How to Plan the Ultimate Office Summer Party

4th July 2019 | 4 min read

How-to-Plan-the-Ultimate-Office-Summer-Party-Header-Image-How to Plan the Ultimate Office Summer Party

How to Plan the Ultimate Office Summer Party

The jewel in the crown of the corporate event calendar, your office summer party gives employees an opportunity to relax and have fun with other co-workers; it’s a great way to boost morale and camaraderie, and as a result, expectations are sure to be high!
Of course, this brings a whole new set of challenges to the workplace; the fact is, planning a summer party for your office can be a big responsibility – and sometimes, it feels like a daunting task. Bearing this in mind, we’ve put together a bunch of expert tips to help you make sure your summer party is the talk of the office for weeks after – and for all the right reasons.

Start Preparing Early

Planning the ultimate office party isn’t something you can do during your lunch break. There’s going to be lots to organise, so treat it as seriously as you would any other work task. Set aside enough time to take care of all the details; it’s the only way you’ll do justice to your company, everyone who’ll be attending, and yourself!
Whatever your vision for the company summer party, check that your boss is on board with the budget. Having a good time is one thing, but your business shouldn’t bear the brunt. And seriously consider creating a to-do list so you can keep track of everything. You won’t want to leave it all to the last minute, either, as this can cause real problems; people like to be given advance notice to save the date, and rushing the details means you can completely forget vital parts of the plan, inevitably leading to a fiasco.

Avoid the School Holidays

Take our word for it; you don’t need the aggravation. Not only do the holidays present time constraints for parents, but it’s also worth remembering that many families book their summer getaways during this period (and, consequently, may very well be unable to attend).
Having your office summer party in June or early July is ideal. This way, you can ensure that as many people as possible are able to come and enjoy themselves without fear of missing out due to prior commitments.

Utilise Outdoor Space

Yes, we know the weather is famously unpredictable; planning to hold your entire office summer party outside is simply impractical. However, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with making the most of the sunshine if it’s a dead cert, which is why you should look into utilising any outdoor spaces in and around your workplace.
Everybody loves a terrace, garden or even a deck where they can relax and get some fresh air; treat your employees to an office summer party during which soaking up some rays – or simply lounging in the shade! – is firmly on the cards.

Decide on A Theme

Something unusual yet not too obscure usually works best. And once you’ve chosen a theme, you can then get creative with decoration, food, and music ideas.
Office summer parties lend themselves to all kinds of exciting themes – from a fun carnival to a vibrant Hawaii-inspired luau, the possibilities are endless. Obviously, it’s your decision, but be sure to go for something the whole team can enjoy!

Did Someone Say Awards?

Seeing as so many of your staff will be gathered together, you may wish to consider using the office summer party as an occasion at which to reward them for all their hard work throughout the year; after all, everybody likes to be told they’re doing a good job, and when better than while celebrating with colleagues and friends?
Think about putting on a little award show to give your team the boost they deserve. And don’t skimp on the prizes – make them valuable because those people in your employ are valuable, too!

The More, The Merrier

Involve as many people with your office summer party as you can. And yes, you’ll definitely benefit from allowing staff to invite friends and family along to join in the festivities.
It’s also an especially good time to connect with clients; making them a part of your office summer party shows off the human side of your business and helps build genuine rapport. A client who remembers the great party you threw is more likely to return to you for further services – yes, your summer shindig can inspire repeat business!
Whether you work in a co-working space or are based in a corporate office, the company summer party is a proven way for employees to get to know one another and a fantastic opportunity for businesses to reward and show appreciation for their staff. With these tips, you’ll practically guarantee your event will go more smoothly and make certain that a good time can be had by all.