How to plan a work Summer Party (come rain or shine)
Ah, the work summer party – the social event of the season. Spreadsheets and sales stats get swapped for sunshine (hopefully!) and spritzers. We’ve planned many summer parties and have learned some tricks along the way to share with you.
So, if you’re responsible for planning this year’s bash and want it to be the talk of the office ’til the mince pies make a comeback? Here are some tried-and-tested Paperstone tips to help you nail it.
Pick your summer party personality
Are you dreaming of a relaxed picnic in the park, a stylish rooftop gathering, or an adventure filled afternoon? Or perhaps a bit of everything?
Once you’ve decided what kind of summer party you’re going for, the other details will fall into place.
Think about your team’s style and what kind of atmosphere will help everyone unwind.
Because we’re a small team, we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to have a few of our summer parties in our CEO’s back garden. We’ve done fun-fair themed games, karaoke under a marquee, and even a bouncy castle (because we’re all just big kids!).
Make peace with the weather
We’re in the UK. We know better than to trust the weather forecast, but we hope and plan anyway. Having a solid wet-weather back-up plan is essential. It might be a marquee, a pub garden with cover, or a full indoor contingency. We’ve usually got a mixture of indoor and outdoor things planned, just in case.
Still, a bit of drizzle doesn’t have to dampen the mood. We’ve been pretty lucky (touch wood) over the years, and have never had a summer party wash out.
Feed them (and hydrate them) like you mean it
If you’re anything like us, you love food, and it’s often the highlight (well, besides some summery cocktails). Whether you go for a BBQ, food truck, big picnic spread, or a proper sit-down meal, people remember good food. And they definitely remember bad food!
When we’ve had our parties at our CEO’s house, we’ve either had a food truck, or we’ve ordered some takeaway pizzas from a local pizzeria. The past couple of years we’ve booked at a restaurant in the area that we’ve had the party (London or Brighton, for example).
Don’t forget drinks, of course, and make sure there are plenty of options for everyone. With more people opting for alcohol-free these days, it’s important not only to focus on the booze!
Keep the fun flowing – it’s a summer party after all!
You don’t need to over-plan, but a few light activities in your back pocket can go a long way toward breaking the ice and getting people to mingle and have a laugh together. Think lawn games, a quiz, or even just a few silly awards handed out near the end of the day.
Sometimes, planning too many activities can create a different problem – you can’t fit everything in! You don’t want people missing out on time to just chill and chat. Or you wear everyone out early in the day (yes, we’ve made this mistake, especially on a scorching hot day!).
The goal? Give people a reason to chat and mingle with colleagues, and keep the energy up.
Our tried and tested summer party formula is: an activity (crazy golf, scavenger hunt, Go Ape) + drinks & food + a more fun activity into the evening (Bongo’s Bingo, Fairgame, karaoke & dancing).
Capture the magic
A few photos, a shared playlist, a cheeky “Most likely to…” award – these are the things that give your party a life beyond the day itself. Whether you go big with a photo booth or just designate someone as the unofficial party snapper, having memories to look back on makes it all the more worthwhile.
We’re very lucky to have a wallboard in our office that displays all our favourite photos from past events.
Bonus points if there’s something fun to share on Monday morning that isn’t another boring sales report.
Time to sort your own party?
We stock a selection of soft drinks and snacks if you’re thinking of catering for your own summer party. So, give us a call to chat through what you need, and our team will be happy to help. We might even throw in a few more tips for making yours the best summer party yet!
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