If you’re anything like me, you’re itching to make up for some high-quality celebrating this year… As much as I enjoyed a little “quiet me time” in 2020, my inner party animal needs some socializing!
Here’s the event planner lineup I’m excited to return to for the 2021 holiday season, from creative sabbaticals to ballroom blitzes and everything in between:
Office Holiday Parties
Hear me out: A corporate event is actually a fun part of the holidays. It’s a big team-builder to invite employees to socialize outside of work, especially if everyone gets to dress up and invite a plus-one. If you’re in HR or marketing and in charge of the fun event planner stuff, these are my top ideas for the holidays:
Host a dinner at a lodge or mountain resort. This creates a cozy, elegant atmosphere for small to midsize teams.
Set a themed gift exchange. This lessens the pressure on everyone’s budget, expectations, and stress levels. (Fun and affordable themes include office gadgets, recipe gift baskets, winter gear, gift cards for experiences, and cocktail or mocktail kits.)
If you like, mix and mingle with a neighboring office or partner organization. A larger group invites a more diverse, collaborative, and easygoing party vibe.
New Years Eve Bashes
I’m seeing a huge trend for formal new years eve parties this year… Everyone seems to be way big on setting a new year intention that actually sticks in 2022. These are the themes and accoutrements I’m loving:
Ditch the cheap champagne and hire a mixologist for a home or private venue. There’s nothing like it to elevate your party atmosphere.
Build or rent a “step and repeat” backdrop or light-up marquee for the entrance or reception area. Party dresses and bowties call for no less than a photo op.
Host a “midnight supper” at a private venue. This is an elegant and enchanting way to entertain your guests. Make it as simple or extravagant as you please.
Set up a custom “winter picnic” with lounge rentals, outdoor heaters, s’mores stations, and firepits. It’s a woodsy-chic (and unforgettable) way to ring in the new year.
“Friends-Only” Soirees
If you’re heading home for the holidays, you tend to spend a lot of time with family. Mix things up with a friends-only celebration on a nonstandard date; it’s an easy and relaxing way to wind down and enjoy your “family by choice” loved ones. My favorite over-the-top events are:
Friendsgiving, potluck-style or at a rented venue.
Fancy-dress cocktail parties.
Art shows and poetry readings.
“Foodie” events to promote the local liquor, coffee, and culinary scene.
Cooking classes and wine tastings.
If you’re a social butterfly looking to embrace the holiday spirit with your friends and network, simply hire an event planner company to get everything booked, prepped, and coordinated to perfection. Social Hall Productions is here to make it happen!
Engagement Season and Holiday Weddings
No winter season is complete without new engagements and holiday nuptials! I love planning a winter event for happy couples… What’s more magical than a festive celebration during the most wonderful time of year? Get in touch for my full and partial events packages, including:
Full-Service Wedding Planning
Engagement Celebrations, Bachelorette Parties, and Rehearsal Dinners
Destination Weddings
Minimonies and Micro Weddings
A Winter Vacation, Personal or Professional
Something I always encourage my friends and colleagues to do is take a much-needed vacation for the holiday season. To make it a real event, consider adding some luxe accoutrements like:
A unique vacation rental.
Booking in tandem with a conference, spa event, workshop, or retreat to help you focus on rest and relaxation, professional development, creativity, or self-improvement.
Plan a mini sabbatical to work on a big project, creative or professional.
Booking classes to try a winter-ready skill like painting, ice fishing, cooking, quilting, or book-binding.
Holiday Family Reunions
Family’s a big deal during the holidays—and if it works for everyone’s schedule, you may be able to pull off a large-scale party or reunion to celebrate! Consider taking your clan to a festive venue to make a stylish and memorable event, such as:
A dance party in a reception hall.
A three-course meal at a local restaurant.
A team-building activity. (Think axe-throwing.)
Volunteering at a soup kitchen or nursing home.
A mountain retreat or ski day.
A group concert or holiday symphony.
Ice skating.
Don’t forget to have fun for the rest of 2021! Bottom line, if you’ve got a stunning vision for your holiday celebrations, consider hiring a pro event planner to optimize every reservation, detail, hashtag, and beyond. Reach out to me to discuss your options… Happy Holidays from Social Hall Productions!
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