Jingle All the Way to a Successful Holiday Party

December 1, 2025

A pro planner’s guide

The holiday season is prime time for corporate events, and as meeting planners, you’re the maestros orchestrating these festive symphonies. But let’s face it—holiday parties can be a mixed bag, ranging from ho-hum affairs to the kind of bashes that have everyone talking well into the new year.

How do you ensure yours lands in the latter category? Read on for insider tips and tricks to create corporate holiday parties that are meaningful, memorable and maybe even a little bit magical.

Timeline Tango

When to Start the Party Prep

People saying cheers with champagne

First things first: Timing is everything. Don’t wait until the last minute! As Clara Ramos, catering senior sales manager at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, advises:

“Ideally, you should start planning your holiday party at least 3–5 months in advance. This allows time to secure your preferred venue, caterer and entertainment.”

For larger-scale events, Jack Carter, director of operations at Outbound Mammoth in California, suggests:

“For large events, planning should begin about eight weeks in advance. For smaller gatherings, four weeks is usually sufficient.”

Personalize the Party

Making It Meaningful, Not Mandatory

Holiday food

Forget cookie-cutter events. The key to a truly memorable holiday party lies in personalization.

“Even with little effort, you can make guests feel special around the holidays,” says Ramos.

Her suggestions include:

Craft a playlist featuring holiday tunes requested by guests at RSVP
Create a signature cocktail named after the party theme
Add custom place cards and menus with guest names

Kristin Green, director of sales for Cohera, the newly formed DMC in Las Vegas, adds:

“The key is to avoid making attending the event feel like a box that you have to check.”

Do some pre-event research:

What’s important to your attendees?
Do they want to bring family?
What kind of party do they want?

Green explains:

“Get that buy-in from people… find a way to include favorite holiday traditions, food or drink. That changes the game.”

Her colleague, Melis Feingold, VP of creative partnerships at Cohera, adds another creative twist:

Guests select a vibe—Golden Hour Glow, Velvet Night or Après Chic—when registering. Each vibe comes alive with:

Personalized drinks
Lighting cues
Micro playlists
Dedicated zones with their own atmosphere (soft jazz, disco beats, lounge lighting)

This allows guests to move, linger and connect with intention.

Budget Brainiacs

Making the Most of Your Resources

Person wrapping gift

Tight budget? No problem!

“Budget-friendly events can still feel stylish and memorable when you focus on smart choices that deliver maximum impact at minimal cost,” says Amanda Del Valle, senior catering sales manager at The Knickerbocker in New York City.

Lighting is a game changer.

“Add more candlelight!” says Anna Hurt, director of catering and conference planning at Sea Crest Beach Resort at Cape Cod.

More tips:

Choose more quantity with fewer options
Stick to a simple color scheme
Repurpose décor
Use digital invites
Simplify the menu

Chezelle Rodriguez, director of events operations at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, says these small decisions go far.

Another clever trick? Host your holiday party in January.

“Venues offer better pricing after December,” says Joe Volpe, co-founder & CEO at Cescaphe, the events partner at The Bellevue in Philadelphia. “Guests are more relaxed and ready to celebrate—leading to bigger, better parties.”