Planning an office Christmas party might seem like a daunting task, especially at such short notice. But what if we told you that there are some more straightforward and convenient ways of doing it? In this article, we’ll be giving you a few tips for planning a last-minute office Christmas party. From the food and music to the decorations and the venue, and everything in between, here’s everything you need to know about planning a last-minute office Christmas party that will go down in office history.
Get the essentials right
Sometimes, the basics can make or break an event. Forgetting plates, knives, or forks might seem simple, but it makes all the difference. But there are other essential things that we consider to be non-negotiable. This includes the date, the budget and the guest list. Let’s take a closer look at all three of those things:
- Picking the perfect date – choose the soonest practical date that works best for the majority of people in the office. Once you’ve determined a suitable date and time, then send some rapid digital invitations either via email, on Slack or over Teams. This is one of the quickest ways to confirm numbers
- Determining the budget – it’s important that you know how much you have to spend. Is the company itself covering costs, or do you need to do a whip-around? Are departments sharing costs, or will it be low-key? While it might seem small, it’s imperative that this is ironed out long before committing to anything
- Curating the guest list – decide if it’s just going to be employees only or if they’re able to bring plus-ones. Should remote staff be invited along, or would it be better to livestream them or send them a Christmas box as an alternative?
Choose a convenient venue
The right venue will make your life much easier when it comes to paying deposits, getting to the destination, setting up and tidying away after the event. You want a venue that’s convenient in every sense of the word. While you might struggle to find a commercial venue to host your last-minute office party, there are some other venues up for grabs, including:
- The office break room
- The conference room
- A nearby restaurant with private rooms
- The local pub’s function room
- An outdoor patio or courtyard (weather permitting)
If hosting your office party onsite, you may need to rearrange the furniture for open-flow mingling. Also, choose a simple colour scheme and easy-to-hang decorations to make the set-up and clearing away quicker and easier. Booking a venue with its own staff reduces your workload instantly – many places offer Christmas office party packages with food, drinks and music included, but it might not be feasible if you’re planning a last-minute event – just bear this in mind.
Streamline food & drink
A last-minute office Christmas party doesn’t have to be fancy or gourmet. You should focus on easy and crowd-pleasing options when it comes to food and drink. Just make sure to check everyone’s allergies and food preferences. Cater for those who are vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, etc.
To make things easier, order platters from local restaurants or supermarkets, order in a takeaway, or make a cheeseboard. When it comes to drinks, don’t over-provide. Use the budget to get some wine and beers in, alongside soft drinks, so that everyone is catered for. Keep everything simple.
Keep decorations simple yet effective
When you have limited time, focus on elements that make a big visual impact quickly and effectively. Supermarkets, craft shops and even garden centres will provide you with everything you need to decorate your office Christmas party, even if it is last-minute. Some Christmas decorations for a fast set-up include:
- Pre-lit Christmas trees
- Battery-operated string lights
- Festive tablecloths and runners
- Ready-made garlands and paper chains
- Festive cutouts, backdrops and banners for photo opportunities
- Pre-made hanging decorations
Plan activities that don’t take much work
Build excitement with easy and engaging activities that also require minimal preparation. Make sure that any activities you are planning are safe and simple so as to cater for the last-minute nature of your office Christmas party. Some quick entertainment ideas for your last-minute office Christmas party include:
- An ugly Christmas jumper contest
- Secret Santa events
- A white elephant gift exchange
- A photo booth corner
- Christmas trivia contest or quiz
- Christmas bingo
Delegate if you feel like you need some help
It can be extremely difficult to plan a last-minute office Christmas party on your own, so make sure you rope in some help. A great way of getting others in the office involved is to create microteams. This includes having teams for sorting out: food and drinks, decorations, activities and music. You might find that people actually want to help; you just need to give them clear and specific tasks to make their jobs easier.
Curate a Christmas music playlist
Music sets the tone at any party. This is why, when it comes to the office Christmas party, you’re choosing music that is both festive and fun. There are many pre-made playlists that you can find online and on music streaming services. This is far more time-effective, which is essential when you have so many other things to organise in time for the big, albeit last-minute, event.
Only add additional touches if you have the time
You already have many aspects of the office Christmas party to think about and organise, so don’t stress about the additional touches that may need to be made. Only think about those things if you have the time at the end of your planning. Some easy extras you can implement, time and budget allowing, are as follows:
- Printed ‘year-in-review’ highlights
- Small stocking fillers for employees/colleagues
- DIY awards (awards for ‘tidiest desk’ or ‘chief coffee maker’, etc)
- A gratitude wall where employees write notes to coworkers
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FIT Interiors is pleased to provide office fit-outs and office refurbishments to clients across Nottingham and the surrounding areas. When it comes to making the office feel fun, inviting and comfortable, your work doesn’t stop at Christmas. Look to our team of dedicated designers to catapult your business into the spotlight. We endeavour to breathe new life into your workplace by offering suspended ceilings, breakout spaces, commercial flooring, office furniture, office partitioning, office relocation and more. If you’d like further information about our many office refurbishment services, then get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today – we’re always happy to hear from you.