Although planning a corporate party may seem overwhelming, we believe that problem-solving with an organized checklist, created by event planning experts, will help you accomplish tasks and make the process as easy as possible. So, that’s exactly what we came up with for you. What is a corporate party? It’s any form of event, hospitality or social activity that is organized or funded by a business entity.

Corporate Event Planning Checklist

1. Set a Budget

First things first, you will need to set a budget for your event. We suggest creating an overall budget, and then breaking that budget down into smaller categories to make it more manageable and easily trackable. This will help you stay on budget and prevent you from falling into the trap of overspending. 

2. Create a Team

Next, you will want to create a team that can help you organize this event and divide and conquer. Choose people from your team who are highly organized and have a good eye for attention to detail. This will ensure that nothing slips through the cracks when you have multiple eyes on the project. Plus, the more minds you have in a room, the better the corporate party ideas will be. 

3. Find a Venue

Once you have set your budget and chosen your team, it’s time to start looking for corporate party venues. If you find yourself wondering how to find a venue for a party, the easiest way is to search company party venues near me. This should provide you with a list to choose from and a good place to start. You can always ask co-workers, friends, and family for suggestions as well. You will want to make sure the venue can accommodate the number of guests you want to attend and any form of entertainment you plan to have present before you book the event space.

4. Set the Date

Now that you have selected the venue, you want to set the date. You can coordinate with the event space to find a date where they are open, and that works with the event you have in mind. You will want to make sure you send out invitations in a timely manner, so guests have enough time to add it to their calendar and plan ahead. We always suggest 4-6 weeks in advance, or if it’s around a holiday, 6-8 weeks in advance. 

5. Choose a Theme

You will also want to choose a theme for your party. This makes décor and planning that much more fun and is a fun surprise and delight for your guests. Any details your guests need to know when it comes to attire or anything they should bring, should be included on the invite. We always suggest coming up with a few different themes and having your event team vote on their favorite one. You can also turn this into a fun way for people throughout the company to send in suggestions, and the one chosen gets a prize.

6. Create Food and Drink Menu

Next, you will want to plan out your food and drink menu. This can be a fun way to tie into the theme and a great way to add another fun visual element to your event. You will want to choose if you will do a buffet style, hors d’oeuvres or a sit-down dinner.

7. Provide Entertainment

You will also want to plan out entertainment. Will you have a live band or DJ? Photo-op moments throughout the event? Games or activities for guests to participate in? Awards and recognitions? Entertainment is a great way to keep your guests engaged throughout the whole evening.

8. Consider Additional Staffing

Finally, you will want to consider any additional staffing you may need such as catering, valet, coat check, wait staff and so forth. Additional staffing may be necessary in order for your event to run as smoothly as possible.

At Ovation Square, we have an entire event planning team behind us and would be happy to help you plan your next corporate event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Ovation Square large enough to host a corporate party?
A: Yes, we are one of the largest event spaces located in downtown Long Beach and can host up to 500 guests.

Q: If I needed help coming up with a theme, could you help me plan it?
A: Of course. We have an entire event planning team behind us and are happy to help you plan any portion of your event.

Q: Do you think valet and coat checks are necessary?
A: That depends on a variety of factors such as the style of event you’re having, who your guests are and the level of service they expect, the weather, and so forth.