Know Your Guests and Make Your Company Holiday Party a Favorite Tradition

ATLANTA - Nov. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- While many people excitedly await the company holiday party, some employees would rather hide under their desk than participate in the festivities. If your business seems to be filled with too many Scrooges, you can still turn things around and make sure that this year’s holiday shindig becomes something the whole office will enjoy. According to Atlanta-based event designer William Fogler, getting the details right when it comes to food, venue and music is vital to hosting a successful holiday party that’s tailored for the guests of honor – your loyal employees.

Choose the Right Venue: When selecting a venue, make sure you have a space that is large enough to accommodate all of your guests, but small enough to make everyone feel comfortable. Unless you are hosting a very traditional dinner reception, consider choosing a venue with a built-in activity, especially if it’s something most of your employees do not typically get to experience. Unconventional venues allow you not only to create a buzz before the event, but also to keep guests engaged throughout the evening. So, think outside the ballroom and whoop it up at a museum, aquarium, funplex center or botanical garden.

What’s on the Menu?: Selecting the menu is means it’s time for you to consider your guest list’s preferences. For diverse groups, lean towards making sure the food is recognizable but still special. That could mean choosing beef tenderloin (special), but not escargot (possibly not considered “food” by some of your employees). Go for high-end versions of traditional holiday favorites. For a more sophisticated crowd, you might begin with passed hors d’oeuvres and champagne, and then offer winter selections of lamb or sea bass for the dinner portion.

Next, consider how food will be served. Is a sit down dinner necessary, or will stations and passed hors d’oeuvres be more appropriate for your guests? Budget plays a part in the decision, but unless you have a very small group, remember that sit down dinners can create an atmosphere of separation rather than togetherness. Allowing employees to move about freely and mingle with each other will enhance the event atmosphere.

Notes on Music and Dancing: It wouldn’t be a holiday party without music, but how do you set the right mood for a varied crowd? Bringing in a DJ rather than a band allows for more variation and control over tunes. The DJ can monitor the crowd and bring the level up or down in a way that a live band cannot, not to mention a DJ is kinder on the budget! And while you might love to cut a rug, believe it or not, not everyone enjoys dancing. You want to keep the music at a volume where it can be heard, but doesn’t ruin the opportunity for good conversation.

Instead of letting corporate holiday party planning add to your stress, setting out with clear goals and an understanding of your guests will give help your navigate the planning process with ease. You will find that this year the holiday party will fit your guest list better than that Secret Santa sweater. After all, the company holiday party is really meant as a thank you for all the great work your employees do.

About WM Events

WM Events was founded in 2004 by award-winning designer, planner and consultant William Fogler. With offices in Atlanta and Denver, WM Events is a full service event planning and design firm that handles corporate events, high-end social affairs, weddings and any other sort of intimate or monumental happening. WM Events is located at 767 Trabert Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30318 and can be reached at 678-251-6363 or visited at www.wmevents.com.

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