Another holiday season is upon us, beginning the festivities with fall favorite Halloween and going out with a bang for New Year’s.  In between is a host of gatherings, parties, celebrations, and general merrymaking in honor of the holidays that will likely keep your schedule booked for the next few months.  Whether you are planning an intimate gathering of family, an office party, or a grand holiday celebration to share with friends, employees or even clients, there’s more than enough time to begin planning the event you have in mind…if you start now.  Moreover, there are plenty of local resources that can assist you every step of the way, and the best part–most agree that the sky’s the limit!

Finding The Perfect Venue & Planning The Perfect Menu

Photo_Katie_Digmann_Lied_Lodge_Omaha_NebraskaPlanning early has many benefits, but one in particular that will affect almost everything else is deciding on and securing the venue.  Katie Digmann, Conference Planning Manager at Lied Lodge, offers some party planning advice from her experience with coordinating events for guests:

“Lied Lodge offers the perfect atmosphere to celebrate the year’s accomplishment.  I always like to encourage my clients to try something new; possibly a beer or wine pairing dinner, a cooking demonstration with our Executive Chef, or a hands-on mixology class or a private wine tasting of Arbor Day Farm wine. It’s nice to break out of the mold a little bit and make it an event to remember.  Holiday parties provide the perfect platform to show appreciation for employees, associates and business partners. I find that the party attendees get an opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves; it’s really a huge morale boost across the company.”

Digmann further advises, “I always stress that planning ahead – perhaps 2-3 months in advance – is always best for securing the date that works best for you and your employees. The sooner you reserve your party date, the sooner we can work with you for special holiday guest room rates, planning a food menu that will be memorable and well-received by your attendees, and even help with booking entertainment for your festivities.  We are here to assist with every detail, offer unique suggestions and make the planning process a pleasant experience.”

Indeed, food is a major focus of holiday celebrations and therefore, finding the right caterer is the next step in planning your upcoming event.  Many local restaurants offer catering options for events held at their venue or elsewhere in town, and likewise, there are wonderful local caterers that specialize in planning and preparing meals to be served on-site, wherever that may be.

Hiring a catering service for your upcoming holiday party? Sam & Louie’s Event Catering is a wonderful choice.  Leah Parodi, Catering Coordinator for Sam & Louie’s Event Catering says, “Whether you are hosting 5 or 500 people, we can provide everything you need including plastic and paper goods, beverages, delicious food and one-on-one personalized service which involves party set up, service during the event and clean-up.  For a more elegant special event, Sam & Louie’s offers catering coordinators, taste testing and menu selections, elegant and high quality disposable plastic ware and decorated buffet tables with white linens and banquet chafing dishes.  Sam & Louie’s Event Catering is a full service caterer with a large buffet menu, including gluten free items, designed to meet all your needs.  We offer hors d’oeuvres, full and limited bar services, deserts and special buffet options for kids.  Pizza and pasta are Sam & Louie’s specialty, but assorted cold sandwiches, hot Stromboli’s and spicy boneless Buffalo wings are also on the menu.  Each catered event brings personalized, face-to-face service and a variety of delicious, affordable foods that are perfect for your upcoming holiday party.  Sam & Louie’s gives you more time to entertain clients, celebrate the year with your employees or enjoy time at home with family and friends.”

Among the holiday party planning essentials for all hosts to consider, it’s all about choosing the right venue, food & drinks, and entertainment.  Aside from these, there are a few other things that you may need to start thinking about.

Whether you are preparing for your event or dealing with the aftermath, it’s wise to consider utilizing a professional cleaning service for your holiday events.  Most venues will already include set-up and clean-up for holiday parties (make sure to double-check before booking), but if you are having an event in your home or office, professional cleaning services can be a lifesaver in allowing you to worry about all of the other tasks at hand!  By prioritizing what requires your attention most, it will allow you to relax and enjoy the event instead of worrying about the smaller—but still important—details.

Should the venue not supply certain party set-up needs, Honeyman Rent-All offers an extensive selection of rental items ideal for holiday parties or entertaining including tables, bars, chairs, linens, china, chafers, lighting, slush and soft serve machines, and much more.  They also offer delivery and on-site set up of all necessary equipment, and will take everything down after the event.  A really useful service they offer is planning for the layout of the event, as they have a program that can tell exactly how many tables and chairs will fit in a particular area.  Troy Honeyman, owner of Honeyman Rent-All, explains, “All we need is the dimensions of the area and the type of tables, and the program does the rest!” He adds, “Our items that are the most popular around the holidays are linens, chafers, and anything that revolves around food.  We can provide items as simple as a tablecloth or two for a small gathering all the way up to an elaborate arrangement of tables with settings and skirted serving tables complete with chafers and centerpieces.  We strive to make renting equipment hassle-free as we provide items the day before the event and let our clients return them the day after while only charging rent for one day.”

