The Puzzle of Planning a Holiday Party

It’s never too late to start thinking about the holiday season. Those cherished moments with family and friends are priceless and always seem to end too quickly!What activities do you have planned for this year? Are you tasked with planning the annual company holiday party? Has your family passed you the baton to host Thanksgiving dinner or the annual Christmas party?If so, we are here to help you make that planning process as easy as possible at work and at home because being the host doesn’t mean you have to miss all the fun!

Don’t Procrastinate

It’s normal to delay planning your big bash. Don’t fall into that trap. Last minute planning adds unnecessary stress and expense that could potentially ruin the joy of treating your guests to a wonderful evening. Here are some tasks to do 3-4 months before your holiday party:

1. Build a Budget

Consider the cost (if any) of the venue, the quality and quantity of food and cocktails, special entertainment and holiday decorations. Creating line items is easy and creates a step-by-step approach to budgeting all the necessary pieces of the party puzzle.

2. Make a Guest List

Based on the budget you created, how many people could you invite? First, write down all the must-have guests – immediate family and close friends — and then include the other guests whom you would like to invite — new friends, friends with kids, co-workers and extended family — if the budget still allows. Same plan goes for a corporate holiday party. Invite key players in your department and then allow them to bring a “plus one” if the budget can account for those additional people. Do the work to create a Google doc or Excel spreadsheet with everyone’s current mailing and email addresses because that will make the next step much easier.

3. Send Savvy Invitations

Take advantage of what the tech world has to offer and send your invitations through Punchbowl, Evite or Paperless Post. It’s easier, more efficient and often cheaper than the traditional snail mail. And for those office parties, it’s more festive than any memo or Outlook invite. The sooner your guests know about your party, the greater the chance they will pencil your big night into their calendar.

4. Book a Venue

Considering your budget, take the time to search for the best venue. You know what they say, “Location, location, location.” Pick a spot that has plenty of room for some guests to sit down to eat while others walk around to mingle. A gorgeous holiday party can take place at a private residence, in a portion of a restaurant or even a cozy part of a corporate office (if it’s a party for your co-workers). During your search, try to envision the space as a cheery, warm gathering place, or whatever mood you hope to inspire at your holiday party.

5. Consider Catering

If you aren’t a cook, and you don’t want to ask each of your guests to bring a dish, consider hiring a catering company. Boston catering companies are the busiest during the holiday season — so the earlier you talk to one, the better! Now that you have planned a budget, know approximately how many people you’ll be feeding and even decided on a venue, don’t delay in calling the company that can best suit your needs. A trendy option is serving a family-style meal, as it encourages guests to mingle amongst each other as they kindly pass food selections to those sitting next to them at the table. Also, remember to mention any special dietary needs when planning with your catering company. Guests will forever remember that delicious, traditional holiday meal they enjoyed together with loved ones or new acquaintances.

Dazzle Guests with Details and Décor

Now that the big part of the planning is complete, have some fun with the final pieces of the project. Here are some things to consider during the month leading into your holiday party:

1. Accessorize With Light

Decorations for the holidays fill up every store as early as November, just begging you to buy them. But we encourage you to keep it simple. If you can buy candles in bulk, decorate them with pieces of holly or add festive fruit, like cranberry or dried orange slices, to large votives. Having warm light on the tables will set a relaxing mood for all of your guests.

2. Pump Up the Jam

No party is complete without music. If your budget does not include a live band or a disk jockey, there’s no reason to worry. Use your speakers or borrow a friend’s stereo system to connect to your source of live stream music. Internet music sites like Spotify let you customize a playlist while services, like 8tracks and Pandora, let you pick a genre from which it plays music you will most likely enjoy. Mellow music is nice for the hours around cocktails and dinner, but maybe your guests are the type who would appreciate some upbeat tunes towards the end of the evening. Take the chance and see who is in the mood to break it down!

3. Hire Entertainment

If you are looking for additional ways to entertain your guests, set aside some time for group activities. December holiday parties at a private residence are the perfect place to do a Chinese gift exchange – a relatively free and fun game. You could even ask your guests to bring prank gifts for additional laughs. Corporate party activities could include a photo booth, an interactive dessert table or a company mascot to entertain guests. BG is known for its creative party ideas as long as you are willing to try it out!

4. Shop for Your Party Outfit

As the host, you’ll be busy visiting with everyone at the party. Be sure to treat yourself to an outfit that shows everyone that even hosts can have a great time. Find a glamorous dress or a pair of heels to make you feel fabulous! If you are a male host, visit that favorite store of yours to buy the trendy button-down you’ve been ogling online.

5. Check in with Your Party Partners

To alleviate last-minute stress, call your catering company, venue manager, or any important guests to ensure everyone is on task for the party. Answer last minute questions or help them with any projects they are trying to finish in time. Keeping open communication with everyone helping you with your party will only lead to a delightful event for all.We hope our brief guideline to planning the perfect holiday party will encourage you to give it a try this year. Whether you are a first-time host or a seasoned veteran, planning well ahead of time and being a little creative with the smaller details will ensure a successful holiday party. And don’t forget to have fun with the process!

 More Articles You Might Like:

• Top 6 Benefits of Hosting a Holiday Party
• Boston Holiday Party at Royale

Top 6 Benefits of Hosting a Holiday Party

Ah, the holiday party.Perhaps you have memories of finally meeting co-workers and their significant others in a more casual environment. Or maybe you remember the fancy passed hors d’oeuvres unlike anything you have ever tasted.Holiday parties are an American pastime for both family members and co-workers alike, a break from the daily grind and an opportunity to treat oneself to fun conversation, delectable cuisine and a splurge cocktail.With the holiday season quickly approaching, we made a list of six reasons to host a holiday party for your employees, business partners or both.

Reasons to Host a Holiday Party

1. Build Community.

   In a corporate sense, a community does not have to center around daily coffee break gossip. Having casual conversation at a holiday party gives co-workers a chance to talk about their interests outside of their jobs. Finding commonalities can strengthen an office relationship and lead to better work productivity. A party atmosphere is also a platform for executives and employees to enjoy memorable moments of laughter together, potentially inspiring promotions in the future. We even suggest arranging for a photographer who can capture the moments!

2. Try New Food and Wine.

   Providing an interesting food selection is the best way to start conversation among your guests. For example, an entrée selection could be duck confit finished with a divine dessert such as a salted caramel cupcake. Everyone will feel special when treated to something out of ordinary. In fact, some guests may attend a company party specifically for the free meal.

3. Have an Opportunity to Dress Up.

   Let’s be honest, ladies. That fancy dress you bought on a whim is still hanging in the closet. Attending your company’s holiday party is the perfect opportunity to wear it with some new high heels!

4. Recognize Employees for Their Hard Work.

   If you are an owner or a CEO of a company, you could take the stage at your holiday party to say a few words to honor your employees. This could be less than a five-minute speech ending with a toast to all those who make the business hum. This increases employee moral going into the upcoming year.

5. Show Off the Office.

   Host a holiday party that doubles as a grand opening of a new part of the office. Or maybe you have a delightful courtyard that could be transformed into a whimsical evening venue. Hosting an event on-site could save some cash as well. Whatever you choose, we can bring the flowers, décor and lighting to make it a holiday party your guests will not soon forget.

6. Experience a Night on the Town. 

   A holiday party is the perfect excuse to give your employees a night out on the town. In fact, Boston is known for some of the most unique venue spaces in the Northeast—for example, the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts and the Frost Ice Loft (made entirely of ice!). We work with a whole bunch of amazing venues, and you can learn about your Boston holiday party venue opportunities in our featured corporate event venues and on our Boston venues page.

We provide all the tools to ensure your holiday party is a blast! So go ahead and have some fun this holiday season hosting an unforgettable event.

More Articles You Might Like:

• 8 Company Holiday Party Activities
• Holiday Party at Royale
• Holiday Party Dessert Decorating

Boston Event Spotlight: Moroccan-themed Party

PerkinElmer is an innovative leader in the scientific community who believes in creative ways to reward employees for their hard work and dedication to the company.This year’s employee appreciation party whisked employees away from their desks to a colorful Moroccan open-air marketplace complete with cozy cabanas and the unique North African cuisine.We partnered with Rentals Unlimited and New England Country Rentals to make PerkinElmer’s courtyard at the Waltham office into a relaxing, unique space. 300 employees enjoyed the summer weather as they reminisced about company accomplishments and future endeavors.

Exotic Eastern Décor

Vibrant red and orange serving bowls were as bold in color as the spice in our food. Metallic linens were scattered neatly amongst the exotic foods while towers of Moroccan spices and glass bowls of lemons and limes added another pop of color to the décor.We accessorized with a variety of tagine pots traditionally used for cooking delicious meat and vegetable stews. Beautiful potted plants and candle lanterns completed the warm feeling of a lovely summer evening in the courtyard.

