Planning a corporate Christmas party is a great chance to thank your team, celebrate the year and give everyone something to look forward to after a busy few months. But with different preferences, expectations and budgets to consider, putting together the right event can feel like a job in itself.
But, with a little planning, you can create a celebration that suits your team and leaves everyone feeling appreciated.
Why getting the office Christmas party right matters
A well-planned office Christmas party is a great opportunity to show your colleagues how much they, and their efforts this year, are appreciated and to strengthen relationships by bringing people from across the whole organisation together.
The key is creating an event that people genuinely want to take part in, rather than something that feels like a calendar obligation.
5 work Christmas party ideas for every team and budget
1. Classic Christmas meal and drinks
You can’t go far wrong with a festive meal – you can book a restaurant, hotel or any other corporate Christmas party venue available locally. This is a low-pressure environment and gives your team a chance to enjoy good food and good company.
You could keep things simple with just dinner – or you might want to add drinks, live music or a DJ, if the budget allows.
2. Party games and team activities
For teams that prefer something a little more engaging, you could organise some office Christmas party games or activities – a Christmas quiz, festive bingo, treasure hunt or team challenge can get everyone involved, and it doesn’t need a big budget. You could throw in some prizes to up the competition a little, but it’s still fun without.
3. Virtual and hybrid celebrations
For remote teams that may be distributed quite far and wide, a virtual Christmas party can bring everyone together despite the distance. Host a festive quiz, online games or a virtual gift exchange, and consider sending employees a food or drink voucher in advance so they can join in from home.
4. Themed and dress-up parties
Give your Christmas office party a creative twist with a theme. Whether it’s winter wonderland, ugly Christmas jumpers, glitz and glam, or something like “favourite Christmas movie characters”, a theme can make the planning more fun and give guests a guide for costumes, and offers you an easy starting point for decorations.
Just make sure everyone knows participation is optional – dressing up isn’t for everyone and you won’t want to make your guests uncomfortable before they even show up (or cause them to not come at all).
5. Christmas lunch instead of an evening event
An evening party isn’t the only option: a Christmas lunch can be easier to organise, more accessible for employees with family commitments – and probably kinder to the corporate budget.
While you can take the whole team out for lunch at a restaurant, you could instead organise catering at the office. This makes it a lot easier to secure a booking (especially for a large crowd) and you can combine it with games and music without bothering anyone at the next table.
How to plan a corporate Christmas party: a step-by-step checklist
- Set your budget
- Get a rough idea of number of attendees
- Set your date
- Send a Save The Date
- Choose the kind of Christmas party you want to host
- Choose your venue
- Confirm catering
- Confirm entertainment
- Confirm activities
- Confirm transport
- Confirm final guest numbers
- Communicate the schedule and any other important info with your guests
- Arrange any prizes or gifts.
Budgeting for your work Christmas party
Set your overall budget first, then divide it between the essentials: venue hire, food and drinks. These will usually take the biggest share, but don’t forget your decorations, entertainment, transport and prizes too. Keep some money aside for unexpected costs.
Most UK Christmas parties cost around £120-£350 per head, but it’s very easy to tailor your final cost to your budget. For example, with the venue, you can reduce costs by either holding the party in your office, booking the venue in advance, or choosing to host it midweek or daytime.
How gift cards can complement your work Christmas party
Gift cards are an easy way to add another element to your event, whether you’re rewarding quiz winners, running a festive raffle or thanking employees for their contribution this year.
Asda Gift Cards can give employees the flexibility to choose what they actually want, from treats for themselves and their families to extra trimmings for their own Christmas dinner or splashing out on some new tech. They’re an easy way for employers to add prizes or rewards without having to guess which gifts everyone will appreciate.