It’s office party season, and you’ve all been working very hard. Here are Liberty Lane Catering’s tips for throwing a great office holiday party.

Get the Details Out Early

First, pick a date well in advance. The holidays are a busy time for everyone. Pick a place, ideally a place that’s close to the office. If the place is your office, make sure you have enough space for everyone to comfortably hang out. If you hire a caterer, get in touch with them as soon as you can.

Get Dressed Up

While you may be tempted to save the effort and keep it casual, dressing up can actually boost morale more effectively (which is the whole point of a holiday party). Your staff will be more confident and more social if they feel like they look good. It will also remind staff that this is still a work event, and hopefully prevent them from getting too crazy.

Decoration is Mandatory

You want to create an atmosphere in which your party can succeed. Dress up the venue, especially if the venue is your office. Nobody is going to feel like partying if your party looks like a boardroom. Make sure the place communicates holiday festivity. You don’t have to break the bank, but do something. Most party planning stores will have a variety of low-cost decorating options that go a long way.

Also try to keep it nondenominational so that everyone has a good time. Keep the theme broad like “Winter” or “Holiday”.

Be Wise About Beverages

It is the holiday party, and one of the few opportunities staff gets to cut loose, but booze at holiday parties is a measured risk. If you have liquor, be sure to have plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives, and make sure to keep your eye on your revelers to make sure everyone gets home safe.

Also, make sure your management especially knows to err on the sober side, as shenanigans on their end are much more serious. That means you too, reader.

Have Plenty of Good Food

There are two rules when it comes to holiday office party food: plenty and variety. Nothing kills a party like running out of food, or not having enough variety to account for people’s tastes and dietary restrictions. Food gives people something to do with their hands, gives people something to talk about, and makes sure people don’t overdo it on the booze, so it’s important to get it right. Make sure you have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. A good caterer will help you make sure your menu has enough to satisfy every palate.

At Liberty Lane Catering, we’ve catered hundreds of office parties. Our professional staff will help you make sure yours goes off without a hitch.