How To Plan A Business Dinner Party [Like A Lady Boss]

How do I throw a business dinner party? Have you been asked to throw a get together for your office? Need a bit of help planning it out? Don't worry. We got you. 

Much of its success will rest on how well you plan it. Follow these steps and you’ll be able to plan the perfect business dinner party.

1. Figure Out the Purpose of the Party and Who You’re Inviting

Are you throwing a business party to celebrate an important company event? Or is this a meeting with potential clients? The reason for the party will help you determine who you should invite – if it’s a celebration, you’ll probably want to invite everyone from the office, whereas if you’re looking to land a client, it is best to limit the part to a few people from your company and the client’s company.

2. Select a Few Potential Locations

Restaurants are the most common choice for dinner parties, and for good reason. When you have the party at a restaurant, you don’t need to worry about cooking anything, and there will be little, if any, cleanup on your part after.

Make a list of a few places that will work so that you have backups ready if one isn’t available or can’t accommodate you. Contact locations, give them an idea of what you need, and choose the one you like the most.

3. Send Out the Invitations

You can send invitations to guests by mail or email. Make sure to include the location, the date, and the time of the business party. It’s best to send invitations about two weeks in advance, as this will give your guests time to plan. You should also provide instructions on how guests can RSVP and the deadline for doing so, as you’ll need to know how many people are coming.

4. Finalize the Location

After you’ve gotten the RSVPs back, contact the location that you chose to confirm the number of guests. If you only have a small number of guests, you may be able to make a reservation at your restaurant of choice instead of reserving the entire dining area. On the other hand, if you have quite a few confirmed guests, you’ll need the entire place.

You may want to set the menu with the restaurant in advance. Make sure that there are options available for guests with allergies and dietary restrictions. You wouldn’t want your guests that can’t eat gluten to have no meal options available.

5. Set Up a Seating Chart

For large business dinner parties, you’ll want to set up a seating chart so there’s not chaos when people get there. A seating chart will keep the proceedings organized. If there are any guests of honor, seat them at the head of the table.

6. Get There Early

You should be at the venue at least 30 minutes before the dinner party starts so you can confirm that everything is going according to plan. It’s also important that you’re there so you can greet guests when they arrive, and there may be guests who arrive early. As people show up, encourage them to mingle and make introductions between those who haven’t met before. Once everyone has arrived, you can relax and enjoy the party.

It’s tough to keep every step of the planning process in your head. To keep your planning on track and ensure that you don’t forget anything, use a daily or weekly planner from STARTplanner. You can find one that fits your needs and your style. When you write down your business dinner party plans, you’ll know what you’ve already done and what you need to do before the date of the party.