We get it. Your inbox is overflowing, it’s less than five weeks before Christmas, and you’ve just found out you need to plan the corporate Christmas party – panic mode, initiated.
Sadly, while we can’t help you (snow)plough through your to-do list, we can help you plan a stress-free Christmas celebration in London. As one of the most versatile Christmas party venues in London, here are our top tips for avoiding common festive planning pitfalls – and hosting a brilliant event with minimal effort.
Festive faux-pas’ at the office Christmas party
Shall we start with Christmas party planning mistakes? As in, those things people think they should be worrying about, but actually don’t need to?
Dress codes
Everyone overthinks it. Should there be a theme? What does ‘festive-chic’ actually mean? Is novelty headwear too cheesy? Let it all go. A last-minute party is stressful enough so, besides not giving yourself additional work, don’t add extra pressure on your guests by making them think they need to buy a whole new wardrobe. In fact, this is a great opportunity to encourage them not to buy anything new. Re-wearing, re-styling and keeping things sustainable is far more in the festive spirit than stressing about sequins. After all, is it the people, or what they’re wearing, that make a party unforgettable?
Dietary requirements
Good news – if you choose the right London Christmas party venue, this is one thing you don’t need to stress over. Any reputable venue will automatically cater for a full range of dietary requirements as standard. At The Mermaid London, for example, our caterers handle this daily. Simply gather the numbers and let the experts sort the rest.
End of night travel
One thing you, admittedly, should be paying attention to? Timings. Specifically – how guests get home. If you’re planning an office Christmas party in central London, check the transport options. Are tubes still running? Is there a nearby bus stop? While, yes, it’s something extra to think about beforehand, it’ll certainly save you a headache afterwards – so consider this upfront when choosing a London Christmas party venue.
Party planning tips for a stress-free celebration in London
For the ultimate in stress-free Christmas party planning, choose a venue which does it all for you, offering everything (gift) wrapped in one easy and convenient package. As one of London’s best Christmas party venues, at The Mermaid London, for example, our corporate Christmas party packages include an elegant drinks reception upon arrival, a DJ playing much-loved Christmas classics, spectacular winter wonderland views, a menu packed with festive favourites, and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. Your central London office Christmas party sorted – all from just £115 per person.
Onsite teams make all the difference
The same goes for London Christmas party venues with catering and AV teams onsite. Ready and waiting to make your vision a reality, at The Mermaid London, event production experts, Rockit, and award-winning caterers, Seasoned, remove the stress of navigating external suppliers for those planning a last-minute Christmas party.
Use your venue team
Speaking of those onsite, one of the biggest ways you can take the stress out of office Christmas party planning is to actually useyour venue team. It sounds simple, but it’s so easy to forget that your venue team are the experts – they have, quite literally, already planned many more Christmas parties than you! From, ‘what was the most popular dish this year?’ to, ‘what decorations make the biggest impact on a budget?’, utilise their experience and expertise for a smoother – and quicker – Christmas party planning process.
Office Christmas party ideas made simple
Entertainment
Now, when it comes to entertainment, our message is simple – much like the dress code, don’t overthink it. Classics like a DJ and a photobooth are still really popular, and for good reason. They’re inclusive activities that get people talking, get people engaged and get people feeling good. At the end of the day, people are there to have fun, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their colleagues as they belt out a Mariah Carey classic on the dancefloor (before capturing that moment in all its festive photobooth glory) will do just that.
Decorations
You also don’t need to go overboard with decorations. Lighting is a great office Christmas party idea for creating ambiance easily, cost-effectively, and with much less hassle for you. It’s easy to think things need to be elaborate to be impressive, but it’s simply untrue. Understated can often have a much bigger impact. And it demands less of your guests too – the more of a performance things are, the less your guests feel like they can just relax and be themselves (rather than needing to put on a show!)
Take yourself out of panic mode and into party mode
Stress-free corporate Christmas celebrations start here.
Drop us a line via our contact form and let The Mermaid London’s seasoned events team be your guide to effortless office Christmas party planning in central London – so you can get back to that to-do list.
