Christmas Party Style Guide
Can’t you hear those sleigh bells jingling? Don’t worry you’re not suffering from tinnitus, it’s just the sound of your corporate Christmas party coming up fast. Don’t let the silly season sneak up on you this year, start planning your Christmas party with our special guide.
Office Christmas Party Ideas
The shops have been stocking advent calendars since October and you’ve heard ‘all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth’ so many times you’re beginning to understand why someone knocked them out in the first place. Yes, Christmas is coming and with it comes the grizzly task of planning your end of year celebration. But if the thought of locking down another boring event has got you saying ‘humbug’ then let our friendly team help you find your Christmas cheer with our top Christmas party ideas.
Office Christmas Function Idea 1. Charity Ball
Elegant, timeless and a great opportunity to put a little something back into the community, spread some Christmas cheer to those who need it most with a black and white themed charity ball. Get into the spirit of Saint Nick and entertain your clients with a cocktail and canapé soiree complete with silent charity auction, then donate all of the proceeds to a cause that’s close to your company’s heart. It’s the perfect way to take some of the silly out of the season and get back in touch with your inner philanthropist.
Office Christmas Function Idea 2. Team Planning Session and Surprise Party
The year may be winding down but that’s no reason for work to stop, right? Yeah, your employees aren’t going to like that line either, which is why springing a last-minute team planning session to strategise for the year ahead is going to go down like a lead balloon – until you reveal that it’s a surprise Christmas party complete with an open bar, food platters and live DJ. The look on their faces will be priceless…that’s if they don’t commit mutiny beforehand.
Office Christmas Function Idea 3. Christmas Roast
Got a soft spot for a family tradition? Then why not treat your very own urban family to a traditional Christmas roast with the works. Gather up the whole office and sit down to a decadent long lunch complete with matching wines and Christmas crackers. Swap your ho, ho, ho for ha, ha, ha as you bring in the silly season with friends.
Office Christmas Function Idea 4. Ping Pong Tournament
It’s the latest trend to hit the Christmas party circuit and we’re jumping on board! Yes, it’s time to give your end of year function some serious balls with a ping-pong tournament. Finally the feud between HR and IT can be settled once and for all without resorting to blows. But be warned, challenging your boss to a round after too many rounds? That’s a paddlin’.
Office Christmas Function Idea 5. After Work Drinks
Tight on time and even tighter on budget? Send the silly season off the easy way with a casual after work catch up at the bar with your favourite colleagues. Make it truly fun by
Corporate Christmas Party Themes
Xmas Party Idea 5: Make it a masquerade:
Theming & Styling: Give your party a dark and mysterious feeling with lots of gold tones, dark corners and mood lighting, score some added style points with your very own romantic balcony overlooking the city – you saucy Santa Clause you.
Dress Ups/Attire: When it comes to masquerade balls, style is everything. So grab a disguise and get ready to hit the dance floor – but warning, even a mask won’t cover up Glenda from HR’s mad dance moves, you go girl.
Food menu ideas: You can’t have a fancy dress ball calls without some fancy food to match! Think freshly shucked oysters, individual black olive and goats cheese tartlets and miniature beef mignon – ooh la, la!
Beverage menu ideas: Speaking of fancy, no Christmas party is complete without a little bubbly. Get in the celebratory mood and toast to another successful year done and dusted with an endless supply of premium Australian sparkling wine.
Entertainment: Let’s face it, tor an upmarket affair like this, an iPod is just not going to cut it! Go hard or go home with a killer live band – bonus points if you can convince your boss to crowd surf over the IT team at least once.
Xmas Party Idea 6: Dreaming of a white Christmas?
Who cares if it’s 35 degrees outside, nothing says “Christmas” quite like a winter wonderland!
Theming & Styling:
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow or at least make it look like it has. Turn up the air con, hire an ice sculpture and transform your function space into the ultimate snowy escape – just remember, licking an ice sculpture may seem like a great idea at the time, but some pranks aren’t worth the awkward trip to the emergency room, are we right Kevin?
