Traditional holiday parties and happy hours are the most common ways to celebrate the holidays in the workplace, but they are not the only option. What if you don’t like traditional parties or want to try something different? That’s where the holiday luncheon comes into play.
Having a luncheon is a unique alternative to the traditional celebration options. Whether you’re trying to spice things up or want to find a celebration perfectly suited to your team, it’s worth giving a luncheon a shot. Today, we’re going to provide tons of holiday luncheon ideas. We’ll also cover all the basics like planning, invitations, food/drink options, potential activities, and more.
Setting the Stage for the Holiday Luncheon
Before you can have an employee holiday luncheon, you have to set the stage. Proper planning and due diligence are key to ensuring a successful event that goes off without a hitch. Let’s go over some of the key factors you need to consider.
In the beginning, you want to figure out the basics. What is the theme? Will it be on or off-site? These big picture questions need to be answered first, and they’ll help you make the rest of your decisions down the line.
Next, you should consider things like decor, holiday luncheon attire, music, and events. You want to have a good idea of what the event will look like and what you’ll do. Having a good concept and vision goes a long way in planning a successful event.
Once you have that done, it’s time to start making it a reality. Where are you going to have it and when? What kind of holiday luncheon invitations or save the dates will you send? Hammering out these final details is essential before moving forward.
Planning the Employee Holiday Lunch Menu
It can be easy to overlook the lunch in luncheon, but that’s not a mistake you want to make. Good food can help make a holiday office lunch an event one that is unforgettable. While picking food might seem easy, there are more considerations than you might think.
For example, are there attendants with dietary restrictions? This is something you can easily forget to ask if you don’t have any restrictions yourself, but not having any food options could potentially ruin someone’s luncheon. So don’t forget to ask employees about dietary restrictions.
You also want to consider whether to get food catered or have food in-house. In-house can be a surprisingly good and cost-effective option depending on the business, but catering can be a special treat that people don’t forget.
Though all of these things to keep in mind can be overwhelming, it’s an important part of ensuring your event runs smoothly and is a success. The work you put in beforehand will all be worth it when you’re enjoying a wonderful luncheon with your team.
Food Holiday Luncheon Ideas
Asking about dietary restrictions is simple, but coming up with holiday lunch ideas for the office can be a bit more complicated. To make things a bit easier, here are some great food ideas for a holiday lunch.
Appetizers:
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board: Arrange a charcuterie board in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Pigs in a Blanket: Add a bit of rosemary for a festive spin on a holiday classic.
Holiday Veggie Tray: Make a veggie tray shaped like a wreath or other holiday symbol.
Mains:
Holiday Quiche: Use bell peppers, spinach, and cheese to bring out the holiday color palette
Wreath Pizza: Decorate a pizza with basil and cherry tomatoes to resemble a wreath.
Santa’s Sleigh Meatballs: Square, packaged shaped meatballs with a cranberry glaze in a bun.
Sides:
Gingerbread Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Cinnamon and nutmeg make mashed sweet potatoes the perfect holiday side.
Winter Salad: Mixed greens with candied pecans, dried cranberries, and other color holiday toppings.
Deserts:
Yule Log Cake: An impressive and delicious holiday dessert that’s easy to serve.
Holiday Cookie Platter: Milk and cookies are the perfect way to top off a holiday meal.
Holiday Office Lunch Drinks
Though food is the focus, a holiday luncheon needs drinks as well. Picking the right drinks is just as important as picking the right food. Here are some alcoholic and non-alcoholic options to consider.
Alcoholic:
Spiced Apple Cider Sangria: Red wine, spiced apple cider, sliced apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks is all you need for an irresistible holiday sangria.
Spiked Eggnog: Eggnog with a splash of rum and a sprinkle of nutmeg is a simple but delicious winter classic.
Non-Alcoholic:
Holiday Punch: Cranberry juice, sparkling water, and citrus slices make for a color and festive punch.
Hot Chocolate Bar: Nothing says the holidays quite like a hot chocolate made just the way you like it with toppings like whipped cream, cinnamon, and candy canes.
If you’re looking for something a little more involved and customizable, consider our mixology program. You and your team can learn tips and tricks from an expert mixologist while coming up with your own unique cocktails.
Holiday Luncheon Activities
Activities are another aspect of a holiday lunch that you should plan. Choosing the right activities can set your lunch apart from other events and make it unforgettable. Taking the time to find the ideal event will pay off in more ways than one.
On top of making your event more memorable, holiday team building has its own benefits. There are events that focus on everything from creativity and innovation to teamwork and efficiency. You can improve your team while bonding and having a fun time at your luncheon. To make finding the right holiday luncheon ideas for work a bit easier, let’s go through a few different types of luncheon activity ideas.
Gift Exchange
The gift exchanges are one of the most common holiday activities for a reason. They’re simple, fun, and get everyone in the spirit of giving. These are an easy and surefire choice when it comes to an employee holiday lunch.
There are a few different types of gift exchanges, such as White Elephant or Secret Santa. White Elephant involves everyone bringing a gift of similar value, drawing numbers, and then taking/stealing gifts off the pile.
Secret Santa on the other hand usually pairs up employees, each person only knowing who they are giving a gift too. At the luncheon, everyone gives out their gifts. Both of these are great choices that are sure to bring out the holiday cheer.
Employee Recognition
A holiday awards ceremony can be a sincere and impactful way to wrap up the year. Employees want to be recognized for their accomplishments, and an awards ceremony is the perfect opportunity to do so.
It doesn’t have to be a simple and boring ceremony either. You can liven it up with music, photo slideshows, fun novelty awards, and more. Adding a bit of levity can make the heartfelt moments hit harder.
Charitable Activities
Another option in line with the holiday theme is a holiday charity activity. Giving back is a great way to break up lunch and dessert that embraces the holiday spirit and can bring your team together through a powerful shared experience.
An event like Toys for Tykes has your team work together to get creative and assemble/decorate toys for kids in need. It’s a perfect way to embrace the giving spirit while building bonds and having some heartwarming fun.
Holiday Games
Last but not least, holiday games can be a great option for a holiday lunch. These activities are engaging, exciting, and impactful holiday themed events that will bring your team together before or after lunch. Here are some examples.
Gingerbread House Hunters – Build gingerbread houses as teams in this fast-paced, team-based, challenge and trivia filled event that is just as fun as it is delicious.
The Ultimate Holiday Party – Feeling indecisive? This event lets your team experience a variety of holiday themed events and challenges in 30-minute rounds, giving you a smorgasbord of festive fun.
Go Team Festive-us – Embrace Festivus with this high-tech holiday-themed scavenger hunt that will get your team engaged and excited that’s also perfect for remote or in-person teams.
Make Your Holiday Luncheon a Blast with TeamBonding
Try something different this holiday by embracing the holiday luncheon. Luncheons can be a fun and unique way to celebrate the holidays and energize your team while ending the year with a bang.
Make your holiday luncheon a blast with TeamBonding. Our holiday team building activities are the perfect addition to your holiday themed luncheon, so get in touch with us and make this holiday one to remember!
