THE sleeps till Christmas countdown is just around the corner – and that means you're running out of time to book a venue for your festive party.
What does it take to make the best party in town? Answer: planning.
So, get cracking. You're more likely to get your first choice, rather than your fifth, if you book now.
It also means you can tell everyone well in advance when the big day is.
Plus, it won't do any harm in a recession to give people something to look forward to.
Before you contact a venue, identify several possible dates for your party.
Weekend parties and Friday nights, in particular, need to be booked far in advance. Leave it much longer and you will probably have to go for a mid-week booking.
If you're planning to treat the family to Christmas lunch on the day itself, or even on any date during Christmas week, you may already have left it too late, but it's worth making a few phone calls just in case.
Consider how guests are going to get there – and, more importantly, how they are going to get home.
If you're organising a big do for people who enjoy a drink, consider hiring a minibus. That way they can relax and enjoy themselves without any arguments about who is the designated driver.
For family occasions, a mid-point between people's homes is a starting point. If everyone lives pretty close to each other, consider staying local.
When it comes to a budget, be sensible! Don't overstretch yourself on the venue and then have little left in the kitty to actually make the experience enjoyable for your guests.
For a large group, such as an office party, find out how much people are willing to spend before booking.
It's also worth considering how you were treated by the venue when you phoned to make your initial enquiry. Were the staff professional, polite and helpful?
This could be a good indicator of how you may be treated on the night. If your welcome on the phone was less than warm, you may wish to reconsider and look elsewhere.
It's very important to take into account numbers so you create the right atmosphere for your party.
You don't want guests to be four or five deep at the bar but neither would you want to be rattling around in a venue when you were after a more intimate gathering.
And if you want to bring in other suppliers (for example, a DJ or special decorations) make sure your venue will allow this.
Finally, check if any of your guests have special dietary requirements and find out if the venue can cater for them.
Have a great night!