6 Tips For Your Next Office Holiday Party
sleigh bells are ringing, spirits are high, and we are officially in holly jolly Season!
Which also means that Holiday office parties are right around the corner! My company just had theirs last week (a 70s bowling party - interesting concept but it was actually a lot of fun) and it got me thinking about my very first office party and how nervous I was. Now, that your girl is *seasoned* corporate, I thought it would be fun to open up Blogmas by sharing with you a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up in my office holiday party ventures. That way you never have to walk into another holiday office party unprepared again — you’re welcome. Let’s get started!
6 Tips For Your Next Office Holiday Party
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1. Get fancy!
Holiday work parties are the one time you get to show out in all the glitz, glam and glory. Whether your holiday party is themed (hello 70s!) or evening-gown glam, make sure you come looking and feeling great! Wear that deep red lipstick that makes you feel fabulous or your big faux fur coat that you break out once a year. On nights like these, there’s no such thing as too much shimmer. This is your free pass to wear something totally awesome that makes your coworkers’ heads turn without feeling like you’re doing the most. Just make sure to keep it appropriate - we still want a job on Monday.
2. Bring a Plus One
What’s a holiday party without an outsider finally being able to meet all of the people you talk about at work? If your office gives an option to bring a plus one - take it! And don’t be nervous about your office meeting your boo-thing for the first time. Holiday parties are the perfect place to introduce your new (or long-time) significant other because the atmosphere is normally lively. People are jolly, conversations flow, and your plus 1 doesn’t feel awkward for being the only new person in the room.
If you don’t have a date - that’s totally okay too! Grab your bff or a close girlfriend. Or just solo it — especially if you have awesome work friends to hang out with at the party.
3. come prepared
Time to suburban-mom it. Bring a purse big enough to hold a phone charger, advil, and an emergency tampon. Like any outing, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for anything that could go wrong — whether that’s needing an emergency Uber, curving an oncoming headache, or starting your period in the middle of the second course. Not to mention that it’s a total bummer having a dead phone at a party — especially if you want to post embarrassing moments on your close friends Insta story. So do yourself a favor and be prepared.
While you’re at it, it wouldn’t hurt to throw some B12 in your bag either… since you probably haven’t had a glass of wine and stayed up past 10pm in a long time. #Adulting, am I right?
4. Don’t be too early (but don’t be too late)
It’s not fun to be the first one at the party (watching the time tick by as waiters scramble around setting up last minute items). You also don’t want to be walking in when everyone is ready to leave. Make sure you’re arriving at your Holiday party at a reasonable time - not too early but not too late. Depending on your company culture, I’d say its safe to arrive 30 minutes after the start time and within the first hour. That gives the party time to warm up a bit and for people to get there so that when you walk in you’re not having to nervously stuff yourself with hors d'oeuvres while you wait for everyone to arrive. It also means that you won’t miss out any of the hilarious moments that everyone at work will be talking about on Monday. Because #FOMO is a real thing.
5. stay away from the spiked eggnog
If your company serves alcohol at your parties, try to limit yourself on how much you drink. Here’s a good rule of thumb when it comes to drinking at corporate events - if it takes you a full glass of wine to feel tipsy, only drink half. If it takes you 2 glasses, stop at 1, and if it takes you 3 or more, stop at 2. So basically, no matter how high or low your tolerance is, you shouldn’t be drinking more than 2 glasses. You don’t want to be known as the girl that got hammered at the company Christmas party and went home with another guest. Definitely not the look we’re going for, ladies. So let’s keep it classy and keep the drinks to a minimum - I promise the future you will thank you.
6. Remember to HAVE FUN!
Ok super cheesy, but I’m serious. A company holiday party is as good as you allow it to be. So if you come in there with your nose up expecting it to be super lame, then no matter what it will be! Even if people are doing backflips off the wall. It’s always important to remember that a lot of people have worked very hard to plan a fun night and it’s a drag when people take it for granted. That being said - make a commitment to have fun! If it’s a bowling party, bowl! If there’s a Photo Booth there, grab a friend and take photos! If it’s a dinner party with games, play them! Honestly, if you go through life thinking everything is lame (even when it actually is) then you’ll always feel dissatisfied. So don’t be that girl… let your hair down, and have fun!
Alright, friends! Those are all the tips I have. Thanks for tuning in to my very first #Blogmas 2019 post (which is actually Day 7, lmao). What’s your favorite Office Holiday Party theme? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Holiday Party Season!
- Your (Jolly) Corporate Queen
The Reason for the Season
Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
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