Calm Oasis Furniture

We used traditional Moroccan linens to drape around the cabana lounges. Low-lying furniture and bamboo chairs, which are typical in Moroccan homes, gave guests a place to mingle with colleagues while tasting some of the food or drinks.The carved details in the coffee table were another unique addition to the furniture details.

Tastes of the East

Moroccan souks are open-air marketplaces that are famous for the assortments of fresh food. Wooden frames accented the vibrant orange menus at the souk held especially for PerkinElmer’s employees.

Moroccan Adventure With Appetizers

Here is the intoxicating sampling from North Africa and India that had guests wondering what may be in store for the main entrée.

• Grilled Naan
• Cucumber Raita
• Mango Pickle
• Cilantro and Coriander Chutney
• Ras El Hanout Hummus
• Harissa Edamame Hummus
• Zesty Lemon Date Spread
• Paneer Cheese
• Chermoula
• Fresh Summer Vegetables
• Trio of Olives

Casablanca Market Stand

Surely guests smelled the delicious slow-cooked beef, lamb, chicken, salmon and fish awaiting them. We exemplified the tastes of Morocco with these dishes:

• Grilled beef and lamb kebabs with roasted grapes and cilantro chutney
• Zatar Chicken and Couscous Plate: Roasted chicken, preserved lemon couscous and tomato jam
• Salmon Tagine Plate: Grilled salmon, tomatoes, olives, raisins, almonds and jasmine rice
• Ras El Hanout: Chickpea battered fish, eggplant relish and saffron pearl couscous

Celebrating With a Few Drinks

Perkin Elmer employees had plenty to celebrate during their yearly appreciation party, which was the perfect reason to enjoy a cold beverage in the courtyard. Guests had a list of items to cleanse the palate of the spiced Moroccan flavors. In addition to sodas and sparkling water, our drink menu included the following list of wines and beers:Our wines:

• Bella Sera Pinot Grigio, Italy
• Canyon Road Chardonnay, California
• Red Tree Pinot Noir, California
• Pacifico Sur Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Our beers:

• Sam Adams Seasonal and Lager
• Harpoon IPA

Unexpected Endings

Desserts of the Orient were the perfect way to complete a fun experience with colleagues at this event. Guests had a variety of exotic tastes to try, including:

• Orange Spice Cupcakes
• Baklava Tartlets
• Date Truffles
• Warm Moroccan Donuts
• Chocolate Mousse Shooter
• Almond Shortbread Cookies

BG Events & Catering prides itself on bold, creative events certain to provide lovely memories for you and your guests. If you are looking for a crew to style and plan your event, please contact us for a consultation. We look forward to speaking with you!

Fire & Ice Spotlight: Toast to Tech 2015

MIT’s 2015 alumni reunion weekend featured plenty of activities for old college friends to reminisce the fond memories. One of the premier events was Saturday evening’s “Toast to Tech” where BG Events & Catering transformed the Johnson Ice Rink into a glowing party scene.The tantalizing atmosphere, Fire and Ice, highlighted the late-night scene complete with a hosted bar, live music and dancing.From 10 p.m. to midnight, 900 MIT alumni guests enjoyed creative frozen treats and delicious beverages amid warm lighting and sophisticated lounge areas. It certainly was the party to attend (so be sure to RSVP “yes!” next year).

Fire and Ice Illuminating Décor

Alumni guests felt the warm ambience as the entered the party at the Johnson Ice Rink as a bookcase illuminated with LED candles greeted them at the door. Projected moving flames hung from the ceilings, and cool blue lighting juxtaposed the orange and pink hues embellishing the lounge areas.Plush white furniture invited guests to relax with a drink or sit back to watch friends kick it on the dance floor. Uplighting and beautiful pipe and drape camouflaged the back of house. High cocktail tables scattered the open space where guests mingled and grabbed a quick bite.

Tim at Toast to Tech

MIT’s trusty mascot, Tim the Beaver, joined the party and even became the center of many group photos. Glowing MIT letters also set the scene for the alumni celebration. Groups gave their best poses in front of the official MIT alumni weekend wall banner.

Desserts with Frozen Flair

BG catering staff served frozen treats to guests at the interactive liquid nitrogen station. A favorite was the on-site frozen popcorn ball, Dragon’s Breath, which cast a large puff of smoke on a wooden rod. Guests also enjoyed ice cream pops in flavors of Snickers, Oreo, rocky road, chocolate and vanilla.

Celebratory Drinks at the Bar

What better way to share an evening with longtime friends and new acquaintances than to toast with great drinks! Our bar served a collection of wines and beers certain to warm the soul and inspire some dancing. We also served waters and sodas for those who would rather drive home or forego alcohol.The list of wines included:

• Bella Sera Pinot Grigio, Italy
• Canyon Road Chardonnay, California
• Redtree Pinot Noir, California
• Pacifico Sur Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Featured beers included:

• Sam Adams Seasonal
• Heineken Light
• Harpoon IPA

Alumni Community at the Party

MIT is known for its ingenuity, tradition and community. The annual alumni weekend inspired tight bonds between MIT graduates, and BG Events & Catering believe we created an atmosphere where guests strengthened their bonds with one another. The warm lighting, cool cuisine and comfortable furniture made it easy for guests to have a conversation and make new memories.In an icy sports arena, almost 1,000 alumni enjoyed an enchanting and bright Saturday evening. We are already looking forward to hosting another grand event next year.

9 Boston Brand Celebration Party Ideas

The best way to highlight your company’s success and create a buzz about your brand is to host an unforgettable event.When you host an awesome event, corporate partners, clients, friends of the brand and employees alike will really strengthen their brand loyalty.But, how do host the most amazing brand celebration?Check out this list of exciting brand party ideas.How to Host an Awesome Brand Celebration

1. Bring your company mascot to life. MIT’s mascot, TIM, had a grand time entertaining 900 guests at the 100th anniversary party held recently at Boston’s Johnson Ice Rink Center. Your mascot could join guests in a photo booth, dance with them or act as a prop in silly selfies! Tip: Make sure you choose a quality performer for the job. Brief the person on acceptable activities at the event and ensure he understands the importance of the mascot’s job as a brand ambassador.
2. Use Instagram photos to display the company’s legacy. Your Boston event planner can create a stream of relevant images from the corporate social media platform. For example, if you are celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary, focus on images that display the brand’s evolution throughout the years. Or, if you are hosting a store’s grand opening party, colorful images of their products will give your guests an emotional connection to the brand.
3. Display tweets about the event in real time on the big screen. This one-of-a-kind party feature will have guests eager to tweet about the event. Creating buzz on social media will spark the interest of the online community and help highlight scenes from the glamorous event! Tip: Make the event’s official hashtag visible as people enter the party. This will get their creative juices flowing and raise awareness of this large-scale event. Also, place hashtag reminders near the entertainment and food displays.
4. Raffle off desirable company swag. It’s important to remind guests what items will be in the raffle and what time the winners will be announced. Now, you’ve inspired guests to stay for the duration of the event, as no one is quick to turn down a wonderful gift!
5. Display fun facts about the brand in the centerpieces. These could include images or bold fonts, anything to instigate conversation among guests seated at the tables.
6. Request that event staff dress the part. What better way to raise excitement than by having more brand ambassadors in the form of friendly staff serving delectable menu items!
7. Create a visual spectacle of the menu items that embellish the brand style. For example, our team developed a fun, original way to present to donuts by hanging them from a custom copper display! It was visually delightful and begged guests to try a bite.
8. Choose a specialty cocktail that stimulates conversation (and tastebuds!). Don’t forget to ask your catering team to help choosing a creative name for each cocktail, ideally one that incorporates the brand theme. Tip: Include a beautiful virgin cocktail in the drink menu to ensure every one of your guests can enjoy themselves!
9. Hire a videographer to capture the energy in the room. Even better, write a few questions related to the brand for your videographer to ask willing guests. Your celebration will have clients and potential clients inspired to give praise of a product or simply talk about how memorable the event has been. Incorporate these positive, original responses caught on video into marketing material in the future!

This list of ideas has everything from tech-savvy to social media driven displays to more traditional themed cocktail menus. No matter what style your brand aims to portray for your next corporate event, you now have the tools to start planning an unforgettable brand experience!

BG Events & Catering featured in BIZBASH Article, "11 Modern Takes on Campfire Fare"

BIZBASH magazine recently took summer celebrations to the next level by offering some fresh new fare to enjoy near a cozy campfire. This also includes our specialty “dragon breath” popcorn balls and crispy pork belly with chocolate ancho chile sauce.See the article here.

Boston Venue Spotlight: Frost Ice Loft

We are so excited to announce our partnership with one of Boston’s most unique event venues, a place that is known to stir up both drinks and conversation: Frost Ice Loft!The Frost Ice Loft is so unique because it is designed entirely of ice. Yes, ice! In fact, it’s ice room remains at a brisk 21 degrees to keep the structure entirely solid.Next door to the ice bar is its brand new (room temperature) indoor event space, so your event’s guests can now enjoy an all-encompassing experience found just a walk over from New England’s only indoor ice bar.On May 26, Frost Ice Loft, located at Faneuil Hall, will open as a room temperature event space with dramatic decor. We can’t wait to see what social and corporate events come to life when our creative Boston catering team and clients choose this extraordinary event venue.

