Corporate buildings and offices are normally bright and tense during the work day. Try for something different with the company Christmas party by leaving the main lights off and use only white Christmas lights for lighting. A more homey relaxed feel will ease the guest and allow for a merry atmosphere.
Office Christmas Party Decorations
A live or artificial Christmas tree trimmed with white lights, gold ornaments, and gold ribbon is simple, yet elegant. Add some antique colored photos of staff members for a conversation piece and allow guests to take their pictures home when they leave the party. Another quick decoration is to sit glass bowls filled with ball ornaments around the room.
Handmade Christmas decorations are easy to whip up with a little know how. Begin with a few tree branches. Use several short thin branches and several tall thick branches. Lay on cardboard outside and spray with gold paint and spray glitter, if desired. Stand the branches up in clear glass vases with clear rocks and decorate with red ball ornaments.
Decorate with white and red poinsettias on side tables, desks, mantels, tables, etc. Later, the poinsettias can be given away as prizes. Pick up some artificial pine branches, wreaths, and swags adding white lights and small red and gold ball ornaments. Place pine around the room on flat surfaces and on walls close to electrical outlets for plugging in lights. Unscented candles in holiday colors work well with small pine wreaths. Steer clear of scented candles as they can cause allergic reactions for some people.
Christmas Party Ideas
Play a game of"'Whose middle name is it?" Co-workers often work side-by-side, yet do not know anything about one another. Have a board with all employees middle names listed next to a letter or number. Have paper and pens nearby with each employees first name listed beside a blank. The guests can try to guess their co-workers middle name and add the letter beside the name on the paper. When everyone has played announce the middle names and the person who has the most correct will win a prize.
Another game that can double as a decoration is the "stocking" game. In several different stockings fill each with eight or ten of the same Christmas items and secure the top of the stocking so no one can see inside. Hang the stockings around the room for decorations until the game begins.
When it is time for the game, divide the guests into groups. The same number of groups should equal the number of stockings. Give each group a stocking and a piece of paper. Guests can feel, shake, and listen to the items in the stocking trying to guess what is inside. If only one stocking is used let the guests take turns guessing while others are mingling.
When a guess is made, it is written down on a piece of paper. When all guesses have been made, open the stocking and pull out each item one at a time. Have guests mark their papers when they have guessed a correct item. The group or person with the most correct answers is the winner. Prizes could include a holiday gift basket, poinsettia, a Christmas wreath, or a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Corporate Christmas Party Ideas
Stick with serving finger foods it will save time and money. Unless planning to have the party catered offer foods and drinks such as: warm apple cider, hot chocolate, coffee, mini pizzas, chicken pop-overs, mini cheese cakes, and vegetable, fruit, and cheese trays. These foods are easy to prepare with little effort.
Make the mini pizzas in advance using mini bagels or cocktail rye bread. Add different toppings to satisfy all guest. Freeze until ready to use. Chicken pop-overs can be made early in the day, placed in refrigerator, and reheated before guest arrive.
Ingredients for chicken pop-overs are basic: cream cheese, shredded cooked chicken, chopped onions and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Add ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Spoon a small amount into crescent roll dough which can be purchased in the canned biscuit section at local grocery stores. Cook as directed on crescent roll package.
The simplest way to make mini cheese cakes is to purchase a mix from a local grocery store. There are many varieties to choose from such as: Oreo, strawberry, home-style, cherry, pumpkin, etc. Prepare cheese cake as package directs. Use mini cupcake foils instead of a large dish. Place in refrigerator until ready to use. One package will make dozens of mini cheese cakes and is very cost effective.
Christmas Decor and Tips
By using the Christmas party decorations as prizes there will be little clean-up and no need to find storage space to keep the items. Everyone can leave with something special by calculating the number of guest who will be attending and adapting the decorations to that number. Office parties are known to be boring. Liven it up a bit with a game of "Name That Christmas Carol" and a door prize for one or two lucky winners.
Annette Phillips - Annette Phillips is the Topic Editor for Natural Disasters. Phillips is also the author of Willow's Ride and a licensed Cosmetologist.
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