5 ways to personalise your Christmas celebrations!

Christmas is less than 1 month away....eeeeek!! This means now is the time for Christmas parties - they come in all shapes and sizes and types.
Big corporate celebrations; small & intimate dinners; Fun, activity based catch ups; informal end of year picnics.

Whatever the event they all serve to allow us to celebrate the ending of a year and the beginning of a new one. A time to say thanks and acknowledge the impact that our employees, co-workers,  friends, family and community have had in out lives, before we all go on a couple of weeks holiday.

Showing you care can be as extravagant as a massive Christmas bonus $$$ or a simple as a personalising your event to show you value your guests as individuals.

Here are my 5 tips for personalising your christmas celebrations this year!

1. HAVE A THEME!
And no, i don't mean fancy dress, however if that is what floats you boat - go nuts!!
A theme can be anything - it doesn't need to even be a christmas theme. It could be a setting like "A bush Christmas", it could be a colour theme (metallics and marble are it right now!), it could be based on activities like sports or art.
Whatever you choose - stick with it. The theme ties your whole event together and it also gives guests and sea of what to expect and how to dress for the occasion. 
A theme for your celebration show that you put a little more care and thought into it than simply "lets stand around and have drinks and party pies in a non-descript function room with bad fluorescent lighting and no music"

Photo by Kirstyn Paynter on Unsplash

2. SEND AN ACTUAL INVITATION!
Not a text or an email or a snapchat. An actual, physical, stick it on the fridge invitation. They can be branded, in the business colours, designed to suit the theme (think fluoro for '80's christmas, nautical for a beach christmas or black and gold for a formal 'Old Hollywood' christmas)
And why not go the whole hog and address the invitations individually - either by hand or as part of the printing process. 
Having something crafted, considered and correctly addressed to give to your prospective guests will really stand out from the crown in this digital age!

Polka In Gold invite from our Fill In The Blanks Range

3. CONSIDER PLACE SETTINGS AND NAME TAGS!
I don't know about anyone else but I love walking into an event and finding the seating chart or welcome table and looking for my name! Put thought into place settings for sit down events. Seat like-minded people together, sit the Accounting department on the same table, do not sit Aunty Jan anywhere near Aunty Betty unless you want a food fight!!
For cocktail events or activity based parties, a nematic for each person is a great idea, especially if its an event for a large company - because even though you chat with the tall guy from the IT team every morning, damned if you can remember his name!!
As above, craft the place cards or name tags to a theme or to your corporate branding.

stock image from pixabay.com

4. GIVE THANK YOU NOTES OR CARDS!
You don't need to get soppy and pour your heart out in thank you notes or Christmas cards for them to give people a warm and fuzzy feeling.
A simple "thank you for your work/friendship/support" or "best wishes to you and your family this holiday season" will still mean a lot. Especially if its handwritten and addressed to your recipient.
Christmas cards are part of the Christmas decorations in most homes, lining all available shelf and mantle space, contributing to the cheer of the season!
**bonus points if you also list the names of their family members or add a more personal message!

stock image from pixabay.com

5. PERSONALISED GIFTS!
This is one that might not be appropriate or possible in ALL situations but if it is appropriate in your situation a personalised gift is the ultimate recognition!
These days most things can be personalised. Glass can be etched and painted, leather and card can be foiled or embossed, fabric can be embroidered...and so on.
If you're organising a large corporate/business function it is not really practical to provide individual gifts so an etched glass or a personalised christmas bauble would be perfect. There are multitudes of promotional items you can have etched, engraved or embossed!
For a smaller, more intimate celebration with friends or family you are better suited to be able to provide each guest an individual, personalised gift. An embossed leather coin purse, monogrammed keyring, cufflinks, mugs, towels the possibilities are endless. This is also great if kids are involved, a name poster for their room. A personalised backpack or lunchbox set...not only will they look fantastic, but easy to return if they get lost at school!
Also, don't think you have to buy for everyone! Personalised gifts still work in a Secret Santa/Kris Kringle type situation - but only if you have a preselected recipient. 

stock image from pixabay.com

With a bit of creativity and planning a personalised christmas celebration is not out of reach. It also doesn't have to be expensive either. Everything can be DIY-ed, on a budget using items from craft stores, $2 shops or (heaven) Kmart!

I would love to hear any other Christmas tips you have - I need all the help i can get this year!!
Comment below or let me know on our Facebook page.

Thanks,

Ellie
Call You George!