The Frost Ice Loft Experience

Venue Specs

 You might think this unique event venue will make the logistics of planning your Boston event difficult. But surprisingly enough, our event planners expect this venue to provide everything you need for a stress-free event that surpasses your wildest expectations.

• Seasons: year-round
• Rooms: 2 rooms totaling 4,000 square-feet
• Capacity: the gallery holds 120 guests seated and 150 guests for a cocktail reception, plus the Ice Loft can add an additional 75 guests to the reception capacity. This means a full venue reception buyout boasts up to a capacity of 300.
• Public transportation: the MBTA, Green Line, Blue Line and Orange Line all service the area making travel to this Boston event venue easy.
• Garage parking: there are several options for parking. 75 State Street Garage is a popular choice, and Frost Ice Loft will be glad to provide discounts for your guests.

Icy Décor and Spectacular Views

We love bringing new event decoration ideas to truly exceptional Boston venues like the Frost Ice Space. Some of our favorite features of the remarkable rooms are:

• The Gallery: features oversized windows with views of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the famous Quincy Market sign and Boston's booming financial district. It also wows guests with a technology wall and option of an Ice Bar.
• The Ice Loft: sparkling color-washed walls and furniture carved by hand set the stage for a special corporate or social event. But what really sets this event space apart is its meticulously detailed bar that is a small scale replica of the Zakim. Guests will be surprised and amazed by the latest sculptures and drink glasses made of ice. 

Types of Events to Host Here

The 2,600 square-foot room temperature Frost Ice Loft offers interactive space ideal for larger corporate, social and nonprofit events. Our event planners can transform this icy space to match any event theme and goals.

• Corporate events: such a unique venue is fitting for the excitement of product launches and inspires new ideas at corporate meetings and receptions. We expect to provide innovative custom menus for plenty of industry and company events at this spectacular Boston venue.
• Social gatherings: from holiday parties and gala receptions to bar/bat mitzvahs and intimate weddings, the Frost Ice Loft will treat your guests to an unforgettable Boston party.

Customized Experience

The entertainment and catering at your big event are critical to providing your guests with the ultimate experience. Our Boston catering team loves working with such a novel venue to create an unprecedented event and menu.

• Signature drinks: in addition to premium spirits, featured cocktails, local brews, wine and nonalcoholic beverages, Frost Ice Loft can design signature drinks for your special occasion.
• Custom menus: our chefs love preparing new dishes crafted to the individual style of your event. We look ahead of current culinary trends by designing innovative menus that perfectly complement this novel event space.
• Ice sculptures: you can request a personalized sculpture of your corporate logo made completely of ice.
• Custom gifts: Frost Ice Loft makes choosing party favors a breeze with their custom gifts and retail items.
• Partner packages: just as Frost Ice Loft works with only the premier Boston catering companies, it also partners with other great local attractions so you are sure to work with only the best.

To start planning your corporate event or social gathering, contact our experienced catering team and share your vision. If the remarkable Frost Ice Loft is your perfect match, then we can help you coordinate with the sales team that can be reached at 617-209-4894.

Boston Corporate Event Spotlight: Eversource

Product launches are one of the most exciting corporate events, and the cocktail hour we planned for Eversource’s corporate event was no exception!This power company based out of New England helps other companies save energy using a tiered approach. To applaud their advancements that help the environment, we wanted to put on an equally innovative cocktail reception. On May 5^th, 200 architects and designers from all over the city gathered to enjoy our exceptional Boston corporate event catering.

A New Twist on the BSA Space

Because the Boston Society of Architects Space is a familiar venue to many guests, the client worried that the Eversource corporate event would not stand out in their minds.We decided that a Cinco de Mayo theme was the perfect way to bring a renewed energy to this Boston event venue while setting the stage for an unforgettable corporate event.Our experienced event planners brought their imaginative minds together and created unique event decorations and custom menus that subtly reflected the Cinco de Mayo theme without detracting from Eversource’s event objectives.

Cinco de Mayo Décor

Our design specialists love the BSA Space because it provides a modern and open floor plan that we can transform to match any corporate event theme. For the Cinco de Mayo undertone, we warmed up the BSA with natural elements while maintaining a modern celebratory atmosphere.

• Wood tables: these large rustic tables always make guests feel welcomed and relaxed
• Stylish LED lights: white rounded lamps added to the lively event atmosphere
• Food signs: crisp white food signs caught the eyes of guests and introduced them to our innovative dishes
• Florals: high top tables, food stations and bars were decorated with stunning succulents, dry air plants and spring flowers in rustic metal and wood containers. In addition, immaculate statement pieces featured a three-tier metal stand and flowers popping in rich orange, yellow and pink hues.

Unique Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres

From the moment guests arrived at the cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., they were surprised with one-of-a-kind appetizers and drinks. We let the client choose from an array of elegant passed appetizers like:

• Brie and Green Apple Crostini: fig jam and arugula
• Corn and Bacon Griddle Cake: tomato relish
• Petite Blue Cheese and Beef Yorkshire Pudding: horseradish aioli, pickled onion

Guests enjoyed these fabulous selections of drinks:

• Wines
  • Bella Sera Pinot Grigio, Italy
  • Canyon Road Chardonnay, California
  • Red Tree Pinot Noir, California
  • Pacifico Sur Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
• Beers
  • Sam Adams Seasonal
  • Corona
  • Harpoon IPA
• Specialty Cocktails
  • Classic lime margarita
  • Strawberry margarita

International Culinary Flair

Because we are passionate about serving the most innovative food, you never have to remind our Boston catering team to steer clear of generic dishes. So when the client requested stationary food displays to be "different," we knew we needed to jump far ahead of the current culinary trends to surpass expectations. We settled on three stations to treat guests to tasty dishes with a hint of Cinco de Mayo fun.

Taco Bar

What better way to celebrate in Cinco de Mayo fashion than with a taco bar attended by experienced chefs? A taco vignette with red hues reflecting off the backdrop and pipes covered in paper flowers created a dramatic setting for our handmade tacos. We also used white hanging heat lamps, porcelain serving dishes and white river stones atop wooden tables to make sure the tacos shined among the brilliant colors. Guests thought the petite grilled corn on the cob with cilantro aioli and farmer’s cheese was the perfect side to these signature tacos:

• Grilled Mahi Taco: roasted corn and bean salsa, chipotle aioli
• Smoked Beef Brisket Taco: crispy onions, lime scented cream
• Shredded Chicken Taco: aioli, spicy house pickled vegetables
• Cilantro-Lime Roasted Veggie Taco: queso fresco

Mediterranean and Spanish Nosh

We invited guests to nosh the night away at two food stations with beautiful presentations of international flavors. The Mediterranean display featured a rustic wood table with a grass carpet underlay. We surrounded it with rattan vine balls and interlaced LED cafe lights to create an all-encompassing Mediterranean experience. White and metal food vessels were the perfect way to serve these fresh tastes in style:

• Walnut tabouli
• Muhammara
• Lemon hummus
• Whipped feta
• Grilled focaccia
• White bean dip
• Baba ganoush
• Stuffed grape leaves
• Sumac roasted olives
• Pita chips

Spanish Nosh Station

Of course, no Cinco de Mayo party would be complete without some true Spanish cuisine. We used our artistic flair to create a spectacular Spanish nosh station complete with:

• Tortilla de papas
• Grilled garlic shrimp
• Chorizo
• Manchego
• Roasted red peppers
• Marcona almonds
• Jamon serrano

Mexican Churro Bar

For dessert, we brought in contemporary white bookcases to serve up hand fried Mexican churros with classic dips. Guests had fun putting their own favorite twist on such traditional Spanish desserts using these sweet toppings:

• Chocolate cinnamon dip
• Dulce de leche dip

• Powered sugar shakers

It was a true pleasure sharing our creative launch party ideas and innovative cuisine with Eversource to plan and execute this unprecedented cocktail reception. We invite you to take a walk through some of our other exceptional corporate events and contact our Boston catering team to start planning your own.

• MIT Recognition Event
• Aveo Oncology Awards Dinner
• Commonwealth Holiday Party
• C3's Framing Boston Party

Best Boston Corporate Event Venues

One way that BG Events and Catering makes planning a corporate event easy is by helping you choose a venue that is best suited to your vision.Partnerships with premier corporate event venues in Boston allow us to efficiently plan and execute even the most out-of-the-box ideas. This advantage recently helped us garner recognition by the Boston Business Journal as a “Top 25” Boston event planner.After clients use our venue locator tool and consult with our professional event planners, these six exceptional Boston event venues often rise to the top.

