Company Parties on a Budget

Like many of you, through the years I’ve been recruited to pull together the annual company holiday party. Whether I was working for a large, international corporation or a Mom and Pop shop down the street, my bosses always had the same request: “Make it nice, but don’t spend a lot of money.”

Well, here are some tips I came across recently, courtesy of Linda Ferone, director of catering for The DoubleTree by Hilton Tarrytown in New York. Linda has some great ideas how businesses can host a fun celebration that employees will appreciate and remember, without breaking the company bank. 

Timing is everything. Host a luncheon instead of a dinner, but don’t make your employees go back to the office afterwards. You can go lighter on the menu, and not have to spend precious dollars on extravagant décor or entertainment. Plus, your employees will love the extra time off.

Go straight to the meal. The traditional heavy hors d’ouevres reception with various cuisine stations can actually cost more money because you need so many stations to make up for not serving a full dinner. Consider cutting back on the cocktail reception or dessert and keeping the primary focus the main meal.

Do-it-yourself centerpieces. A collection of elegant candles purchased at discount stores can easily become a centerpiece. During the holidays, small poinsettias are often discounted heavily at big box stores. Start with a decorating committee. You will find hidden talents in your associates while developing camaraderie at the same time.

Ask your vendors to contribute. You purchase from your vendors all year long, so why not utilize that relationship for your holiday party? Vendors can sponsor the open bar or the dessert reception, provide a favor for guests to take home or donate a nice raffle prize. Be sure to brand what they are providing with their logo or name prominently on display, making it a great advertisement for them.

Play games.  Trivia is extremely popular with guests, whether it’s tied to the holiday or company. Or, organize a scavenger hunt. For example, the first one to show an out of state driver’s license wins $5 or an extra raffle ticket.

 Bundle items. If you are getting a DJ and also want a photo booth, try getting them both from the same vendor in order to save money. Many vendors will offer discounts for buying more than one service.

Save on the bar.  It’s smart to cut the bar off at least one hour before your party ends. Switch to desserts and coffee before your guests depart. Not only is this providing a more responsible party, but you will save money on the bar tab at the same time. You can also limit the drinks you serve, such as offering only beer, wine and soda. Another option is to offer a special cocktail of the night that relates to your party theme.

Sneak Preview: F&B for 2013

Via Flickr Fifth World Art

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I love F&B forecasts, because it allows me a peek into what I can be expecting from my favorite restaurants and trendy hot spots in the coming year. This week I sat in on a trends preview webinar from Andrew Freeman, a consultant and strategy guru for the hospitality industry. He specializes in restaurants and hotels, but what’s happening there often migrates into the event and catering worlds. Here are some Freeman forecasts that you can apply to your own trend-setting events next year:

1.     We’re really open. The walls between front-of-house and back are continuing to break down. Open kitchens, chefs delivering their creations to the table and guests being invited to participate in the experience all have applications to our industry.  Consider asking the chef to come out of the kitchen to introduce the menu to your group, or even passing a tray and chatting with guests. They’ll love it, and remember more than just the food.

2.     Blow out the bar. Yes, bar food is becoming even more important. Casual, sharable food, either simple or sophisticated, is the new expectation. Hand in hand with this trend are all-day menus and snacking. Think about mixing up the traditional 10am and 3pm breaks with all-day snacking stations with fruit or other healthy snacks available throughout the meeting.

3.     Don’t be a “locowhore” (Freeman’s words, not mine.) Folks are getting tired of getting hit over the head with all the details of what local farms the food came from. Freeman suggests that rather than making a big deal out of an established industry practice, you simply walk the talk. Don’t overpromote. Planners, keep the verbiage simple.

4.     Of course, healthy food is always in, but today you need step it up a notch. Gluten free is a must for any event menu. For 2013, expect to see more juice bars with fresh pressed and cold pressed beverages.

5.     Food trucks. This trend has pretty much played out in terms of innovation and the element of surprise, but Freeman says they’re here to stay. In fact, the new trend is having permanent sites for them around the city or meeting venue.

6.     Reuse, reinvent. We’ve reported on this trend before, but it continues to be mainstreaming into social and corporate events. A trip to the flea market or estate sales can uncover treasures that will make your event shine.

7.     Wedding in a Box. Think an entire package for the engaged couple—from tastings and cooking demonstration to a plated reception and first anniversary dinner. The San Francisco Stanford Court launched a new promotion Oct. 18 that is all inclusive. Is this what engaged couples want? Only time—and trends—will tell.

Backstage in the Bedroom--NOT.

A flurry of recent posts about the new “trend” of morning-after wedding photos certainly has made people sit up and take notice. And the general consensus appears to be a resounding “yuck."

In case you missed it, there's a small bunch of wedding photographers out there pushing the idea of selling couples a morning after photo session, dropping in on their bedroom after their first night of wedded bliss to capture the love and passion of the connubial bed.  Think rumpled bed covers, entwined bodies in various stages of undress lolling upside down in the bed, shots through wet, blurry shower doors with butt cheeks pressed against the glass.

Of course the reality is that the majority of newlyweds don't wake up the next morning ready to audition for 50 Shades of Grey. They're more likely to look like the poor girl at the top of this blog.

Well, you can leave me out of this one. I don't want to see my sister or best friend in her most private, intimate moments. Not any more than I want to look at myself naked in a full-length mirror. Some things are better kept private--even in a world where every bit of personal trivia seems to be fair game,

But maybe I shouldn't get too upset. The "trend" does not seem to be catching on. People are talking about it, but few are doing it. Here is one of my favorite blogs on this topic.