10 Tips for Planning a Virtual or Socially Distanced Company Holiday Party

The holidays might look a bit different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with your team! We’ve created a guide to ensure a seamless, enjoyable and festive holiday party, whether it’s virtual or socially distanced. Safety is the number one priority this upcoming season, but combining safety with a few other tips can make your party one to remember and enjoyed by all!

1. Send Invitations!

There are a few ways you can send out invitations to your holiday party. You can create a tangible invitation to be sent through the mail, or you can utilize an E-vite website that makes inviting guests a breeze. Sending formal invitations will create excitement and get the holiday mood in full swing. Make sure to send the invitations at least one to two months before the date to ensure your guests have time to plan. Sending out invitations with plenty of time before the event also provides you with ample time to send gifts, coordinate the itinerary and prepare activities. You should also be sure to provide event details such as an itinerary, a theme if applicable and what to expect, as this is most likely a new event experience for all!

2. Send Attendees a Gift

We might be a bit biased, but this is our favorite aspect of planning a holiday party. A gift to open in addition to attending the virtual or socially distanced holiday party is a great way to thank your employees for their work this year, and to make them feel appreciated. Gifts can be as simple as custom drinkware or custom stationary, but can be as detailed as a custom gift box. Have you checked out our custom MerchBox collection? We can create a custom gift box for any budget. Sending a gift to compliment a virtual or socially distanced party also gets your team excited for the party! There are many gifts that are unisex and suitable for any age group, which is something to keep in mind when gifting for a large group of people. No matter what you decide for your individual gifts, they will surely elevate the experience of a virtual or socially distanced party.

3. Designate an MC

Having an MC kick off the party and lead the group can keep the guests engaged and make the event more interactive. If your party is virtual, an MC can lead activities and inform the guests of how the event will work. For a socially distanced party, they can keep guests informed of policies and safety regulations, and also be a resource for any help that is needed. For both styles of parties, the MC will navigate through the itinerary, keep the party on schedule and make sure the night stays organized.

4. Coordinate Interactive Games

Although there are classic party games that unfortunately might need to be skipped this year to keep everyone safe, there are still plenty of creative ways that guests can participate in games. For both virtual and socially distanced parties, Bingo is an easy and popular game that can work in either setting. You can create the Bingo board using a holiday theme to keep the theme in play. Other holiday game ideas include “Name That Holiday Tune”, team style games such as Holiday Family Feud, and guessing how many candies are in a jar. Games such as a scavenger hunt or trivia keep everyone engaged and are sure to provide laughs and competitive fun!

5. Provide Entertainment

In addition to games, another great way to keep everyone in a cheery, holiday spirit is to provide some sort of entertainment. There are so many options! Maybe an employee is musically talented and can perform for the party, or maybe you prepare a slideshow of memories from the year. Both of these ideas will work for socially distanced parties and virtual parties. Providing entertainment can definitely be done in ways that won’t break the bank! If you decide to send your employees a gift, including ingredients to make a holiday themed cocktail can also create an opportunity for a live tutorial! This is a fun way to “cheers” with your team in a creative way.

We've also launched a collection of custom wines for you and your team to enjoy, and even offer a virtual wine tasting experience from Old York Cellars. Check out this article for tips for incorporating a wine tasting into your virtual holiday party!

6. Encourage “Mingling”

Socializing with your co-workers may not be done in a traditional fashion this year, but don’t let that stop you from engaging in meaningful conversation and getting to know your office! Holiday parties are typically one of the best opportunities to converse with coworkers that you may not have had the chance to do so with. Although you may not be able to roam around a venue to easily chat, you can still get to know your team. If you are hosting a virtual event, have the host ask some holiday themed conversation questions and give the opportunity for everyone to chime in. With so many offices working strictly remote, your team will look forward to reconnecting with their coworkers. This can be learning about family holiday traditions, reflecting on the past year, favorite office memories, and so many more. If your party is socially distanced, make sure you have enough tables for socializing and simply place a limit on the amount of guests allowed per table, with seating spaced apart. There are endless ways to still have quality conversations despite the new way of mingling! Pro tip: Check out our collection of custom PPE to elevate your party safety essentials by repping your brand!

7. Organize a Gift Exchange

A gift exchange is a great opportunity to participate in an activity, and also give a gift! It’s also exciting to receive a gift as well. Gift exchanges also present another way to get to know a coworker that you may not know much about. The rules are simple and easy to follow! All you have to do is use a generator online that will randomly assign each participant the name of another participant, and you can organize a spreadsheet where employees can answer questions. so their "Secret Santa" can gather gift ideas! If you are planning a virtual party, this activity is still possible, as long as participants are willing to mail their gift to the recipient.

8. Tune into Your Competitive Side

Everyone loves a little friendly competition! There are so many ways to host a contest, even through a virtual or socially distanced party. For a holiday party, a cookie decorating contest is right on theme. Although attendees may not be able to taste the cookies, the decorating is the best part! You can also have a costume contest, caroling contest, and so many more. For virtual parties, guests can cast their vote by email, text or many other digital ways, and the host can announce the winner near the end of the party. Make sure you have some prizes ready as incentives to join whichever contest you decide on!

9. Employee Recognition

Let’s face it, the past year hasn’t been the easiest for all of us! There are many ways to incorporate employee recognition into your virtual or socially distanced party. If you do prepare a slideshow of photos and memories, finishing it with some employee recognition is a great way to cap off that portion of the event. Employee recognition is free, and goes a long way in the eyes of your team! 2020 required some true determination and resilience, and employees will really appreciate some kind words! Superlatives are also a fun way to execute employee recognition. You can choose from titles such as Most Positive Attitude, Most Motivating, and even some humorous titles, such as Biggest Coffee Addict or The Social Butterfly!

10. Look Forward to the Year Ahead

A great way to close out the night is to come together and look forward to the year ahead. The host can share some insight as to what your company’s goals are, future events, and if there are any major changes to the office. You can use this time to motivate your team to start the new year off on the right foot and get them excited for a fresh start. The new year is a great time to encourage your team to set their own individual goals and regroup! You can end with a group toast, and cheers to what 2021 has in store!

Looking for more?

Check out our Outdoor Event Planning Guide for more tips on planning an outdoor, socially distanced company event!

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