90FS

Contact: Jaye O’Leary. Located on the ninth floor of One Federal Street in the heart of the financial district, this stunning corporate event venue offers unparalleled city views from modern indoor and outdoor spaces. The flexible layout makes 90FS ideal for any corporate event in Boston. One of our favorite areas is the open-air terrace that is beautifully complemented by a reflection pool, fountains, elegant trees and the surrounding cityscape. The interior space of 90FS is equally sophisticated and offers dramatic views of downtown Boston. As one of our newest venues offering cutting-edge amenities and inspirational city views, we are excited to unite our innovative cuisine and design ideas with 90FS.

Boston Society of Architects

Contact: Jessica Kriley. Companies looking to bring out the creativity and artistic flair in employees will fall in love with the Boston Society of Architects Space in Seaport. Countless galleries and breakout rooms are especially popular for product launches and corporate employee events in Boston. The BSA’s wonderful patio on the four-point waterfront area also attracts festive corporate holiday parties. From a “Great Gatsby” event to fashion shows, the unique architecture and curated art installations create the perfect ambience for even the most imaginative events.

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

The CRMII is ready to welcome up to 300 of your employees to its historic Waltham venue overlooking the Charles River. The 19th-century textile mill sets the tone for some of Boston’s most memorable corporate parties, product launches and seminars. The Puma event took full advantage of the CRMII’s flexible floor plan and stunning features like the 50-foot ceilings in its main exhibit gallery. This famous venue featuring brick and beam architecture with grand windows keeps its technology up to date. This means you can creatively plan a modern event while paying tribute to Boston’s fine history. Wi-Fi and screens expand your options for presentations and entertainment that will impress guests. We love introducing clients to innovative corporate event entertainment ideas that inspire guests to stretch their visions ahead of current trends while celebrating the past.

Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts

Contact: Jennifer Whitman. Large corporate events for up to 1,000 guests are drawn to the elegant Cyclorama located in the south end neighborhood of Boston. This grand historic venue is situated among the biggest collection of Victorian brownstones found in New England and features a stunning copper skylight dome above a brick-lined 23,000-square-foot space. We love adding corporate event decorations that complement the urban chic elements of this famous Boston venue. The simple yet stunning Cyclorama provides a versatile and vast space that is easily transformed into the perfect setting for one-of-a-kind product launches, employee recognition dinners and worldwide conventions. Modern features like video mapping also appeal to the most advanced events like c3/Framing Boston.

UMB Campus Center

The University of Massachusetts Boston Campus Center is the perfect place for educational corporate events and product launches. It offers a multi-purpose space with gorgeous views of the city skyline and Boston Harbor. Conveniently located on the oceanfront, its 8,100-square-foot ballroom can be transformed to any corporate event theme while smaller breakout rooms provide a more intimate learning environment for 10-75 guests. The UMB Campus Center’s modern technological amenities, including state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, also make it a premier location for companies introducing advanced products and ideas. These companies work with a top Boston catering company to ensure event décor and food are equally innovative.

Waterworks Museum

Contact: Christine Monahan. The Waterworks Museum features a late 19th-century building that reminds guests of Boston’s “Golden Age” while your company celebrates one of its own milestones. The Richardsonian-style building made with rock faced granite and sandstone trim stands three stories high and provides a majestic setting for some of Boston’s most unique corporate events. Massive, steam-driven engines and views across the Chestnut Hill Reservoir create a truly exceptional setting for product launches and employee recognition parties in Brookline.To see how we transform the best Boston event venues into spectacular celebrations, we invite you to take a walk through some of our other most innovative corporate events. Then contact our professional team to start planning your own exceptional corporate event.

• Microsoft Holiday Party
• MIT Recognition Event
• Aveo Oncology Awards Dinner
• Commonwealth Holiday Party
• C3's Framing Boston

Event Spotlight: WeWork First Year Anniversary Party in Boston

WeWork celebrated its first year in Boston with an anniversary party as magnificent as the city itself. On the day of the event, stunning food, spectacular cocktails and upbeat entertainment welcomed 1,000 people from the Boston community.Our challenge was to engage guests and encourage them to circulate among the floors, and we accomplished this by transforming each floor into a unique experience. Based on the chatter among guests, it was clear that the different food stations and specialty cocktails did their jobs.

Setting the Scene

The anniversary party venue featured wood panel walls and modern designs that lent themselves to a contemporary celebration. Boston Event Lighting and Films provided moving/intelligent lighting and A/V featuring blue and green hues to enhance the ambience.In addition to a neon sign with the slogan “We Work Better Together,” we drove home WeWork’s message with these anniversary party decorations:

• Food signs: innovative dishes introduced by modern displays were one way we reinforced WeWork’s culture. We displayed menu items with framed clear panels that labeled dishes “WeWork” at the bottom.
• WeWork posters: grand signs delivered messages like “BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY” and “BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE.” Intended to complement the anniversary party theme, these posters featured contemporary business backgrounds.
• Party favors table: as guests left, WeWork wished them a “good night” with mini notebooks and pennants that remind guests to “Do What You Love.”

Anniversary Party Food Stations

We created a custom anniversary party menu including several unique food stations as well as an open bar and signature cocktails. We also took care of the liquor liability and bar set up so WeWork could simply enjoy their big first year celebration. Most guests could not settle on one food station, so they visited multiple floors to enjoy several of these menu items:Second Floor: “Work Hard, Play Hard”Guests enjoyed a Cranberry Manhattan cocktail and these tasty bites:

• Seasonal crudité shooters: served in a creamy buttermilk basil sauce
• Italian meatballs: enjoyed in a crushed tomato sauce
• Popcorn bags: flavored with traditional butter or jazzed up with rosemary & sea salt or truffle flavors
• Warm buffalo chicken dip: alongside pretzel bites

Third Floor: “Head in the Clouds”Guests’ spirits soared as they enjoyed beer, wine and Ginger Tangerine Sangrias with this Mediterranean cuisine:

• Tomato and walnut tabouleh
• Chickpea and parsnip hummus
• Whipped feta with sweet pepper relish
• Muhammarra
• Stuffed grape leaves
• Citrus roasted olives
• Pita chips + grilled focaccia

7th Floor: “Cheesy Goodness”On this level, MassChallenge celebrated with WeWork guests as they enjoyed beer, wine, “Accelerator” Palmers, bloody Mary cocktails and grilled cheese sandwiches served 3-ways:

• Spanish Grilled Cheese: manchego, olives, red peppers
• BBQ Brisket Grilled Cheese: pepper jack, fried onions
• Italian Grilled Cheese: pesto, roasted tomatoes

8th Floor: “Free Your Mind”Guests were energized and empowered by the words of WeWork co-founders and a raffle that gave away 10 Commons Memberships. We made sure our Boston catering service offered guests choices so they could explore them with open minds. Guests had access to a full bar as well as blood orange margaritas. In addition, there were plenty of options at the flatbread carvery and dim sum traveling cart.Chef Flatbread CarveryOur catering team baked crispy flatbreads and topped them with these exceptional garnishes:

• Portobello: gouda, crispy kale, truffle
• Smoked Salmon: creme fraiche, lemon, arugula
• Tomato + Basil
• Spinach + Artichoke
• Roasted Apple: leeks, cheddar Grab Some Dim Sum Traveling Cart A crisp display of dim sum circulated the room, offering foods like sushi that are known to foster socialization.

Grab Some Dim Sum Traveling CartThese items allowed our team to bring the food straight to the guests:

• Steamed Vegetable Dumplings: soy lime vinaigrette
• Shanghai Noodle Boxes: julienned vegetables
• Sushi: spicy tuna, California roll, vegetable maki

Sales Tour Floors and LobbyAs guests meandered through the sales tour floors, sparkling grape fizz cocktails, nosh and colorful vegetable chips refreshed them. When they walked through the lobby, they were tempted by an elegant display of sweets including fresh baked cookies, blondies, s’mores and chocolate.Cutting Edge EntertainmentOf course, no anniversary party is complete without great entertainment. There was no shortage of singing, dancing and celebrating to the music set out by the famous Jane Doze who flew in from NY for this special event. We knew they would raise the party’s energy level without overpowering the event goals. It was a true pleasure sharing our creative anniversary party ideas and innovative cuisine with WeWork to plan and execute this extraordinary event. We invite you to take a walk through some of our other exceptional corporate events and contact our team to start planning your own.Photography by Lauren Kallen

More Great Events You Might Like:

• C3's Framing Boston
• Commonwealth Holiday Party
• MIT Recognition Event
• Aveo Oncology Awards Dinner
• Microsoft Holiday Party

Employee Appreciation and Company Award Party Ideas

Adding a creative twist to current event trends will make for an employee appreciation party that surpasses all expectations.If your company encourages employees to strive for innovation, excellence and attention to details, then be sure to convey these at your event!In this post, we share 11 tips for planning a stunning employee appreciation party that will wow your guests.

