Corporate Holiday Party-Glenerin Inn

Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Location: The Glenerin Inn, Mississauga, ON
Guests: 32 adults
Budget: >$30 per person

Menu: 
Yuletide Buffet:
Wide variety of soups, salads, side dishes, entreés, carving station (turkey and ham), stuffing, cranberry sauce, condiments, fresh fruit, assorted desserts. The coleslaw was some of the best I've ever had.
The cheesecake and chocolate mousse cake was unbelievably delicious .It was all good, really!

 Dessert Table

 Decorations: All centrepieces and decorations provided by the Inn, included in the rental fee. Rental fee varies depending on the size of group. I booked the Evans Room, it was a perfect fit.

 The Evans Room

Evans Room had it's own tree

 Lobby Tree

Lobby Fireplace

Entertainment:

I printed out some index cards with holiday themed riddles, brain teasers and trivia. I downloaded the index card template for free from the Microsoft website. The content came from various sites-just google "Christmas riddles" and you will find plenty. I put the answers on the bottom of each card in smaller font, and rotated it upside down. Print out on card stock, and cut out each card.
I put some on each table for guests to quiz each other.  Once a table had finished their stack, I encouraged them to trade with their neighbours.

Gift exchange game (optional):
I asked the guests beforehand to bring a wrapped gift valued no more than $10. After dessert, I asked all guests to pick up the gift they had brought, and form a circle. A guest volunteered to read out the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas"-when you hear the word "right" pass the gift to the person to your right, left passes to the left. If done correctly, no one should end up with their own gift. You can find the poem here

Much laughter ensued. Some guests traded amongst theme selves afterwards. This is a really great game if you are short on time-it only takes about 10 minutes or so.



I can't praise the Glenerin Inn enough for the fantastic experience.  The staff is so wonderful, the atmosphere elegant yet cozy at the same time. The food scrumptious. Free neck and shoulder massages in the lobby!
Turn key service-I hardly had to do a thing, it was definitely the easiest party I have ever coordinated. I felt so relaxed that day-no running around, everything was seamless.


I would recommend the Inn again for a corporate event in a heart beat.
Weddings are also available.
For more information, visit their website

Staff Holiday Party

Date: Friday January 17th
Venue: Faculty Club
Guests: 31
Catering: Chartwells
Decor: Provided by venue

Menu:

• Festive Punch
• Chicken supreme with pink peppercorn sauce
• Vegetarian crepes with mushroom, asparagus, and spinach
• Parisian Potatoes
• Mixed Vegetables
• Mixed garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette
• Assorted desserts
  
• Coffee and tea

Coffee and Tea Station

Punch and Beverage Station


Desserts


Centrepieces

Activities:

Guess the object photo game:
I confess this game is not my idea, it was developed and executed by two colleagues. Common objects that can be found around the office were photographed, then distorted using Photoshop. Guests had to guess what the object is. The guests with the most answers correct won a Starbucks gift card. The game was harder than it seemed. Some objects used were: the arm of an office chair, a fire extinguisher, and a pattern from upholstery fabric.

Gift game:
Guests were give the option to participate in a stealing gift game. To participate, they were asked to bring a wrapped gift of a value of $10. Guests drew numbers from a basket. Guest number 1 unwrapped a gift, showed it to everyone. Guest number 2 had the option of unwrapping a new gift or stealing the first gift. If stolen, guest number 1 returns for a new gift. And so and so on. I capped the stealing at two steals per item to save time. Great fun had by all! Wine and liquor proved to be the most stolen. A surprise popular item was a singing penguin. It was stolen the maximum amount, and I'm sure it would have continued to be stolen if the rules allowed.

Toy drive:
Guests were given the option to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to charity. I collected 17 toys for the Salvation Army Toy Mountain.

Carol singing:
Two guests volunteered to play the piano and flute to accompany carol singing for the final fifteen minutes of the party. Song sheets with lyrics from common seasonal songs were passed out to the guests for a sing-a-long. A rousing way to end an excellent party!