Let's get this party started...

Christmas is just around the corner and will be soon be upon us quicker than we can say Father Christmas! All thoughts of festive fun and celebrations are coming to the fore fronts of our minds. Celebrating with friends, family or work colleagues for food, drinks or cutting some shapes on the dance floor, this time of year is filled with working out when and where to have that all time Christmas party. With pubs and restaurants offering set menus and hotels with their dinner dances there really is something for everyone.

It is never too soon to start planning your Christmas party and an early booking is definitely recommended to secure your preferred party date/venue and avoid any disappointment. Here are a few tips to get you started....

Guest list:

Confirm the preferred date with the entire guest list before booking the table.  The longer the notice the more likely they will have the date free.  This way everyone is happy, you won’t need to cancel or change the restaurant/venue booking and more people will attend with a decent notice.

Age group:

Ensure you choose the right venue for the average age of attendees.  We can’t image Aunty Mable enjoying a rave very much…although who knows?  Ask everyone for ideas. This makes them feel involved and they are more likely to attend if they feel part of the event.  Just remember you can’t please everyone, but it helps to have an idea of what people expect from the offset.

Travel:

Consider the distance from people’s homes, you may need to arrange transport, and the earlier this is arranged the cheaper it may be. We also suggest arranging one or more designated drivers, some people will be more than happy to avoid the “festive cheer” and drive people home safely.

hCost:

Agree a budget per person, and stick to it.  A lot of venues have different packages, and most to suit all budgets.  Hotels mostly have events teams, and restaurant staff will be up to date on offers for Christmas as early as September, so just call and ask, they would be more than happy to help.

Some places offer discounts for confirmed numbers in your party. When booking meals, always ask what the discount brackets are, it may mean inviting a few more people but the discounts may be worth it, and there is that old saying “the more the merrier”

Dress code:

People like to know in advance as to whether there is a dress code, even more so if you are going for a themed party, especially the ladies who will generally spend longer getting ready in the festive season, more sparkles and glitz than usual. Some women have a fabulous need to impress at parties (bear this in mind when booking transport, allow last minute outfit checks!!)

Entertainment:

Some people are more than happy to enjoy an evening chatting away, others will expect more structured entertainment.  There are so many options for entertainment over the festive period, and we couldn’t begin to list them all, but ask at your local venues, they are sure to have a few things happening in the run up to Christmas.

Food:

It may be an idea to limit the options, if you give people too much choice the decision will take twice as long. The set menus are normally the easiest option as there is usually something for everyone.

Venues:

One tip is book early. Although there are plenty to choose from locally, the best ones will start to book out now. If you are not 100% sure on the date, pencil one in at your preferred venue, but make sure you indicate it may change as they will usually hold the date for a period of time for you to get all of your “Turkeys” in a row!

We have included the perfect festive cocktail for you to enjoy whilst planning, getting ready for or at your “Perfectly Planned” Christmas party. Either way we are sure you will love it.