11 Employee Recognition Party Tips

1. Striking employee appreciation party flyer: include all the basics such as time, location, RSVP and guest information with an exceptional flair. Invitations should jump out at employees with eye-catching images, bright company colors or logos and fonts that match your corporate style. You also may email a version with a fun introduction to forward to family if invited.
2. Custom menus: magnificent custom menus will reflect your company’s energy and appropriately reward employees with extraordinary dishes. For formal events, we suggest plated dinners with innovative dishes like filet of beef and grilled salmon with lemon aioli served with herbed risotto cake and sauté of haricots verts. We also encourage you to include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu options to ensure everyone enjoys the dining experience.
3. Tempting desserts: sweets are often considered a reward, so encourage guests to indulge in our collection of couture desserts. Small bites like salted caramel petite cupcakes and blueberry basil mini mousse shooters are the perfect ending to a delicious meal.
4. Indoor-outdoor venue: we love the idea of having a formal dinner and awards inside and then taking the party to an outdoor setting. To keep a business theme in mind, you can select a venue like the sophisticated 9OFS that overlooks the business district.
5. Social floor plan: although this is a formal party, you also want to encourage guests to relax and celebrate amongst good company. The furniture and how it is situated can have a big impact on how the party flows. We suggest selectively dispersing lounge furniture to allow plenty of space for a high-energy event with highboys for cocktail and appetizers.
6. Thank you messages: employee appreciation party decorations should remind your guests about the party’s key message. We love the idea of weaving “Thank you!” and your CEO’s signature into party decorations for a genuine touch.
7. All-inclusive presentations: thank-you speeches and awards are an important part of any employee recognition party. Be sure staff award categories recognize all different departments, talents and milestones. It is also important that your venue is set up so all guests can easily hear the speakers.
8. Project spotlight: if you know some employees who are particularly proud of their work and enjoy public speaking, offer them the opportunity to present their projects. Moments like these moments will shine at your employee appreciation party.
9. Raffles and spinning prize wheels: another way to reward employees is by giving away prizes. Announce a few hot prizes in advance to amp up anticipation and have some big surprises that will keep guests talking long after the event.
10. Gracious staff: the catering team you hire should reinforce your company’s values including its appreciation of all employees. Professional event staff will greet guests with a friendly smile and sincere admiration.
11. One-of-a-kind thank you gifts: think of high-end gifts that employees will use on a regular basis, and customize them with your company’s logo and colors. These will serve as a thank you and a continuing reminder that your company appreciates hard work.

These ideas are just a starting point to spark your creativity when planning an employee appreciation and awards party guests will remember.From custom menus filled with signature dishes to creative displays and decorations, BG will help you create a vibrant party.For examples of how innovation meshes with corporate event visions, check out these events:

• MIT recognition event
• Aveo Oncology awards dinner
• Commonwealth holiday party
• C3's "Framing Boston" Event

Event Spotlight: Worldwide Financial Banking Event in Partnership with C3

We partnered with the creative event planners at C3 to host an unprecedented Boston experience for 380 guests at this client appreciation event.

A Stunning Corporate Event with Boston Pride

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Setting the Boston Scene

In September 2014, beams of purple light and a “Framing Boston” banner welcomed guests to a most exceptional worldwide financial event. From framed city pictures to dinner menus and table numbers, the Boston skyline was elegantly weaved throughout the event décor. This business theme was perfectly contrasted by natural elements like smooth stones, gorgeous bouquets and wooden tables. Leather couches and small tables with modern stools also contributed to the contemporary yet authentic “framing Boston” atmosphere.

Innovative Hors d'oeuvres

Guests began their dining experience with small tastes of divine food. The tomato caprese water sphere displayed in the trendy shadow box was a guest favorite. But we made sure to offer options to match every drink and taste.

• Black pepper shortbread beef tenderloin cherry compote smoked salt
• Maple glazed duck in petite cone with sweet potato mousse and citrus confit
• Seared salmon cake with parsnip mousse and celery leaf
• Mini smoked corn custard tartlet sweet local cranberry

Specialty Cocktails

Many enjoyed hors d'oeuvres with a specialty cocktail highlighting Boston’s fantastic drinks. We offered a New England Harvest of apple cider, bourbon and crushed cranberries as well as a Crantastic made with cranberry infused vodka, ginger liqueur, white cranberry juice and thyme.

Local and World Renowned Drinks

In addition to specialty cocktails, local beers like the Sam Adams Lager and Seasonal Brew showcased Boston pride. We also served drinks from around the world including Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier from Germany, Veuve Elise Blanc de Blancs from France and Bacardi Rum made in the Caribbean.

Fall "Caprese" Carvery

Beautiful fall signs called guests to this appetizer station of house roasted butternut squash medallions, grilled local apples and fried sage leaves. Guests watched a chef smoke mozzarella in an encased Lucite chamber, while other chefs hand carved their order. Guests further personalized these tender small bites with toppings, such as port-braised cranberries, confit of duck and truffle salt. Enjoyed on clear Lucite small plates. With the aroma of the smoking chamber in the air, this station immersed guests in the New England fall. 

Seasonal Plated Dinner

Guests sat down to enjoy a touch of fall and BG cuisine with traditional Boston favorites in mind.

• First course: we featured local lobster and corn flan with sides, such as sweet potato straws and pumpkin leaf

• Intermezzo: cranberry sorbet with hints of pumpkin and ginger were the perfect transition to the main dish.

• Main course: we offered guests their choice of a duo of petite grilled filet with demi-glace and striped sea bass or the vegetarian alternative of polenta napoleon with late summer vegetable ratatouille, grilled asparagus, wilted Spinach and charred tomato brood.

Dessert Trio

No Boston culinary experience would be complete without some local favorite desserts. Guests savored Boston crème pie cheesecake, s'mores brownies with graham ice cream and petite apple pie with cinnamon pulled sugar.

After Dinner Dessert Stations

The end of dinner did not mark the conclusion of guests’ dining at this spectacular Boston event. After dinner, dessert stations encouraged guests to mingle and socialize among their worldly company.

• Boston whoopie pies: we displayed these old time Boston favorites in a shadow box to put a contemporary twist on a classic dessert.

Cheese and Port Station

We knew guests would enjoy drinks throughout the evening, so we made sure complimentary snacks were also available by the main bar. Guests savored the finest cheeses from Vermont and Massachusetts with local honey, fig jam, nuts, fresh fruits, dried fruits, crackers, flat breads and crostinis. Although this station may seem less significant than the main fare, it is vital because it helps guests stay engaged and social throughout the event.

Our Awesome Partners:

Overall Design, Event Production and Event Management - C3Audio Visual - AV PresentationsLighting: ALPSEntertainment: Acro Arts ProductionsPhotographer: Ken Richardson Photography 

Retirement and Business Anniversary Party Ideas

Retirement and anniversary parties can be thrilling and emotionally fulfilling events for individuals and corporations. Gourmet food shows appreciation for hard work while innovative menu items foster excitement for what is next.In this post, we offer ideas to make retirement and corporate anniversary parties vibrant events for everyone attending.

How to Throw a Spectacular Retirement and Anniversary Party

Retirement and Anniversary Party Themes

Jet back in time or hype the present and future era with these retirement and anniversary party theme ideas:

• Decade: the year your company started or how many years its been in business can set your anniversary party theme. For example, have fun celebrating a 60^th anniversary with a 1960s theme complete with beads and psychedelic decorations. You may even invite your guests to dress in the style of that decade and serve them trendy food.
• Color or slogan: you can weave corporate colors, slogans and photos into almost any event theme. If you plan to really highlight your company’s roots, you may opt for a black and white historical theme and photos.
• Interests or values: if you are celebrating an individual or company with strong values or interests, those attributes can set your retirement or anniversary party theme. Encouraging donations to charities in lieu of gifts will make the event fulfilling for everyone.

Retirement and Anniversary Party Invitations

From email to print, there are countless creative and entertaining ways to spread the retirement and anniversary party news. With employees, press, clients, partners and the public all being potential guests, you will likely use several engaging mediums. Make sure all your retirement or anniversary party invitations convey the same exciting news and include these key elements:

• Basic information: date, time, location, dress and theme should all be listed in a way that draws in guests and sparks further curiosity about your big event.
• Fun hashtags: start hashtaging clever expressions when promoting the event on social media and let guests reciprocate. You can also print these catchy retirement or anniversary party hashtags on invitations.
• Promotional offer: welcome current and potential clients to your company celebration with special deals or contests.
• Thank-you note: whether you are celebrating an individual’s great career or years of corporate progress, let each person know that their efforts are valued. A personal signature adds an exceptional touch.

Retirement and Anniversary Party Decorations

Table runners and centerpieces accented with company colors set the stage for a spectacular corporate celebration. We also suggest adding interactive décor like a gorgeous custom bulletin board for guests to pin pictures and quotes. This retirement or anniversary party decoration later serves as a legacy piece in the office.

