Year End Parties for Smaller Groups
Small parties, big hits!
They say dynamite comes in small packages and this is often the case with year end functions at smaller companies. In fact, the idea that a ballroom full of guests is needed to have fun is seriously flawed! So, if you are a small team and need some ideas for your year end function, read on...
Just think about it: with a small group, the party can be a lot more intimate. Whether it’s a swanky affair with flute glasses and fancy evening gowns, or a laid back beach celebration with a sizzling braai and some cold ones – it’s a chance to spend quality time with colleagues, thank them for the year gone by and get excited about the next chapter in your company’s story when the new year arrives.
Festivities for small groups are also much easier to organise. For starters, there’s less admin – and usually much more flexibility around the date of the event too. You also don’t have to consider a whole lot of personal preferences, dietary requirements and other niggles.
And best of all, small parties are a lot more affordable, so you can spend the party budget on what really matters, instead of skimping on the menu or trimming the entertainment just to fit more people in.
Tips for smaller year end celebrations
Here are some insider tips to make planning a cinch and ensure a roaring success:
- Entertainment, venues and suppliers are more flexible on Mondays -Thursdays – so break the mould and have the function on a week day! (Your Team will appreciate the day out of the office too).
- For groups smaller than 20 guests, a set menu is your best bet and most cost effective.
- Cape Town is in its crowning glory in summer. Make the most of this perk with an outdoor event and/or activities.
- Don’t blow the budget on things that don’t matter. For example, if there are less than 30 guests, don’t hire a pricey private venue.
Dare to be different
At small functions, everyone should know each so there’s no real need for a traditional icebreaker just so the IT guys and travelling sales team can finally meet, and hopefully mingle. Think out of the box and choose a creative theme that’ll kick off the fun from the get go.
For teams under 10 colleagues, try the exciting live Escape Game where your team has to solve the mystery to escape the room in 60 minutes. Quite simply "Imagine Big Brother meets CSI in 19th Century London". Enjoy a relaxed lunch afterwards to share your bonding experience.
For a small group of 10 or more, The Salamander Murder Mystery is a great option too – with all the intrigue of hidden personas and elegant outfits, set in a centuries-old venue, as guests collect clues to unravel the shocking truth…
A group of 12 + colleagues can team up and literally cook up a storm in a Masterchef-inspired challenge. With everyone donning chef’s hats and aprons, all bets will be off once the spatulas come out! Between all the whisking, blending, flipping and frying – there’ll also a whole lot of tasting, bonding and laughing in the mix.
Braai highs and glamour galore!
So you know you can braai, but how do you fare when the clock is ticking, the ingredients are scant and you and 20 + colleagues are divided into teams competing for Braai Master status? There could hardly be a better way to spoil proudly South African employees than the Survivor Braai Challenge or Ultimate Potjie Cook Off event with some spirited competition on the side…
Unless you perhaps whisk them off to a wine farm, add cryptic clues and watch the team building fun unfold as they dig around Simon van der Stel’s garden and use their mobile phones on a rollercoaster of a Wild Goose Chase followed by a Braai in the shade of the oak trees.
With a group of 30 + colleagues, you might be tempted to head off to the coast for a sensational Summer Yacht Party. A world-class DJ, bubbly on tap and beautiful beaches all round will hit all the high notes. Or take a chance and roll the dice with a Casino Royale event where you may break the bank, become a paper billionaire or lose a fortune.
If you are into themed parties, you and your 40 + colleagues should put on your cowboy boots and head down to the Wild Wild West for a hoedown on “The Ranch”. Or how about submerging Under the Sea for a mesmerizing evening surrounded by stingrays and jellyfish.
Make it happen…
These tailor-made themes are just a taste of what our creative masterminds come up with when Team Orange brainstorms and produces the memorable parties we’re known for. As a close-knit team ourselves, we know the value of authentic connections with co-workers, and we always succeed in igniting that special spark at the heart of every company we work with.
Through the years, we’ve built up a wide network of the best venues, stockists and suppliers in the greater Cape Town area, which empowers us to turn your idea into a reality. There’s just no end to our ideas for small companies looking for cost-effective year-end functions that will resonate with their employees. After all, allowing colleagues to truly touch base with each other and inspiring renewed connections is what Team Orange is all about.