Christmas Party Planning Essentials
Whether you are a seasoned events professional or someone who has been tasked with planning your company’s most important event of the year (alongside your long list of duties from your regular role!), Christmas party planning can be daunting – BUT it doesn’t have to be!
Not sure where to start? Fear not! Our team have put together this guide with points to consider to guarantee your Christmas event is the star at the top of the tree!
Don’t delay organising
It might seem a bit early to be planning your festive party in spring or summer, but we believe that the early bird catches the worm..(that’s how the saying goes, isn’t it?)
Most venues start to get fully booked by early September, so the sooner you get started, the more likely it is that you’ll get to secure your ideal venue and perfect your event vision!(As well as giving your guests a heads up to save the date!)
Creating an event brief and budget
How would you like to celebrate this year? Does your event have a theme? Do you envisage a sit-down dinner with entertainment on stage? – or maybe a more informal reception with food stations and roaming entertainment? How many guests do you expect to attend? What are their needs?
Creating a brief will be a great way to have a structured conversation with your venue/event coordinator and will answer a lot of questions they will ask. A thorough event brief will also help you create a budget for the event, allowing you to breakdown spend, and budgets for areas such as catering or entertainment (at Church House, we are a bit of a one-stop shop! – so feel free to ask us for supplier recommendations and we will be happy to arrange or facilitate – saving you the legwork!)
Choosing the right venue
Once your budget is settled, you can decide where to hold your party – this is the most important decision you will make in this process. Consider décor, location, capacity, facilities, catering and how experienced the team are (and take a breath!).
Your choice of venue can make or break your event, so choose carefully. Visit several venues and make sure to quiz your venue representative – at Church House, we offer obligation-free show rounds, so you can see our spaces and get to know us before making any decisions.
It’s also worth considering any packages available. This will help allocate your budget efficiently and avoid additional unforeseen costs! Not to mention taking away all the stress of coordinating an event with multiple stakeholders. Take a look at some of our packages (they can also be customized to fit your needs!)
Wondering what your festive event at Church House could look like? Take a look at this video and find out!
Send out invites well ahead of time
Let everyone know about your event as soon as you can by sending out invites promptly. They can clear their diaries and make sure they’re free for one of the best evenings of the year!
It also allows you to make sure everything is organised and taken care of quickly – plus you can chase up anyone who hasn’t responded well in advance – remember to ask your guests for their dietary requirements, so you can make sure everyone is catered to, allowing your caterers time to craft speciality menu items.
Christmas food
Following on from that… our menus, crafted by in-house caterers Searcy’s are thoughtfully curated with everyone’s tastes and dietary requirements in mind.
We only use local and seasonal produce that is sustainably sourced.
Whether you’d like a Deluxe Dinner or a Reception Package with scrumptious canapes and nibbles to get your guest’s taste buds tingling – we can make that happen with ease!
Ask us about menu tasting with our caterer’s Searcy’s – the premier caterer of choice for the most prestigious venues in the UK!
Entertainment
Fancy a musical interlude with strolling players and entertainers mingling amongst the guests?
Our partnership with the entertainment connoisseurs at Blank Canvas means you can keep everyone enthralled and engaged throughout the evening.
Also, bear in mind the facilities available at your venue of choice as this will affect your entertainer’s capabilities to perform. For instance, you may need roving microphones, DJ booths set up, or stage lighting – p.s our in-house production team can take care of that for you – a standard part of all our packages (how’s that for stress-free planning?!)
Plan fun activities for the event
Having a few fun activities up your sleeve at your event can make it feel extra special for everyone attending. Why not opt for a photo booth so everyone can have their picture taken to remember their night out? Interactive, retro games or group activities can add a real innovative touch to your celebration too.
Have a cracker of a Christmas at Church House
Make this year’s festive events the most memorable yet. Our beautiful yet modern and flexible event spaces are perfect for creating those Christmas memories that last for years to come!
Our packages offer everything you need, taking away the stress of Christmas party planning while providing maximum fun and glamour for your guests!
With an experienced team of events, production, and catering experts in-house, we can make your Christmas wishes come true. So, drop us a line via our contact form, or call us on 020 7390 1590.