Catering a Retirement and Anniversary Party

Custom menus that showcase creativity in the kitchen are a key feature of retirement and business anniversary parties. Innovative dishes create an energy among guests that fosters mingling and celebrating. We love these these retirement and anniversary food ideas:

• Passed appetizers and hors d’oeuvres: a fabulous cocktail reception sets the stage for a classy evening. Appetizers like white fish ceviche shooters and hyllo tartlets filled with brie and ginger candy start the evening on a high note.
• Plated dinners: most retirement and anniversary parties will serve delicious plated dinners. This invites guests to relax during the main meal and enjoy their company while celebrating success. Our sample menu gives you an idea of the custom dishes we serve like a roasted vegetable and polenta tower with wilted spinach, mushroom ragout and porcini sauce.
• Chef stations: although food stations can be considered a bit more casual, they offer the benefit of encouraging guests to mingle as they create beautiful plates. Because our food like fire-grilled asparagus with tarragon béarnaise and a carving station with roasted beef tenderloin is anything but casual, chef stations are still a great option for formal events.
• Dessert: cake is the traditional retirement party dessert of choice, but we also suggest mini indulgences displayed using our out-of-the-box ideas. Mini mousse shooters, petite cupcakes and mini pies are the perfect treats for an event where socializing and networking is a priority.
• Extraordinary drinks: a big celebration calls for a full-service bar with the finest beer, wine and spirits. BG Events and Catering staff events with experienced bartenders who make sure each guest finds a drink suited to his or her style.

Retirement and Anniversary Party Activities

Retirement and anniversary parties are all about recognizing the best in people and corporations when they reach a milestone. Good memories will flow with these retirement and anniversary party entertainment ideas:

• Slide show: before the event, ask guests to email pictures to compile them in a slide show. For a fun surprise, upload additional pictures that your retirement or anniversary party photographer takes early in the event.
• Celebrity entertainment: whether you hype a famous honoree or have them make a surprise appearance, this is sure to be the talk of the night.
• Speeches and toasts: plan to recognize achievements with a focus on the individuals and departments that made them possible. Be sure to allow plenty of time for everyone who would like to share their feelings and memories.
• Announcements: launch a new product, service or partnership that will have the press or media buzzing after a business anniversary party. At a retirement party, you may want to announce your new hometown or big trip.
• Party favors: retirement party gifts should enable the guest of honor to pursue his or her passion. But we also suggest giving guests small party favors that complement the retirement party theme of choice. For business anniversary parties, get creative with party favors that will remind guests of your unique company.

For an idea of how BG Events and Catering puts on a spectacular corporate event, we invite you to step inside these innovative company celebrations:

• Microsoft holiday party
• MIT recognition event
• Aveo Oncology awards dinner

Don't Forget These 10 Things at Your Next Product Launch

Throwing a product launch party is a lot of fun, but it also requires meticulous planning. The details of your brand or product matter, and so, too, should every element of its launch. We have gathered 10 key items to make sure your event has a memorable and effective introduction to your guests.

Product or Brand Launch Party Checklist

1. Party theme: enhance your new product or brand with a party theme. Weave it into décor, activities, music and food and beverage menu. Also be sure to educate all staff about the message that your company wants to convey.2. Upbeat music: make sure the launch party music is positive, complements your theme and is not too loud that people can’t hear. The best launch party music keeps the room’s energy up without hindering communication.3. The Right People: Make sure your message reaches your target audience and have people who will spread the good word. Also, consider the gender balance and invite enough people to fill your venue. To facilitate a launch party that is bustling and creates a buzz continuing long after it ends, include these people on your launch party invitation list:

• Media: invite journalists, bloggers and other press that will help your product or brand reach its target audience. We also suggest giving them guest invites so they can bring a few friends. This will increase the chance that they attend and likely will do so with a colleague.
• Industry experts: contact these VIP guests and entice them with the chance to cross promote their own brand.
• Partners: if you support other companies and individuals, then allow them to do the same for you. From promoting your brand or product launch party to participating in it, this is a win-win proposition.
• Prospective clients: know your target market and reach out to it with launch party invitations that speed to their needs.
• Potential investors: more often than not, new brands or products require additional capital. Even if you don’t need funding immediately, it is wise to make these connections.

4. Clever social media: encourage guests to become brand ambassadors with memorable hashtags marked on party materials. We also suggest setting up a fun photo booth with your company’s logo and easy uploading to social media.5. Full-service catering: consider a full-service caterer that will coordinate your whole event. Then décor, entertainment, food, beverages and all other details are taken care of so your company can focus on doing what it does best. No matter what you include, enhance your evening with these foods and drink ideas:

• Specialty drinks: offer unique drinks that match your brand’s image and complement your launch party theme. Make sure to offer a variety of beverages in addition to your specialty drink so your guests have an assortment of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
• Meaningful food: a menu should be carefully thought out and customized to match your brand and the event’s atmosphere. If your company has cultural or ethnic roots, you may choose to highlight these in the menu.

6. Live demos: you want people to fall in love with your product or service. Live demos should be exciting, educational and interactive. When possible, allow attendees to sample your new product or service.7. Advertise giveaways: raffles and games are great for entertaining and easy to match to your launch party theme. Prizes also entice people to attend your event and stay for the big prize or competition, so advertise them well in advance.8. Evoke emotion: share your company’s story laced with emotions that allows people to relate and bond with the brand.9. Swag: everyone likes to take home freebies. From product samples to themed cupcakes, clever swag will reinforce your brand’s image and make guests smile. Swag bags should also include leaflets with product and buying info so attendees act upon their positive emotions.10. Unforgettable experience: you don’t want attendees to leave the event with nothing to remember; by properly executing our previous nine suggestions, you will make sure your guests end the night in a memorable way.

More Articles You Might Like:

• Measuring Corporate Event ROI
• Awesome Event Photos from 2014 Boston Events
• Lounge Furniture Layout Ideas for Your Next Event

Boston Corporate Party Ideas

Companies in Boston, you have the opportunity to throw a corporate party for one of the most vibrant populations! We’d like to help you make the most of our stellar city and your company event with these corporate party ideas.

Trendy Boston Corporate Party Ideas

Pulling from our favorite 2015 Boston party themes, here’s how you can highlight the best aspects of your company with these trendy corporate party ideas:

• Company pride: make your party “all one color,” and make that your company color. This theme gives you free reign to deck out the venue in your corporate colors and logos. It’s especially fitting for brand events such as product launches, rebrands, new store openings and open houses. We also love to see company colors and logos take center stage at corporate anniversary parties.
• Success stories: showcase your clients’ and company’s success with an inspirational party theme. Showcase moving stories, quotes and images on the walls with a projector and blown up into large posters...There are so many ways to turn this theme into a memorable event. Plus, it’s a great way to make your clients feel valued, motivate potential customers to work with your company and recognize employees’ hard work. This is also an ideal theme for a retirement party by recognizing individuals who helped shape your career.
• Going green: combine the outdoor garden, seasonal flowers and eco-friendly party themes by hosting a green event. This theme is always trending; and with such a positive impact, your event will send a positive message to all attendees—you just have to remember to promote the “green-ness” of your event.
• Giving back: no matter the celebration (but perhaps even more so when you celebrate the holidays), keep in mind that most people really do love to give back. That’s why we especially love giving back to a charity during your corporate event. Not only will it will boost the morale of everyone at the party, it will also help those less fortunate. Here are some Boston charities that might help you consider giving back to a local cause:
  • One Fund Boston
  • Greater Boston Food Bank
  • Project Bread - The Walk for Hunger

Bright Ideas for Your Boston Corporate Event

Awesome corporate party décor will help shape your guests’ experiences. Make sure your photographer does not have a problem capturing your top-notch event with these party décor and lighting ideas:

• Branded centerpieces: for any type of centerpiece, we suggest incorporating your company’s logo in a clever and festive way that increases brand recognition. For example, do you have an edible centerpiece like a dessert tower? Have your logo frosted on to the top of some of the dessert treats for some appetizing branding.
• Lighting: lighting is one of the best (and easiest) ways to set the mood at your party, which is why we are crazy about it! Keep your venue bright to magnify the energy of your corporate party. Or, turn down the lights to spotlight certain décor pieces on the walls or your buffet/food station areas where you are trying to direct most of the party’s traffic.
• Furniture: your corporate party furniture and seating design plan should facilitate networking and socializing—or should promote your event goals should they be different from that. Make sure guests will be comfortable and ready to mingle whether that means using smaller pods of furniture, several two- and three-seat sofas or plenty of highboy tables for the come-and-go type cocktail hour functions.
• Swag bags: freebies (edible or not) can be one of your corporate event decorations that draw the most attention and serve as a brand reminder. If you are throwing an employee appreciation party or an awards event, upscale company branded gifts serve as both swag bags and thank you gifts.

Custom Menus and Drinks for Boston Events!

