After working for many years, most people dream of being able to retire and slow down. When that happens, a retirement party is usually in order.
A retirement party serves a number of purposes. First, it helps to celebrate the many working years a person has spent in a career or establishment.
It also acts as a send forth into their new life. Also, it is a way to share memories from their working years as well as a chance to say goodbye to their old coworkers, many of whom they might not see again.
If you are planning a retirement party, keep the following in mind:
1. Venue and Invites
When planning a retirement party, the guest list is one of the most important aspects.
Because it is a career-themed occasion, it is important to invite important figures from the celebrant’s career. This includes coworkers, old employers and so on. Make sure to compile a list of important people in a person’s work life.
Also, the venue you choose needs to be one that can accommodate the number of people that will be in attendance. Contact whatever banquet hall you intend to use and make a reservation as early as possible.
2. Food
The food and drinks served at the party also need careful preparation. It is important to hire a catering service as early as possible and also to find out if any of the guests have dietary restrictions and to make adequate provisions if they do.
A good idea would be to have the food and drinks pay homage to the celebrant’s career as much as possible. This includes cakes that follow the theme of their career such as a firefighter-themed cake for a retiring firefighter and foods or snacks that have some affiliation with their career.
3. Tributes
While planning the party, it would be a good idea to have a number of people give trivets or speeches about the celebrant’s career.
People who worked closely with the celebrant such as their former employers or colleagues should be asked ahead of time if they would be willing to give a speech during the event. This will go a long way to make the party memorable and heartfelt.
Another idea would be to organize a slideshow of pictures from the celebrant’s career as a way of sharing memories with the party attendees.
All in all, these should be done in a heartfelt and appreciative manner.
4. Time and Date
Because a good number of the attendees will be people from the celebrant’s professional life, they will have to come during non-working times.
Conduct research and pick a time when they will not be very busy with work to attend. Also, make sure to send invitations well ahead of time so that they can save to date and avoid any scheduling conflicts.
Conclusion
A retirement party will be one of the most significant events of a person’s professional life and should be made as memorable as possible.
Consider the above steps to make whatever retirement party you plan as amazing as possible.