A Beginners Guide To Planning A Corporate Event (Part 1)

You've been asked by your boss to plan and throw a corporate event for

your company. Great.

But where do you begin? Here are some foundations to get you started: 

1. Create a Vision 

Before you jump on Google to find a venue and other essentials, a little brainstorming is necessary. 

The main questions you want to ask yourself is, "What is my (or my boss's) vison for this party and what kind of message do I want to send to employees?"

What do you want your party to look like and what kind of atmosphere will it have? Do I want the employees to feel appreciated or do I want to celebrate my company's success? 

The answers to these questions will be your guide and filter as you navigate the planning process with endless amount of choices. 

A corporate event is one of the best ways to increase employee morale.

2. Venue 

In this writer's opinion, correct venue selection is the most important choice you'll make -- it creates the tone of the party and is the first impression your guests experience. When they walk through the door, they need to feel like they are in a special place. 

The first person that needs to feel that is you, so it is vital that you get out of the office and tour the facilities that are highly rated on Google. If you're not wowed, neither will be the executives you're trying to impress. 

One final thing to note: you get what you pay for in venues. By no means go crazy over-budget, but the venue quality is such a foundation to a great event that you have to think as this expense as an investment. 

3.  Catering and Drinks

As the old adage goes, the way to a person's heart is through his stomach. Thus, food is the next essential pillar for a great party. 

There are so many directions you could go here: from budget-friendly services to fancy, waited dining. Basically, there are two things to consider here: the quality of the food and its delivery.

Let your vision be your guide--buffet style keeps people mobile and moving around while a sit down meal keeps them stationary for a while. The former is cheaper while the latter is more expensive as labor costs increase. 

As for drinks, this will become the lifeblood of your party and will control the party's energy/direction. Open bar is great and it conveys generosity to your guests, but it is the most expensive option. It also puts your party at risk of getting out hand. If you want a tamer party, I suggest a more limited alcohol selection and possibly a cash bar. 

Review

There's much more we could get to here, and look out for them in part 2. For now, just remember these main points: 

1. Create a vison for your party and tailor the experience to your guest.

2. Venue is nearly everything, look at the cost as the investment.

3. Catering is not just food, it is also service. 

4. Control the party by being conscious of beverage options.