Show pride for your brand and customer base with these Boston event menu and bar ideas:

• Community favorites: think “Boston.” A Boston corporate party menu favorite includes all of New England’s finest fare: clam chowder, fish and chips, homemade baked beans or Boston cream pie. These menu items tap into hometown pride and service the trending “late-night comfort food” fad that everyone loves right now (including us!).
• Corporate special: take a unique aspect of your company and work it into your custom corporate event menu. Creative companies will naturally want to offer a signature menu item that surprises and excites guests—whether that includes a particular ingredient that means something to your company, or inserting company names, mascots, logos or other important brand-specific vocabulary into the menu titles—make sure you customize your food and drink!
• Signature drinks: in addition to traditional popular beverages, offer innovative drinks served in custom designed company glasses. Upscale disposables can easily incorporate your company logo on each glass. Some events can even have custom ice cubes made and put into drinks.

Corporate Event Entertainment Ideas

When choosing your corporate party entertainment, first think of your event goals. Is this an upbeat, positive event or a cool, sophisticated type of party?Whether you choose lively entertainment or a jazzy ensemble, here are some corporate party entertainment ideas:

• Live music: from pop to indie rock to jazz and classical, Boston has no shortage of great music and local entertainers. We are huge fans of live music, which includes quartets, big bands, garage bands or even employee bands (which is the coolest way to get your entire company invested in the event).
• Team building activities: even if your company party is not holiday themed, you can incorporate some of our company holiday party activities for Boston events. Any activity that gets the crowd interacting is a win for events everywhere.
• VIP guest: Boston has an impressive collection of local artists. From comedians to street performers, entertain guests and support our local businesses by hiring a Boston favorite.
• Charity station: this speaks volumes about your company’s values and leaves guests with a giving spirit. Choose a charity your company has a good relationship with, or ask employees to vote on the charity they wish to support this year. Then, incorporate donation stations throughout the event to raise money, resources, awareness and encourage volunteering.

For more Boston corporate party ideas, see photos, menus and more from these Boston events:

• Microsoft holiday party
• MIT recognition event
• Aveo Oncology awards dinner

Measuring Your Return on Investment for Hosting Corporate Events

How can you tell if your corporate events are worth the investment? How can you measure their success?Firstly, as you already know, there are so many reasons to host an event, and that’s where this entire process begins! Some of those celebrations might include:

• Product launch
• Grand opening
• Employee appreciation
• Holiday party
• Milestone celebration
• Client appreciation

The list is endless. We commend all companies that offer up an experience to employees, clients, VIPs, families and more. We also believe that the benefits of hosting a very successful event will always do more than justify the investment.However, measuring those benefits and the event ROI aren’t always so easily quantified.Throughout this article, we are going to walk you through some of the ways to help you determine your event ROI!

Ways to Measure Corporate Event ROI

When it comes to being able to measure ROI, all events must begin with event objectives. After all, you need to know what figures you’re interested in measuring to determine your return!Some examples include:

1. Increase productivity levels.
2. Boost employee morale and engagement.
3. Introduce a new product to key clients.
4. Build brand awareness.

Once you establish your S.M.A.R.T. goals, the next step is to establish the ways you can measure how successful your event is or will be.

Measuring Corporate Event ROI: Pre- and Post-Event Surveys

Companies looking to boost or maintain high levels of the aforementioned can incorporate pre- and post-event surveys for their line-level and manager-level employees.Employee appreciation events include, but are not limited to: holiday parties, annual picnics, quarterly parties, company anniversaries, retirement parties, etc.Countless publications offer tips to positively impact things like employee morale, productivity levels, psychological health and well-being, employee engagement, company culture and happiness levels. Those tips frequently involve celebrations, events and employee recognition/rewards.Some of the most successful companies have a strong link to healthy levels of the above-mentioned. This leads us to deduce that the most successful businesses are the ones that host events!

How to Measure the Success of Your Appreciation Events:

Select a sample of employees and give them your survey before the event. Make sure you are asking questions that specifically quantify what you’re measuring (the above list is a good start).

For example: ask survey responders to place a value on unquantifiable things, such as their energy levels and feelings. Use a 1-10 rating scale.

After the event, give the employees who answered the pre-survey the same (or a similar) survey, once again asking them to quantify those intangibles. Assess the results to determine how successful your event was in boosting morale, improving employee engagement and in bettering the overall well-being of your company.

There are pre-made surveys that can help you quantify these difficult-to-measure factors, but we recommend creating your own survey and setting it up through an online survey program that will sample your selection so that your responses are custom to your company.

Measuring Corporate Event ROI: Financial Statement Comparisons

Financial figures are some of the more basic tools you can use when measuring your event ROI. Most often, if your numbers increase over the past year (all other things considered staying relatively the same), then your event was probably a success.However, that’s obviously not the best way to compare your event’s success because there are other factors that would impact the actual ROI and financial statements. You can break down your measurements even more so that you can determine how successful your event needs to be in order to prove a return on your investment.Assess Your Financial Statements with These Modifiers:

If you’re interested in measuring productivity increases or sales impacts, narrow down the time frame in which you’re collecting data to compare the results. For example, after your first quarter employee party, measure pertinent financial figures over the next two weeks. Compare those results to last year’s results during the same two weeks, or you can measure the results from the month following the annual company picnic with the results from the same month in the previous years.

Are you launching a new product or celebrating a specific brand achievement? Often times, these are public or invitation-only events. Therefore, you would need to measure the success of the event based on your event’s launch or brand interaction goals. It is simple to measure whether or not you reached those goals by the event turnout, number of sales at the event (i.e., product launches or client appreciation events) and the amount of social media interaction (i.e., facebook likes, tweets, hashtags, etc.). Plus, you can measure several other quantifiable marketing tools, such as increases in website hits for the next several weeks, promo codes used, etc.

Measuring Corporate Event ROI: Behavior

Launching a product? Opening a new location? Interested in running a sales competition?In general, measuring the return on events involving your employees’ or clients’ behaviors is relatively straightforward and easy to measure when using promotional codes, materials or offers. In other words, you are measuring their behaviors as a result of the event.

Measure your sales at the actual product launch or grand opening celebration.

This one is a little backward because you will see the return on the promise of an investment first, with the actual event coming second. Reward staff with an event when they meet certain sales goals; the event is now the motivator.

As a thank you for attending your client appreciation event, send guests home with a promotional code or offer. In addition to the increased brand confidence and association, you will learn from a well-run event that you can measure the calls to action through those special offers.

Measuring Corporate Event ROI: Focus Groups

Focus groups are expensive and time-consuming; however, the results derived from them are often worth it.How You Can Measure Using Focus Groups:

For those very large events with goals involving employee morale or engagement, consider conducting a focus group with employees after your event to see how effective your execution was. For an additional fee, you can hire third-party groups who specialize in conducting these types of studies.

For large events with goals involving brand awareness, brand loyalty, etc., consider conducting a focus group with clients and/or event attendees to assess the effectiveness of your event execution.

Corporate Party Return on Investment

Unfortunately, providing hard and accurate corporate event ROI is difficult. More often than not, the benefits are so intangible or not directly related to one specific measurable goal that the real benefits of an event can get lost amongst the quest to prove its value.Fortunately, a number of other organizations have conducted numerous interviews, written hundreds of articles and put in a lot of work to study the real return of a corporate event.The results are overwhelmingly positive: timely, well-executed events help your business grow.For additional reading on the topic, here are some resources:

• Seven Events You Can Run to Grow Your Business Right Now
• 8 Reasons Why Running an Event is Good for Business

For more sources as to how you can prove the ROI on an event, check out these articles:

• How to Prove the ROI of an Event
• Measuring the Value of Events and Meetings

More Articles You Might Like:

• Boston Event Trends for 2015
• Awesome 2014 Event Photos
• How to Host a Green Event
• Spring Party Trends in Boston

Event Spotlight: Boston Holiday Party at Royale

Winter 2014 was a great winter for holiday parties, and the snowball spectacular at Royale was definitely one of our favorites.The Royale evening was a multi-act, multilevel affair with dining, entertainment and festive décor throughout the entire venue. As per the snowball theme, we turned Royale into a true winter wonderland—there was no escaping the cool, consistent and cohesive event décor, which blended seamlessly into the evening’s entertainment and culinary creations.

The Opening Act

As guests walked down the snowy-white carpet, which was lined with realistic-looking rocks and LED trees and other North Woods-like natural décor, they passed a vintage sleigh and a few scattered reindeer as they entered the club.Carolers welcomed the entrants to a night of wintery fun.The snowy forest hosted the client’s slow-motion photography station, large snowflakes covered the dance floor, and a lighted Yeti stood in the background.In contrast to the stark white of the main floor décor, there were natural décor elements, wooden accents and even a human tree walking around, branches in the air, greeting and interacting with guests.Seating took the form of gorgeous all-white lounge furniture with highboy dining tables and clear stools—adding shimmery practicality and a place for guests to congregate and eat.

