Christmas party tips

03/10/2008

October may seem too early for some small firms to start planning a Christmas party, but for anyone with group of 15 or more, finding a quality central London location is already getting difficult. Let alone arranging entertainment on as well. West End Events is not alone in thinking that it is a good idea to plan festive events in advance. And it’s not altogether too late, yet.

Party invitation company, Custom Creations, has provided tips on Christmas party invitation rules and etiquette to help Christmas party hosts avoid any faux pas.

"The month of December gets crazier and crazier as the days go by," said Leslie Ciriaco of Custom Creations by Leslie. "Start sending people holiday invitations as soon as possible, at least 6-8 weeks before the party, because your guests will probably be busy with their own holiday to-do lists and will need a lot of notice."

Some other important rules on proper Christmas party invitation etiquette include sending all holiday invitations at the same time so that nobody feels as though they've been invited as an afterthought or as a replacement for another guest.

Everyone should be invited to the party directly - rather than asking someone else to pass the message along - so that everyone feels comfortable showing up.

Christmas party invitations should contain an indication whether it's alright for guests to bring partners, friends or children. Guests should be asked to RSVP with the exact number of people they're bringing.

Guests should also be informed of the dress code, and it's a good idea to give an indication of what's on the menu so that any dietary requirements can come to light.