 | Tiffany Bonds has been involved in Health Care, Real Estate, Hospitality, Advertising and Marketing for more than 12 years in Wichita and surrounding areas. In addition to Floral and Event Coordinating/Design, she is also the Director of Operations and Marketing at The Grand Chapel, an Events Venue Company. The Grand Chapel's Venue offers space for a varied assortment of events from funerals/memorials, birthdays, lectures, Business luncheons and meetings to Wedding's and Receptions and All-inclusive packages. You may contact Tiffany Bonds by phone at (316)269-3333, or by email at thegrandchapel@gmail.com. |
Entertainment
2012-11-19 09:46:25
Tips for planning a holiday party
Q- Do you have any tips on planning a holiday party?
A- The key to a successful holiday party is forward planning. So, with the Christmas festivities just around the corner, now's the time to start turning talk about office Christmas parties, client Christmas parties or any other festive season event into action.
While the ‘to do’ list can seem overwhelming at times, Here are some tips, to help make your Christmas party or corporate event the talk of the social calendar.
First question…will your Christmas Party have a theme? Before you think about booking venues or hiring entertainment, decide on a theme, should you want one. You’ll find venue selection much easier if you already have an idea in mind. Entertainment, catering and invitations should all reflect the theme too. There's no limit to theme possibilities. It could be a winter wonderland and Santa/Elves dress, casino party, or fun way of reflecting your brand.
As early as possible, start contacting potential venues; most will offer site inspections with their in-house events manager. Things to consider when choosing a venue include:
* Capacity – is it large enough or would you have to compromise your guest list?
* Location — is it accessible, good for cabs and public transport? If not, you may need to consider hiring buses or even overnight accommodation.
Remember the Christmas party season is incredibly busy. Venues start getting booked up from October. If you find the ideal venue this year, consider pre-booking it for the following year.
Invitations — make a good first impression! The first impression of your event for guests will be the invitation, so it needs to either stay on theme, or at very least give a hint of the type of event they can expect. You’ll want to finalize your guest list as soon as possible so you can get your invites out early and give your guests plenty of notice. A manageable RSVP date is essential.
Entertainment — think about everyone's taste. A good performance act can make or break your event, so do your research and choose wisely. A decision based on your personal taste will often backfire, so be democratic and gather a panel to help make the final decision.
Finally…enjoy yourself! It's the end of a long year, so even if you're in charge of everyone else's festive cheer, make sure you take some time out to celebrate with your colleagues or clients.
