When most people are sipping lemonade and swatting mosquitoes, Haleigh Schultz is thinking garland, gift wrap, and the dreaded Friday-night venue scramble.
As the Sales Manager at Stonewall Resort, she’s seen both sides of the holiday party planning timeline, and she’s got strong opinions on when to start.
Spoiler: It’s not November.
Let’s break down why late summer is actually the most strategic time to start your corporate holiday party planning and how early action can save you stress, money, and your team’s sanity.
5 Things to Know About Corporate Holiday Party Planning
1. The Holiday Party Crunch is Real
Waiting until pumpkin spice hits your local coffee shop to start planning your corporate holiday party? Big mistake.
“There’s a very short window of weekends that you can host a Christmas party,” Haleigh points out. “By the time Thanksgiving passes, there are only two or three good weeks to get them in.”
The problem? Every other company is gunning for the same few Fridays and Saturdays in December.
Throw in personal commitments, employee vacations, and end-of-year work chaos, and your dreamy holiday party turns into a last-minute mess. You don’t want to be the team desperately searching for a venue with two weeks to go.
That Tuesday night party might sound quirky in theory … until no one shows up.
2. Book Early, Reap the Perks
Planning in July isn’t just about dodging stress. It’s about access.
Think: best dates, top venues, and vendors who aren’t already stretched thin.
“Early booking means that you pretty much get your pick of the litter,” says Haleigh. “The longer you wait, someone has probably already snuck in and got those preferred dates.”
That includes florists, caterers, AV teams, DJs, and decorators. Wait too long, and you could be stuck with menus you can’t customize, DJs with no flexibility, and venues that only have that one weird conference room left.
And let’s not pretend your in-house event planner isn’t already juggling 20 other year-end priorities. Why add more chaos?
3. Chill Guests, Zero Stress
One of Haleigh’s favorite client success stories started in July. A team reached out early, thinking they might be jumping the gun. Haleigh assured them: “No, you’re good.”
Because they planned ahead, they locked down a venue with killer views, snagged all their preferred vendors, and nailed the holiday aesthetic they wanted. “By the time they arrived, we had done everything already,” she says. “She was able to relax the entire time.”
Compare that to late planners who show up still approving centerpieces and answering frantic vendor texts. Early planners get to actually enjoy the party.
4. July Planning Is the Power Move
Retailers roll out their Christmas decor before Halloween, and it’s not because they love ornaments. It’s because early visibility drives results. Haleigh says the same logic applies to companies: “Do not be afraid to start talking about the holiday season in July. The stores do it right.”
You’re not being over-eager. You’re being smart. The earlier you start talking holiday party, the better your event will be—period.
5. Think Summer, Win Winter
Holiday parties are supposed to be a reward, not a source of stress. Planning in July isn’t weird—it’s strategic. As Haleigh puts it: “Success comes in getting out there.”
Get your date locked. Secure the space with the view. Book the caterer who doesn’t do rubber chicken. And most importantly, enjoy your party when December hits. Because that’s the whole point, right?
