As the end of the year approaches, it’s the perfect time to bring your team, clients, or donors together to celebrate the wins, reflect on growth, and simply enjoy each other’s company. From a catering perspective, planning the perfect year-end party involves more than just good food –it’s about creating a truly great experience. To get started, answer these three key questions and explore the party style ideas below for creating the right ambiance for your event.
Three Key Questions to Guide Your Planning Process
1. Do You Have a Theme?
Choosing a theme can instantly elevate your event and help tie everything from the décor to the menu into a cohesive and memorable experience. Whether you’re aiming for a black-tie evening, a festive winter soirée, or a global celebration, the theme can also inspire your catering choices.
2. Do You have a Venue and Date?
Locking in your date and venue early is crucial, especially leading up to the busy holiday season. Once you’ve confirmed your location and date, your catering team can help you navigate the best layout for food and beverage service, whether it’s a seated dinner or a more casual standing affair.
3. What Type of Food and Beverage Would You Like to Serve?
Your menu should reflect both the tone of the event and the preferences of your guests. Are you thinking of a full meal or light bites? Signature cocktails, an open bar, specialty beverages? Talk with your caterer about dietary needs like gluten-free or vegan, drink needs, service logistics, and the best ways to keep the party moving smoothly.
Three Year-End Party Style Ideas
We have worked with numerous businesses and non-profits over the years to bring unforgettable flavor to their year-end parties. Here are three party styles that have been very successful and can provide inspiration for your event.
1. Stations from Around the World
This is one of our favorite setups for themed parties, and it works well at any time of the day. Guests can “travel” through food with stations inspired by different cuisines. For Manheim Township’s annual employee holiday lunch, we had stations from the Caribbean (Puerto Rican Pernil, Yellow Rice, and Cuban Black Beans), East Asia (Beef with Broccoli, Singapore Mai Fen, and Vegetable Fried Rice), and the Mediterranean (Chicken Souvlaki Skewers, Egyptian Rice & Vermicelli, and Greek Salad).
Also consider a drink station featuring beverages from around the world to complement the food! Similarly, have a dessert station with assorted ethnic sweets, like baklava, guava puff pastries, gulab jamun, and more.
Global stations give guests the opportunity to sample a lot of flavors that may be new to them, and create an inclusive vibe. They also encourage mingling, which is perfect for teams that don’t always get a chance to connect.
2. Appetizer & Cocktail Parties
Aiming for something less formal but still festive? A cocktail-style party with passed or stationed appetizers is a great option. This format works well in almost any space, and for late afternoon and evening events. It also gives guests the freedom to move around and socialize without being tied to a table.
For MEDA’s 70th anniversary event, we served an array of appetizers on a rooftop terrace with a view of the sunset. Guests savored global hors d’oeuvres such as Mini Savory Turnovers, Hummus & Crudité, Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Caribbean Shrimp Cocktail, and Teriyaki Beef. Check out our article about appetizer parties for more ideas!
3. Formal Dinner with Buffet
For venues that allow for a more elegant atmosphere, a formal buffet-style dinner is a great option. It lets guests enjoy a wide variety of dishes while still maintaining the formality of a sit-down experience. This style works especially well in banquet halls, community centers, or even transformed office spaces.
For The Foundation for Enhancing Community’s annual holiday party, we created tablescapes with their vibrant company colors. Their meal food choices were equally vibrant with a diverse appetizer station featuring Chicken & Beef Teriyaki Skewers, Pork Souvlaki, Beef & Cheese Empanadas, Potato Samosas, and Greek Spanakopita. Guests enjoyed their hors d’oeuvres with signature drinks from the bar before dinner.
Their buffet featured our citrus and garlic marinated Mojo Chicken, Cuban Black Beans, Yellow Rice, Egyptian Moussaka, and Roasted Sweet Plantains. And finally, guests loved the dessert station with locally made, assorted stroopwafel cookies (European Dutch cinnamon waffle cookies filled with caramel).
Start Planning with Us Today!
Did you know you can secure your date with just a $500 deposit, and work with us on the rest of the details over time?
Whether you’re planning a thank-you celebration for staff, or a donor appreciation event for your non-profit, working with your catering team early can make all the difference. From theme to food to format, a well-planned party is the perfect way to close the year on a high note. Send us a message or Request a Quote to get started!