Act I

The Royale stage housed the gaming center, including an Alpine snowboard simulator and other winter carnival games provided by the client.Our staff kicked off the interactive event by offering passed hors d’oeuvres throughout the first act.As guests settled into the scene of a frozen wood scene, they sipped cocktails and watched as the carolers moved onto the dance floor to serenade them with a classic holiday cocktail music performance.

Act II

Act II welcomed our staff, who served the short-plate restaurant experience, opened the winter savory pie station, began baking the crispy flatbreads and offered the international rice bar.

Act III

Drinking and feasting turned into dancing as the DJ began to play lively music, and the lights were dropped for a more inviting atmosphere.

The Closing Act

As dancing continued into the night, we rolled out two large sleighs filled with our signature dessert items and led them throughout the venue. The “restaurant” portion of the dinner service was transformed into a liquid nitrogen experience, which was one of the most interactive and successful elements of the entire party.

Boston Holiday Event Menu

Our team worked from our “snowball” holiday menu to perfect the best menu for our client. Guests enjoyed several courses, including the following:Passed Hors d’Oeuvres—small bites to entice and appease the appetite

• Duck confit cone
• Chicken tamale cup
• Korean short rib mini tacos
• Fried goat cheese
• Scallion pancake with vegetables
• Pulled BBQ pork quesadilla

Short-Plate Restaurant Experience—a contemporary display filled with mini dishes

• Salmon Wellington
• Seared scallop
• Ginger roasted pumpkin
• Truffle and porcini flan
• Tuscan chicken
• Curried duck breast
• Crispy pork belly
• Tournedos of beef

Winter Pies—a collection of individual casseroles topped with flaky pastry shapes

• Seafood
• Turkey
• Beef
• Vegetable

Flatbread Carvery—crispy flatbreads, each freshly baked and uniquely garnished

• Portobello
• Smoked salmon
• Pepperoni
• Winter vegetable
• Tomato and basil
• Prosciutto
• Roasted apple
• Spinach and artichoke
• Smoked duck

Rice Bar—an elegant display of toppings to accompany warm rice timbales

• Coconut curry chicken
• Moroccan vegetable tagine
• Eggplant
• North African braised beef

Interactive Liquid Nitrogen Station—frozen in front of guests with liquid nitrogen

• Dragon’s breath frozen meringues
• Ice cream pops

!ndulge—the finest selection of petite pastries

• Snow cones
• French macaroons
• Coconut meringue
• White cake pops
• Assorted mini cupcakes

More Articles You Might Like:

• 2015 Featured Party Theme: Literary-inspired Party
• Lounge Furniture Ideas and Designs for Party Seating
• Awesome 2014 Event Photos

Featured Event Theme: Literary-inspired Party

Literary parties are one of the party themes on the rise in 2015. We love this theme for tons of reasons, one of which is you can customize just about every element of it with ease and precision, taking guests from one imaginary world to another with a simple change in tables or turn about the room.

Best Ideas for a Literary Party

Literary Party Appetizer and Hors d’Oeuvre Ideas

What do you serve to start off a literary party? These themed starter menus are great:

• Tea-party-type foods, à la Alice in Wonderland, such as finger sandwiches, cookies and tea
• Green eggs and ham, an appetizer fit for Dr. Seuss fans
• Fried green tomatoes, after Fannie Flagg’s tale
• Rabbit stew, a Rabbit, Run inspiration

Book Party Menu Ideas

The beauty of this theme is . . . you can serve just about anything and turn it into your theme!

• Pizza Napoletana, for Eat, Pray, Love readers
• 1920s menu including potato and leek soup, herb chicken and plum pudding, in honor of The Great Gatsby
• Russian menu staples, for example, beef stroganoff, for Anna Karenina
• Southern barbecue, a fitting menu for the abundance of highly revered Southern novels, such as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil or No Country for Old Men
• Orange chicken, a loose representation of A Clockwork Orange

Cocktails Inspired by Literature

Cocktails named after famous literary characters and book titles? Sounds amazingly fun to us! Here are a few signature book-inspired cocktail recipes that we like:

1. Catcher in the Rye, after the coming-of-age classic by J.D. Salinger: rye whiskey, sherry, Grand Marnier, Torani Amer and bitters
2. Tennessee Fizz, after author and playwright Tennessee Williams: dry gin, heavy cream, egg whites, lemon and lime juice, orange flower water and sugar
3. Mint Julep, after the ever-popular drink made famous by American great William Faulkner: whiskey, sugar, mint and ice
4. Tequila Mockingbird, when said out loud, sounds just like the classic To Kill a Mockingbird: tequila, lime juice, watermelon puree, agave syrup and a slice of jalapeno pepper
5. Good old-fashioned red wine, so often consumed in Middle Earth favorites such as Game of Thrones

Book Party Décor

The most creative places to incorporate the theme are in both the centerpieces and place settings. Here are some of our favorite ways to turn your tables (and more) into literature:

• Themed tables. Name each table after a book or author, such as the Alice in Wonderland table or the Lewis Carroll table.
• Classic book piles. Stack up old classics found at secondhand shops to create the main component of the centerpieces.
• Library card table numbers. Write table numbers on old or blank library checkout cards.
• Library card invitations. Make your invites part of the literary theme!
• Page place settings. Fold up actual pages from old literary classics and turn them into place setting name cards.
• Books on a string. String books on heavy, durable rope or twine and hang them facedown along the walls.

Other Articles You Might Like:

• Awesome 2014 Event Photos
• How to Host a Vegas-themed Party
• 10 Party Themes for 2015

Lounge Furniture Ideas and Designs for Party Seating

Party furniture can add so much to an event.Why incorporate lounge and other furniture into your event design?

• Give guests a place to sit and relax
• Offer a place for guests to talk semi-privately
• Provide the opportunity to socialize
• Fill larger venue space
• Build up the theme
• Suggest where to (and where not to) stand, sit, gather, socialize or avoid

Event furniture serves many purposes. The obvious are giving people a place to sit, a place to socialize, and a place to be somewhat private. Event furniture, however, also benefits the timeline of an event or protects the boundaries of an event venue by “suggesting” what guests do and where to do it. For example, if there is a bunch of electrical equipment around outlets in one corner of the room, cover it up with some themed lounge furniture.Lounge furniture also can add a stylistic element to an event. Go with furniture that fits your event design, look and tone—in other words, go with themed furniture.

Furniture Ideas for Your Next Event

Outdoor Party Seating

Outdoor party seating and outdoor lounge furniture can be arranged on an open lawn, a patio or veranda space, or underneath special tenting depending on your event venue and your event goals.Here are some of our favorite outdoor party furniture ideas:

• Chunky lounge furniture in all white. This is a sleek, chic party look that goes with so many different event themes and designs whether the furniture is arranged out in the open or in a small section of your event space.
• Long sectionals with color blocking. With the base in one color and the cushions in another, a long sectional outdoor seating area creates a special section of private seating.
• Multiple seating areas in themed colors and in a single style. Many event spaces—especially in Boston—offer several private areas to enjoy an event, away from the main entertainment area. Use small outdoor verandas, patios, porches, fire pits or other areas to create a series of private or semiprivate seating areas to give guests the opportunity for more intimate conversations. Be sure to utilize the same style or color palate to pull through the design throughout the space.
• Special tenting. Rent a tent that serves as a canopy for a seating area separate from the main dining or entertaining area, such as a cabana or series of cabanas.
• Lighting above the lounge furniture. Hang strings of lights directly above the lounge furniture as an added feature of the amazing seating area.

Party Seating Ideas for Small Spaces

Not all venues are as spacious as we’d like. Use these tactics to get all of the benefits of lounge seating at an event without using quite as much space:

• Lighted cubes. Especially when paired with a lighted Lucite bar, lighted cubed seating (colored!) is a modern, sleek and festive way to provide extra seating at a cocktail party or event.
• Cushions, Moroccan style! Arrange cushions throughout your lounge area as extra seating for less formal events and gatherings.
• Sectionals . . . separated. Separate the sectional pieces to allow for walking space between seating.

Party Seating Floor Plans

Here are some of our favorite party seating floor plans that can be used in the most common of venue layouts to maximize your event style, design and space:

More Articles You Might Like:

• 10 Boston Party Themes for 2015
• Awesome Outdoor Party Lighting Ideas

Awesome 2014 Boston Event Photos

2014 was full of delicious Boston events in which we are truly proud to have taken part. Alongside countless memorable and wonderful clients, we produced plenty of fun, entertaining events that we will never forget. Below are some of our favorite event design, event set up, culinary and decor moments that made our 2014 so terrific, and we cannot wait to see what 2015 brings our way. For more information on how we can make your 2015 event something to remember, take a look at our menus or visit our photo galleries.  We look forward to helping countless more groups celebrate their milestones in the coming year, so give us a call or email us today.