Dress Ups:
Kooky Christmas sweaters, furry hats and cosy scarves are must if your going to pull off a proper white Christmas in the middle of summer. The humidity might be on the rise, but so will your chances of nabbing that promotion when your boss sees you in your snowman sweater complete with strategically placed carrot. Classic!
Food Menu Ideas:
Match your menu to the theme with a warming, seasonal buffet with spiced ham off the bone and roast turkey with cranberry dressing.
Beverage Ideas:
Wash it all down with a holiday inspired cocktail or a hearty selection of beers on tap, after all you can’t get into the Christmas spirit without a drink in your hand.
Entertainment:
A traditional winter wonderland party calls for carolling, but how about giving this tradition a bit of an update with some office karaoke instead?
Xmas Party Ideas 7: Christmas Circus
Escape the corporate circus and become the ringleader of your very own Christmas circus instead! Roll up, Roll up – just be careful not to doll down the stairs later.
Styling and Theme
While hiring an elephant might be a little out of your budget that doesn’t mean you can’t make your party come alive with the circus feeling. Recreate the big top feeling with lots of reds accents and some fun lighting.
Costumes
Give your party a whacky edge with circus inspired dress ups and costumes, but be warned – clowns may be funny but drunk clowns are just downright scary.
Food Menu Ideas:
No trip to the circus is complete without your favourite finger food. Consider getting your very own cotton candy maker or hot buttered popcorn machine for the day.
Beverage Menu Ideas
Put a grown up twist on your circus favorites with some crazy cocktail combinations and lots of icy cold champagne – think more Cirque Du Soleil than Circus Oz.
Entertainment:
While your kids may be really impressed with your ability to juggle oranges in the kitchen, give yourself the night off and hire some genuine street performers instead – no offence intended Larry, but throwing one orange in the air and catching it does not count as juggling.
Xmas Party Idea 8: A very beachy Christmas.
Winter wonderland not your thing? Give your party a tropical edge with your very own beach party (minus the sand).
Theme Styling:
Fortunately setting a beachy theme is cinch when you live in tropical Queensland year round. Just grab some beach balls, your best beach brolly and a couple of towels and hey presto, you’re halfway to turning your function space into a beach.
Costumes:
How do we put this delicately? Hawaiian shirts are A-Okay. Your favourite budgie smugglers are not. We’re talking to you Terry, and you bloody well know it.
Food Menu Ideas
No Christmas beach party is complete without a genuine Aussie BBQ, but don’t just settle for snags, take it up a notch with rib fillet steaks, marinated prawns and tender lamb skewers.
Beverage Menu Ideas
Did somebody say icy cold beers? Oh look, twist our arm why don’t you.
Entertainment
While a traditional game of beach cricket might be out. That doesn’t mean you can’t have some classic beach side fun. Why not challenge your work mates to a hula competition or some cut throat limbo?
Xmas Party Idea 9: Christmas All Around The World
Why not celebrate your team’s diverse cultural backgrounds with a little Christmas around the world party?
Theming:
Who said Christmas is all about the tree? Why not shake things up with some fun additions from all around the world? Do a little research on the background of your employees and incorporate their nationalities’ traditional holiday décor into the décor around the venue, while you’re at it, see if you can figure out the meaning of Kwanza, lord knows we’re still stumped.
Costumes:
Whether it’s a singlet and thongs or a bright and colourful sari, brighten up the atmosphere by encouraging your work mates to wear their traditional clothes to the party.
Food Menu Ideas
Whether it’s a spicy curry, Spanish tapas or crispy skinned peking duck pancakes, add some serious flavour to your party by setting up individual food stations from all around the world.
Beverage Menu Ideas
Keep the theme going with a selection of local and international beers, wine and spirits.
Entertainment
Get to know each other better by playing fun games like matching the crazy Christmas custom to the country and singing Christmas carols from all around the world.
