465341 E: beyondevents@hull.ac.uk
