It doesn’t matter if you’re celebrating a special occasion, hosting a team-building event, or just want to have fun for the holidays — nothing beats a well-planned event. And with this guide, you’ll be able to plan the perfect corporate gathering.
This article will cover everything from selecting a venue and choosing caterers to hiring entertainment and sending invitations. Let’s get started!
1. Planning Your Corporate Event
Start by creating a budget. The cost of your event will determine everything from the location to the entertainment, so spend some time crunching numbers. You should also consider how many people you need to feed and where they’ll be coming from. If it’s in the middle of nowhere, transportation costs might be high because employees can’t just walk outside and hail a taxi or Uber. On the other hand, if it’s near their homes, travel expenses might increase significantly since employees likely won’t work for free! Make sure you take all these factors into consideration before finalizing anything else.
2. Selecting Your Venue
While an office space might work well for smaller events, venues that are designed for parties are ideal for larger events. Think about the number of guests you want to invite and what kind of space they’ll need. You can also hire a luxury boat to maximize the space available. While you’re at it, rent out a boat that fits your venue’s theme — whether that means renting a yacht or grabbing drinks on a party boat. With so many options to choose from, have fun with it!
3. Selecting Your Caterer
Hiring caterers is another important step in planning an event because their food can make or break the experience. Think about your budget and what kinds of dishes will work best for the number of people you’re feeding. From there, start researching restaurants that fit your criteria and narrow down your list based on cost, quality of work, and customer service. A good catering company should also be able to provide wait staff who can help serve beverages at the bar or make sure your guests never run out of drinks.
4. Selecting Your Entertainment
Whether you want live entertainment or a DJ, make sure the entertainment you choose fits within your budget. You can find great DJs and entertainers that will match your price range and help create a memorable experience for everyone involved. The best part? Many offer free planning services to take some stress out of event planning!
5. Send Invitations and Follow Up
Once you have everything planned, start sending invitations to let people know about the big day! Make sure to follow up with any RSVPs so you get a rough idea of how many people are coming and what types of food they’ll need. While it might seem like sending invitations is the end of your work, it’s actually just the beginning.
6. Decorations and Details
While spending money on decorations might seem like a waste, they can make or break an event’s atmosphere. When you’re planning your budget, think about how much decoration will cost — and if you want to save money, consider DIY options! The most important thing is making sure everyone has a good time — so do what works best for you!
7. Day-of Details and Clean Up
On the day of your event, make sure everything goes smoothly by creating a timeline that includes every detail from start to finish. Don’t forget to include times when fundamental changes need to happen — such as switching from hors-d’oeuvres to dinner — so you don’t have any hiccups!
8. Follow Up with Employees
Once the big day is over, it’s time to send follow-up emails to all your employees. Thank them for coming and asking for their feedback on everything from food to entertainment. Not only will this help you plan future events, but it will also leave a positive impression on everyone involved.
9. Follow Up with Vendors
If you’ve worked with a caterer, venue, entertainer, or any other vendor, make sure to send them a follow-up email. Thank them for their hard work, and let them know how much you enjoyed working with them. If someone did an excellent job or went above and beyond, don’t forget to follow up with a thank you card in the mail!
And there you have it. Wasn’t that helpful? We hope some of these tips made your life easier when creating the perfect corporate event (for your company). Many people would agree that these are good things to consider when throwing a party. If you have any other tips or tricks, let me know in the comments below!
