The procrastinator’s quick guide to pulling off a last-minute holiday party

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED, PRONTO!

Just got the memo that you’re in charge of the company’s holiday party? A party that will require pulling off hundreds of details and a tight deadline? First off—don’t panic! This is something our quick guide (and a little winter magic) can fix. Follow these time-saving planning tips from our event pros at Hotel Colonnade and no one will know your frantic race to pull it off. 

It’ll be our secret. 

Let your tribe determine your vibe

Size matters. Especially when it comes to event details. Are you a tight-knit office of 10 doing a fun white elephant exchange? A simple, but elegant dinner or luncheon can be the perfect amount of festive. Or, are you a large company hosting a party that includes spouses? A party this size will require a much longer to-do list. 

Get a packaged deal

When time isn’t on your side, don’t waste precious minutes researching venues, caterers, and more. The smartest move? Go with a venue that can deliver both a stunning scene AND delicious food and beverage. 

Hotel Colonnade believes in simplicity. We offer holiday packages to make it super easy for you. Plus, if you want to add on even more festivity—say, live music and branded holiday decor—we have trusted vendors ready to swoop in and help. 

Consider pushing the party off to January

Somewhere between Secret Santa parties, holiday shopping, and closing out Q4 projects, your guests are probably already feeling overcommitted and stretched thin. Instead of sending them scrambling to make room in their jam-packed schedules, think about moving your holiday party to January, after the Christmas and New Year’s Eve rush. Your colleagues will be more relaxed and ready to party (again). And, you’ll have more time to plan your dream event. 

The perfect win-win winter.  

Think beyond the dinner table

A formal sit-down dinner isn’t always the best option. Instead, mingling over dynamic food stations and holiday cocktails can be even more memorable for your crew. And, creating delectable memories is what it’s all about, right? 

Our Aragon Cafe offers a sophisticated and intimate ambiance—ideal for creating vignettes for conversation, without creating traffic jams at the bar and buffet table. Even better? The Aragon Cafe is already dressed to the nines, so minimal holiday decor is needed. Perfect for receptions of 50+ or a formal dinner of up to 20 people. 

Get your fun on

Here’s the key to making your holiday party rock: Let them play. With a few great games on hand, you can make your event both interactive and imaginative. 

Where your fun-thirsty coworkers can meet wildly good times, our Game Room features a pool table, foosball table, shuffleboard, and more. In other words—it’s the perfect place to beat your boss at some friendly competition!

Our Game Room opens up to Colonnade Ballroom and can fit 75-100 people for a fun holiday party. 

Outsource your planning

Want your party planned yesterday? Hiring a professional event planner or a destination management company is the smartest shortcut you can take. They have hundreds of vendors on speed-dial, decades of event planning experience, and can pull together your dream event in a fraction of the time. 

Want to get started? Contact us at [email protected] or 305.441.2600.