How to Plan the Perfect Holiday Party at Galuppi’s

Planning A Holiday Party, Galuppi’s Makes It A Breeze.

Galuppi’s is the perfect venue to host your holiday party. With picturesque surroundings featuring lakes, palm trees, and beautiful sunsets, it offers an ideal setting for any celebration.

Event Spaces, Delicious Food, and Professional Service

We offer a variety of event spaces for your party, delicious food, professional service staff, and an event coordinator to assist you every step of the way.

Tips for Planning the Perfect Holiday Party

Type of Holiday Party & Guest List

Consider the type of holiday party you are planning and who the guests will be. Are you inviting a large number of people or a smaller group? Will there be food, cocktails, and canapés, or a sit-down dinner? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you plan your budget.

Party Size

• Small group: Around 15 guests
• Medium group: 30 to 50 guests
• Large group: 50 plus guests

The number of guests will determine the size of the space you need at the venue, and don’t forget to take into account the time of day the party will be held.

Family & Friends or Office Party?

If it’s an office party the ideal time is a Thursday or Friday, starting about one hour before the offices close, allowing staff to enjoy the weekend.

The All-Important Budget

Office events are often planned well in advance, with budgets set by the marketing department. The budget should include venue hire, food, drinks, decorations, entertainment, and other related expenses. Often corporate budgets are part of a yearly budget so it’s important that you stick to them without going over. The costs can often be shared for a holiday party with family and friends.

Before meeting with a prospective venue, create a detailed budget spreadsheet with categories such as:

1. Amount – the budget should show the amount you have budgeted for each item.
2. Due Date – the next column should contain the payment due dates so you can manage cash flow.
3. Actual Cost – the final column will show the actual cost of each item.

Items that you need to include in your budget:

• Invitations Thank you Cards, and Save the Date. (some invitations may be electronic).
• Venue (including draping and equipment rental
• Food
• Beverages (champagne for toasts, soft drinks, cocktails, etc – your event coordinator will be able to advise you on how many drinks you will need based on the number of people.
• Decorations (flowers, banners, party favors)
• Entertainment (DJ, band)
• Photography/Videography
• Transport
• Gratuities
• AV equipment (screens, projectors, special lighting, PA system)
• Contingency fee for unexpected costs

Ask your event coordinators about the event packages that they offer and if they have a list of vendors that they work with.

Secure A Date

Think ahead and secure a date at least 3 months in advance, especially around the holiday season. Ensure your date and location at the venue are confirmed in writing based on the space needed for your guests.

Food Options

Galuppi’s offers a wide range of food options, from themed meals to a la carte menus. Our event coordinator will help you choose the most appropriate menu and can even tailor design one for your event. Remember when ​sending out invitations, ask your guests to let you know if they have any special dietary requirements with their RSVP.

Themes

A theme can be an excellent icebreaker and conversation starter. It could be on the guests’ collective interests or a fun idea to enhance the festive atmosphere. For corporate events, a theme could be based on an inside company joke. Clearly state the theme on the invitations so guests can dress accordingly.

Invitations

Design your invitations to reflect the tone and theme of your holiday party. They can be formal or casual, depending on the party’s nature. For example:

• Formal “You are cordially invited to our holiday gourmet dinner. Dress code: Elegant.”
• Casual “It’s holiday time! Join us for an informal lunch with good music, interesting people, and delicious food. Come dressed in your summer party gear.”
• Theme “Holidays are here! Let’s dance! Come dressed to salsa and enjoy fabulous food and cocktails.”​​​​