10 Helpful Tips for Planning a Retirement Party

Retiring from a life of hard work is a big deal and something worth celebrating. If you want to throw a loved one a party for their retirement, there are lots of things to consider. Here are 10 helpful tips for planning a retirement party.

Set a Date

The first thing you will want to do when planning a retirement party is choose a date. If you’re throwing a party for a friend or loved one, you will want to check with their schedule to see what day works. If you’re throwing a surprise retirement party, then you will want to make sure that they have availability without giving away the surprise. Weekends are usually great times for parties because many people are off work.

Set a Budget

Setting a budget is the next thing you should do to plan a retirement party for someone. Giving yourself a budget is a great way to ensure that you don’t overspend or break the bank in the process of party planning. It also helps to make a list of all the supplies and expenses you have to cover so that you have a general idea of how much everything will cost. Then, set a budget that you’re comfortable with, and make sure you don’t go over that as you purchase things for the party.

Pick a Venue

The third helpful tip for retirement party planning is picking a venue. Determining the location of your party is a top priority. There are several available options that you can choose from for your event. For example, you can book a hotel banquet room, a restaurant with private rooms, or even a resort. You can also go the more affordable route and throw the party in your own home if you’d like. You want to make sure that there’s enough space in the location you choose to accommodate all of your guests.

Make a Guest List

Making a guest list is the next thing you’ll need to do when planning your party. Retirement parties are all about celebrating someone’s work history and their transition into a life of retirement. Therefore, if you’re throwing a party for a loved one, you’ll want to invite all their closest friends, family, and old coworkers who were important parts of their life. You don’t want to leave anyone out, so double-check your list a few times to make sure that you’ve included all the essential people.

Send Out Invites

The fifth step in retirement party planning is sending out invites. Once you have your date, location, and guest list set and ready to go, you can start making invitations. You can make your invitations simple and clean, or you can make them elaborate and decorative. Just make sure that you include all the necessary information on the invites. For example, you should include the date, time, location, and any other pertinent information, like a dress code or a phone number or email address for RSVPs. You also want to ensure that you send out invitations early enough that people can plan in advance.

Get Party Decorations

Getting party decorations is the next tip for throwing a fun retirement party. Decorations are one of the best parts of party planning because you get to let your creativity run wild. You can choose a theme for your décor if you’d like, or you can choose a color scheme. You can decorate with balloons, streamers, flowers, table settings, lighting, etc. Because you’re throwing a retirement party, it might be a fun idea to include a theme that relates to your loved one’s specific career that they are retiring from now. For example, if someone is retiring from a career as a teacher, you can use fun teacher-related décor.

Get Food and Drinks

The seventh tip for getting ready for a retirement party is getting food and drinks. When you invite people to a party, you don’t want them to grow hungry and thirsty without having anything to feed them. Therefore, you should ensure that you have enough food and beverages to accommodate everyone on your guest list. You can cater your event, or if your venue is a restaurant, you can order food there. You can also cook your own food for the party or ask people to bring items potluck-style.

Book a DJ or Band

Booking a DJ or band is another helpful tip for party planning. A party is hardly a party without some music and dancing. You want to be able to celebrate your loved one who’s retiring, and music helps to put everyone in a happy and celebratory mood. Therefore, you should consider booking a DJ or live band to play for your event. DJs are a great option because they can easily take requests and cater to the needs of the guests. However, if you don’t want a DJ or band, you can opt for a good sound system and playlist to keep the tunes flowing all night long.

Create a Slideshow

The ninth thing to do for a retirement party is to create a slideshow. When you celebrate someone’s retirement, you want them to be able to look back at all their memories and accomplishments from their long years of hard work. Therefore, it’s a lovely idea to compile a slideshow or photo album to showcase all of these special moments and memories. If you have a projector handy at your venue, you can play the slideshow at the party for all your guests to see and enjoy. You can gather photos, videos, and other special moments from friends, family, and coworkers to add to the slides.

Pick Out a Gift

Picking out a gift is the final tip for throwing a great retirement party. While gifts aren’t always necessary, they are a great way to show someone your respect and affection and congratulate them on their retirement. There are so many fun things you can get someone as a retirement gift. For example, if someone has a hobby they enjoy, like golfing or fishing, you can get them some supplies to help them enjoy that hobby more often during their new life as a retiree.

Now that you have 10 tips to help you plan a retirement party, you can get started with the process today. Make sure to put a lot of thought into all of your choices and details to ensure you throw a memorable event. Crystal Central offers a beautiful selection of plaques for retirement that will make a sentimental gift for your loved one during their retirement.