The company Christmas party is supposed to be a thank-you. The best ones feel generous and relaxed. The ones people remember for the wrong reasons usually come down to the same three things: how the bar was set up, when the speeches happened, and how people got home.
To ensure a company holiday party is both fun and responsible, organizers should strategically plan the bar, time the program effectively, and arrange for safe transportation home. The bar setup, which can include open bar or custom options, significantly influences the event's budget and mood, with venues like Fleur de Lis Event Center requiring uniformed police security for open bar events. Speeches and awards should be scheduled early, ideally within the first hour, to maximize guest attention before drinks impact focus. Prioritizing these elements helps create a memorable and safe celebration for all attendees.
If your date is booked (or you’re still deciding when to book), here is how to plan the parts that set the tone for the night.
Choose the bar structure first
The bar is usually the biggest decision after the date and headcount. It drives the budget, the mood and the security requirement. The common options:
- Open bar. The company covers drinks for the whole party. It feels the most generous and is the simplest for guests.
- Beer and wine. A lighter, lower-cost version of a hosted bar.
- Cash bar. Guests buy their own drinks. Lowest cost to the company, but it can feel less like a thank-you.
- A custom setup. For example, a hosted bar for part of the night, or a hosted signature cocktail alongside beer and wine.
At Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville, we can build custom bar structures, including beer and wine, cash bar and other tailored arrangements, depending on the event.
Plan for the people who aren’t drinking
At any company party, plenty of guests won’t drink: designated drivers, people who don’t drink at all, people heading to an early shift. Give them something better than soda. Signature cocktails and non-alcoholic mocktail packages are both available here. A festive mocktail on the menu makes it easy for anyone to skip alcohol without standing out.
Know the venue’s alcohol rules before the party
Every venue has rules, and knowing them ahead of time saves awkward moments. Here is how it works at Fleur de Lis:
- All alcohol comes through the venue. Outside alcohol can’t be brought in, because of liquor-license requirements. If your CEO wants a particular wine or champagne for a toast, ask early. We may be able to get it through our licensed channels.
- No shots. Shots are not served.
- Bartenders check ID and may refuse service to anyone who is intoxicated. That is the bartender’s call, and it protects the company as much as the guest.
- Security with an open bar. Uniformed police security is required for events with an open bar and optional with a cash bar or no alcohol. Ask for the current price and build it into the budget from the start.
Time the program early
Awards, a toast from the owner, a year-end thank-you: do them early. A good rule is within the first hour, once most people have arrived and have a plate. Attention is highest then, and speeches go better before the second drink than after the fourth.
A simple run of show for a three-hour evening:
- Arrival and mingling. Bar open, food out, music low.
- Welcome and program, around 45 minutes to an hour in. Keep it under 20 minutes total.
- The party. Music up, dance floor open if you have one. An in-house DJ is available as an add-on.
- Wind-down. A clear last half hour, so nobody is surprised when the lights come up.
Make the ride home easy
This is the part companies most often forget to plan, and the one that matters most.
- Overnight parking is allowed at Fleur de Lis, so guests who shouldn’t drive can leave their car and come back for it. Ask us about pick-up timing.
- Arrange rides. Many companies pay for rideshare codes or arrange a few designated drivers. Put the plan in the invitation.
- Pick the right night. A Friday or Saturday party means nobody has to be at work the next morning. If you choose a weekday for availability or cost, consider an earlier end time.
Should you check your own event insurance coverage?
Fleur de Lis is insured, and clients can also choose separate event insurance for risks on their side. If your company is hosting alcohol, it’s worth a quick conversation with your HR team or insurance agent before the party.
Questions to ask any venue about the bar
- What bar structures can we choose from?
- Do you offer mocktails or non-alcoholic options?
- Can we bring our own wine or champagne?
- Is security required, and what does it cost?
- What are the rules on shots and over-serving?
- Can guests leave their cars overnight?
How to plan a company holiday party people feel good about in Mandeville, LA?
If your company is in Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, Slidell or anywhere around the Northshore and New Orleans area, call us at 985-626-9118 with your headcount, your date and how you want the bar to work. We’ll help you set it up.