Photo_Linda_Smith_Smiths_Superior_Pet_Care_Omaha_NebraskaThe holidays are a time when we are constantly in motion, with adding parties, gatherings, events and shopping into the mix, and may also be a time when our pets aren’t getting as much attention as they normally would in the rush of things.  “The winter holidays are a prime time for pet care needs,” says Linda Smith, co-owner of Smiths’ Superior Pet Care.  “Boarding kennels fill up and concierge in-home services like ours book up weeks and even months in advance as people travel ‘back home’ or to vacation destinations.  But not only overnight care is needed; frequently, families who are out shopping, have daytime get-togethers or after-work events leave their dogs stranded at home alone for even more hours than usual.  In that case a visit to take them outside for a walk can avoid an ‘accident’ or bad behavior such as chewing things up due to boredom.

Unlike doggie daycare, where the mix of dogs is fairly stable, holiday boarding includes a lot of dogs who may not have been socialized to be with other dogs, which can lead to extra strife.  With all of the stress attached to the unusual amount of activity engendered by the holidays, pets are entitled to caring attention in their own home even when the family is elsewhere.”

She further advises, “There is no such thing as planning too early for an absence from your pet.  In September we had already booked care for a dog whose owners will be away in November and another in January.  I also highly advise booking ahead of time to ensure that the caregiver of choice can at least meet the pets before the owner leaves town—we visit once at no charge for that exact purpose.”

Getting a Head Start on Your Holiday Party Planning

Planning any event early has so many benefits, from finding the perfect location to getting the best pricing possible for all your party needs. LimeLight Expressions can help get your holiday party started off right with ideas and designs that are tailored to you, creating an unforgettable event for all your guests.

Photo_Kimmylea_Konsel_Limelight_Expressions_Omaha_NebraskaEspecially when it comes to the benefits of planning a corporate party this year, owner Kimmylea Konsel advises, “Hosting a corporate holiday party is well worth it for all involved. First, it shows your clients and employees that you are thinking of them. You not only appreciate their hard work but their business throughout the year.

Second, it is a great way to have face-to-face interaction that you may not otherwise get throughout the year with our technology savvy world. It’s a great way to network, meet people throughout the corporation and even possibly gain more business for the next year.

LimeLight Expressions can help you plan the perfect holiday party whether corporate or personal. We are a full service award-winning event planning company that will assist with any budget and make a one-of-a-kind event for you!  Any event should be catered to the clients personality and be as unique as you are. Let LimeLight Expressions do all of the work while you enjoy the holidays.”

In planning for holiday parties, whether corporate or personal, sometimes it’s not about knowing all of the answers right away but more so about knowing what questions to ask to get the best answers.  Asking “why” often plays an important role in planning successful events. This could include: Why are we holding a holiday party? Why are we holding it in December and not after the holidays, or vice versa?  Why would we choose this venue or caterer over another one?  Why will we select this particular theme? Why will we select this entertainer over that one? Why will it be a formal gala or why will it be a family event? You can see that as with the why questioning of every two year old, in event planning the questions never stop which leads to the ‘just right’ event.

As you answer these and other ‘why’ questions, it is important to keep the party guests in mind and at the forefront of your planning. Knowing your guests’ preferences will help you plan the best parties.  After all, it is for them. Most importantly, give yourself plenty of time to plan the event.  Today is not too early to start. Once you know the type of party you want to have, then book the venue, caterer, entertainer, and any other suppliers that will fill your requirements. You want to ensure they are available for your desired date. The popular ones may be booked if you wait until the last minute.

Once you’ve attempted to answer all of the ‘why’ questions surrounding your holiday party, consider hiring a professional planner to take care of all the details. These talented, experienced professionals will work directly with you or your staff during the preplanning stage as the party ideas are developed, making the arrangements with the suppliers of your choice, and thus, saving everyone on the client end of the planning a lot of previous time.  On the night of the event, an event planner will also ensure that the details are managed professionally so that everyone in attendance is able to enjoy the party as a guest.

Special Treats For Your Party Guests

When thinking of the words “holiday” and “party”, sweet treats and fun drinks both instantly come to mind for most of us.

Photo_Matt_Cover_The_Margarita_Man_Omaha_NebraskaServing holiday beverages at any party is a breeze with the Margarita Man; nothing is quite like a perfectly frozen cocktail, even in the winter.  Matt Cover, owner of The Margarita Man franchise in Nebraska, explains, “Our business is great for any holiday party or event. Whenever you have a larger crowd or just a small gathering, the ability to self-serve delicious frozen cocktails or drinks makes the party much easier to enjoy as a guest and especially as the host. After the first batch, which is prepared for you, mixing the product is the only work you are required to do to enjoy countless frozen drinks until your party ends.

In fact, we help our customers by doing as much as we can do leaving the party planner or host with very little to do. The Margarita Man can assist you with any questions you may have about the 22 different gourmet mixes we have to offer and all the different recipes that we know of to help make countless servings of your favorite cocktails. We also deliver, set up and pick up the machines and leave you with easy to follow instructions after we’ve personally mixed the first batch on-site. We offer different table skirts for our clients to choose from that go along nicely with different party themes and each package also comes with cups and straws. A major perk is that we ask you to leave all the cleaning of the machines to us!

