11 Christmas
Christmas tip-off
Daniel Gill , founder of event management and catering company Dine , provides his top tips for planning a creative Christmas party
Establish your objectives
Be clear about what you want your event to achieve . Is your Christmas party purely to celebrate the achievements of your business over the past year or is it for something more than that ? Are you looking to build connections , attract new clients or thank the existing ones ? Establishing your objectives can give you a better idea of how much you are willing to spend and what you might want your theme to be . If your company is renowned for its creativity , or if your event is more informal there are often no limits . Experienced event caterers such as Dine are experts in being creative with budgets of any size and can offer a wide range of options that will fit your event or provide totally bespoke suggestions .
Location , location , location
The location for an event is arguably the most important stage in planning a party , whether it be at Christmas or other times of the year . The venue will set the tone and provide the chance to theme the event and location accordingly . This will influence how guests interact with each other and use the space . It is important to identify what you want from a venue before you make your choice – capacity , location , ambience , accessibility , local accommodation and budget should all be considered . Don ’ t forget that if you ’ re looking for a unique venue or somewhere with the ‘ wow ’ factor these tend to book up quickly . Dine often takes bookings for Christmas parties a year in advance so if you want a large selection of venues to choose from , start looking early .
Be adventurous
Don ’ t stay with the tried and tested . If planned well , taking risks is often a fantastic way to enhance your company ’ s reputation and prove you possess creativity and innovation . An unexpected and unique party will be more likely to create an unforgettable event which both clients and colleagues will remember for all the right reasons . Satisfy your guests ’ appetites through innovative ideas and themes . We ’ ve been asked to organise everything from a Christmas barbecue , geocaching for Secret Santa presents in the park , or old-fashioned parlour games for a more traditional feel . Tailor your event around exceptional food and service to ensure the event has the right impact and delivers its objectives .
Arrange a tasting
Invest time in your food to fully reflect your company and its values . Bespoke menus tailored to your event that may not reflect a traditional Christmas feast are fantastic for creating an extra special party . It can also give you and your guests inspiration for their own Christmas dinners . Exceptional menus provide an immediate talking point . It ’ s important to find your venue before creating a menu as you will need to ensure the location of your party can meet expectations . Don ’ t forget to a ask the right questions so that your menu can work perfectly with the location of your party . Remember to cater for dietary requirements , always arrange a tasting before you make your final choice so that you can make any changes , and you may want to incorporate elements of your theme into the food .
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