5 tips for organising a successful christmas party

Marquee Hire

A marquee provides much-needed shelter for a daytime party, and lends an air of elegance to an evening event. With numerous sizes and styles to choose from, we can match a marquee to the size of your Christmas party and the number of guests you want to invite. A general rule of thumb is to provide 1 to 1.5 square metres per person for a cocktail party, or 2 to 2.5 square metres per person for a seated event.

In addition to a marquee, you might want to hire a dance floor or even a stage. This provides separation for various activities and keeps the space from feeling too cluttered, as well as providing a touch of class to the festivities. Other common hire items include chairs and tables, as well as portable fans.

Decorations

As a blank canvas, a marquee provides an ideal backdrop for any decorating scheme. Christmas lights are sold in a variety of colors, and even ready-made into such fun shapes as wreaths and reindeer. Other decorations need not be elaborate. Consider gathering natural materials such as twigs, branches, and pine cones and placing them on tables around the room. You can also use festive tablecloths and chair coverings to bring the spirit of the season without spending a lot of time or money.

Lighting

Although Christmas lights provide a festive glow, you will probably need supplemental lighting for an evening event. Before committing to a lighting scheme, walk around your chosen location at night. Notice where the particularly dark, shadowy areas are, and plan to place some additional lights in those spots. Especially when guests are drinking or the ground is uneven, it is important to provide adequate area lighting.

Catering

Hiring a caterer will save you a great deal of stress and aggravation during your event. Some people prefer to hire someone to cook and serve, while others order packaged food and set it out themselves in hired catering vessels. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, consider hiring a BBQ spit and roasting a slab of meat. If you choose this option, be sure to set up the spit in a large, open area with room for people to gather around it.

Managing the Crowd

If you are ill-prepared, the crowd can be the most daunting element of your Christmas party. Keep your guests happy and yourself relaxed by putting systems in place to manage the crowd. It begins with your invitations—mail out printed invitations with instructions to RSVP by a specific date rather than using the phone or social media, which can quickly lead to a guest list that is spiraling out of control. Follow up with anyone who has not replied by the specified date.

Set up everything you and your guests will need outdoors in advance of the party, from coolers or buckets filled with ice and drinks to food in heated or cooled serving vessels. Provide ashtrays for the smokers, even if you don’t smoke. Ask a friend or two to serve as bouncers, keeping people out of the house and making sure that everyone who is there belongs. Although you must provide access to the bathroom, close all other interior doors to discourage lingering.

Move items that are easily damaged out of the way, preferably into a shed or garage. If you have fragile plants, use decorative fencing to block them off.

Keep an eye on the amount of alcohol that your guests consume, and call taxis for anyone who is intoxicated rather than allowing them to drive. Provide plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and encourage everyone to switch over as the party winds down.

When planning your wedding or special event, why not choose a party hire service with a personal touch? Betta Party Hire has the experience and expertise to help you choose the right items for the party of your dreams.