As the calendar turns to a new year, what better way to celebrate than with a branded event that leaves a lasting impression? But how can you get the space just right without going overboard?
At Integra, we’ve helped dozens of companies plan for hundreds of events just like yours, and we usually start by answering these questions. We understand that an overbranded event will leave guests feeling sold to and turned off. On the flip side, going too light can mean missing the mark, creating an event that lacks cohesion or doesn’t feature the brand enough.
So where’s the happy medium? The answer is different with every brand, space and party style, but some elements are universal. In this guide to a branded New Year’s party, we’ll give you some ideas for:
- Your party space in its entirety
- The tables where people mingle and eat
- Activities and entertainment
Whether you need our help sourcing and printing promotional products or you’re just here to get the ball rolling on your events planning, you should be well on your way by the time you’ve finished this article. And if you didn’t come from part one of this guide on the party favors, feel free to check that out for additional ideas!
Impress Your Guests With Branded New Year’s Décor
One of the first things, if not the first thing, people will notice when they walk in the door at your event will be the decorations. As they’re getting the lay of the land, they should see some combination of:
- Brand-specific colors: You want your event space to pop, providing an atmosphere that matches your goals for the evening. Whether you go with elegant and ritzy or laid back and rave-ready, you should be able to seamlessly integrate the colors of your brand to give a low-key reminder of the party’s sponsor.
- Themed decorative elements: Depending on how fancy you’ve decided to get, you can infuse your brand into the event's theme with custom decorations like ice sculptures, floral arrangements or fabric drapes, all incorporating your brand's colors, logos or slogans.
- Branded party accessories: Enhance the party atmosphere with branded items like balloons, streamers and confetti, all coordinated with your brand's color scheme.
- Customized lighting solutions: Illuminate your event with branded candles, lanterns or LED setups, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that subtly highlights your brand.
- Cohesive layout: Make sure your event space provides a visually seamless experience from grazing on appetizers to shimmying on the dance floor to sitting down to a fully set table for a meal.
Speaking of the tables, let’s focus on your dinner zones once you’ve established a satisfactory atmosphere for your event.
Set the Table Right for Your Company New Year’s Party
Anybody who knows anything about a party knows that a party just isn’t a party without food and drink. It’s practically written in the bylaws of party throwing: Thou shalt provide sustenance.
And with sustenance comes an abundance of decor choices, from cutlery and napkins to coasters, cups and glasses — essentially, preparing the spaces where people eat to give them the right visual cues. Some elements you should think about in your planning process include:
- Tableware: Some companies go with table runners, while others opt for full tablecloths. Should you add balloons to your tables? What about chair covers? The world is your oyster in this space, and you may want to lean into current trends as you’re deciding so your event doesn’t feel overdone or look dated.
- Linens and napkins: Elevate the dining experience with linen napkins featuring your logo, adding a touch of extra brand presence to the tablescape. If you’d rather keep things on the lower end of the pricing scale, you still have options in this space, including printed paper plates and napkins.
- Coasters: Give guests a target for their drinks at dinner. Branded coasters can come in a range of materials, from cardboard that gets thrown out at the end of the event to wood or metal that becomes its own party favor for each guest.
Now that they’ve found a trustworthy spot to stow their drink, let’s get your guests moving along to their entertainment.
Fun Activities for a New Year’s Office Party
Think about whether you want to host your shindig at your actual office or in a rented space. Once you have a rough idea of your square footage relative to the size of the crowd you expect to show up, you can start planning your activities. Afterall, people can only spend so much time eating — and they may want some entertainment while they’re grazing!
You can get infinitely creative with your New Year’s activities. Just make sure you avoid the mistakes planners commonly make at their promotional events. For instance, if you go with a fancy, sophisticated theme and décor, you’ll want to match that energy with your entertainment. On the other hand, a rowdy bunch at a casual company party might want more laid back choices with less structure.
As long as you think about your audience, the tone of the event and the amount of space available to yourself and your guests, you’re sure to succeed in keeping people happy and occupied. Some highly favored New Year’s party plans include:
- Interactive games and contests: Organize exciting activities like a branded scavenger hunt or trivia game, offering valuable prizes that feature your logo.
- Raffles: Put together some prize baskets filled with branded merch, and give everyone a ticket on the way in so they can try their hand at the lucky draw. You can also give raffle tickets away as prizes if you play games and hold competitions throughout the night.
- Music and dancing: Okay, so the dancing isn’t mandatory, but what’s a party without good music? You’ll score bonus points with lots of attendees if you make space for a dance floor, even if it’s a small space. Consider branding the speakers if they’re within view!
- Photo booths: People love taking funny photos while they wait to ring in the New Year — especially if they can put on celebratory garb or throw in some silly props. Brand the props to make your brand stand out in photos people take home and share with friends.
Mix and match your activities to give partygoers a fiesta like no other and a night they’ll remember fondly from a brand they’ll come to appreciate even more than they already do.
Which Branded Party Elements Will You Bring to Your Celebration?
When you started planning for your corporate New Year’s blowout, you may have been a bit anxious trying to remember all the details and think of ways to incorporate your brand without it feeling forced and shoehorned in. Hopefully now, you have an idea of some of the choices available to you. Remember that you don’t need to cover absolutely everything on this list — you can mix, match and choose as you see fit.
The selection process can actually be fun, even, so take a deep breath and know that this party will rock.
Now, with your event’s atmosphere and space out of the way, you’ll want to determine whether party favors are in the cards, and if so, what those might look like. If you haven’t already, check out part one of this guide to learn about party favors perfect for every type of New Year’s bash.
A New Year's celebration is more than just a party. Done right, it's a canvas for your brand to make a statement. So are you ready to get started on the party of the year?
Now that you have some solid ideas for supplies, you may already know where you’re getting each printed product for your celebration. If you’re still deciding, however, and you’d like some help choosing your favorite branded party essentials, Integra would love to help. Click below to get started with an expert in the promotional space, and we’ll help you ring in the New Year right while sticking to your budget, timeline and overall goals.
Now all that’s left is deciding on your dance moves. Huzzah!
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