The ease of serving beverages is also a major benefit.  No more worries about hiring enough bartenders to keep up, or about running out of ice or having watered down drinks from melting ice cubes. Furthermore, it’s always nice to have variety or something different for all of your guests to enjoy. The frozen beverage machines we have are top of the line quality, freezing within 30 minutes. Once the first freeze occurs you never have to wait again. For a party where both kids and adults will be attending, our Grand Fiesta Package with two machines is a great choice because it allows you to serve adult drinks in one machine and a non-alcoholic option in the other. It’s easy, affordable, and the team at Margarita man does all the hard work for you, leaving you to enjoy your party!”

He adds, “Our goal is to accommodate our clients in any way possible. We always strive to schedule the delivery of the machines early enough to help ensure that there is one less thing to worry about when getting ready for your guests to arrive. We try and work around our clients’ busy schedules and not ours. The delivery and pick up are always negotiable to help ensure that we make a Margarita Man party as stress-free as possible!

Photo_Beth_Howie_Maui_Wowi_Omaha_NebraskaBy planning and booking early, you secure the dates you want as well as getting the quality vendors of your choice.  If you prefer to serve fun smoothies at your party, look no further, Maui Wowi can make it happen!  “Our fresh made fruit smoothies, and even our options for premium coffees, are sure to be a hit for party guests of all ages,” says Beth Howie, owner of the new Maui Wowi franchise in Omaha.  “Maui Wowi Hawaiian has seven flavors of smoothies to choose from, and these can be mixed to provide even more variety.  Strawberry and Mango Orange are the most popular, followed by Pina Colada, Black Raspberry, Kiwi Lemon Lime, Lemon Wave (which is also dairy-free), and Capuccino.  Our smoothies are all natural, gluten-free, Kosher, and non-fat.

Once you select the date and flavors for your party, I take care of everything else.  I come early to set up, and pass out smoothies to the guests during the event.  When the party is finished, I clean up and move out with minimal intrusion.  The smoothies are even served from a Tiki Hut, providing a fun Hawaiian experience that’s a welcome tropical twist for parties in the winter months!”

As for the sweet treats, the great thing about partnering with a local bakery for your party needs is that there are so many options to choose from!  Faith Musil, owner of Smallcakes: A Cupcakery, says, “Among our offerings are cakes, cupcakes, cookies, rolls, and many other special holiday favorites too.  I especially love the mini cupcakes because it gives your guests the options of trying several different flavors without going overboard.

She continues, “I think having a corporate holiday function is very important; it lets everyone really get to know one another and is also a time for you to highlight your employees and thank them for all of the hard work they have done throughout the year.  We can help with the collaboration of the event from a planning standpoint, whether there is a theme in mind or not, we enjoy providing ideas for our clients to run with whether it is a variety of desserts or one that is more focused.

Planning in advance is super important (at least for me, I hate not having a plan).  This way, the event is set up and there are not as many little details that need to be worked out in a short period of time.  Collaborating on events is one of my favorite things to do–to sit down with a client and get a feel for their ideas while brainstorming together is always a lot of fun.  We are happy to do as much or as little as is requested by our clients.  We are also really excited to introduce some awesome new fall flavors just in time for the holidays—and not just Christmas, but Halloween and Thanksgiving too!  Our monster balls are so cute and fun, and our pumpkin rolls are sure to be a big hit as well.  Make sure to come by and check out some of the new things at Smallcakes this fall!”

Photo_Michelle_Kaiser_Alotta_Brownies_Omaha_NebraskaMichelle Kaiser, owner of Alotta Brownies, agrees that there is tons of room for creativity with holiday treats. “Our extensive list of possibilities for dessert offerings allows us to get quite creative in planning for holiday parties and gifts.  One of our most popular services for parties is providing a dessert bar with an amazing spread of customized treats.  These can be as simple or elaborate as requested, and we are happy to provide set-up and clean-up for holiday events.  At Alotta Brownies we can work with any budget, and we take pride in accommodating just about any request that comes our way.  We also offer party trays that can be customized in so many ways.  Some examples are cookie trays, cheesecake trays, brownie trays, assorted pastry trays, chocolate dipped fruit trays, or any mixture of those and more.

Tell us what your budget is and what you have in mind, and the sooner the better.  We may need to print unique packaging, signage or labels or order necessary items that will require some lead time.  The key is to get your order in as early as possible because everything is custom made to order!  The best part about these type of gifts is that they are thoughtful, personalized, unique, and are made and presented with love—there aren’t many better ways to treat the important people in your life during the holidays!  Also during the holidays the walk-in business at bakeries is unreal, so ordering gives you precedence and ensures you will get exactly what you want and when you want it.

For those who want to enjoy doing their own holiday baking, we also offer take and bake items.  People love our line of gourmet mixers because they are so easy, they come in different sizes, and they are very reasonably priced.  At Alotta Brownies, we have so many things to offer that it really just comes down to what the client wants.  We are happy to provide consultations for any of your holiday party of gift giving needs!”

Celebrating the holidays with one another is one of the best parts of the next few months.  There are usually so many gatherings during the holiday season that it makes one’s head spin, but the time spent with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, clients, customers, and employees is well worth it in bringing us together as a community.  We hope you all enjoy sharing some holiday cheer with those who mean the most to you this year–let the holiday planning begin!