This retirement party planning guide is great to answer all the questions you may stumble upon. Not just that, we’ve also curated the best tips and tricks in this niche to make the process much easier.
With ideas and suggestions, you’ll be able to streamline your whole event planning process. This retirement party planning guide is more than just a step-by-step guide.
You’ll see what we mean as you progress through. Head to the last section for a free checklist on all the tasks you’ll have to take up.
A. Who plans a retirement party?
Oftentimes, it’s the company that’s responsible for hosting the retirement party for an employee. The human resource department specifically makes sure that the employee is bid goodbye properly.
However, in the absence of this, family and friends of an individual also throw retirement parties. This may or may not include the colleagues of the retiree.
In rare cases, you’ll also see the retiree throwing this party for their ex-colleagues.
In most cases, event planning professionals are hired to plan retirement parties.
Note that it’s important to know who is throwing the retirement party. As an event planner, this will help you know who the first and second point of contact are.
B. How long should a retirement party last?
Typically, a retirement party lasts two to four hours. However, this can vary based on the nature of the events and activities it includes.
While we’re on the topic of time, usually daytime events for retirements are preferred.
This is largely applicable to retirement parties being hosted at the workplace.
For personal events, evenings are preferred as most of the guests are free then.
Venue restrictions, guest preferences, age group of attendees, and activities are to be considered while finalizing timings.
C. Who gives a speech at a retirement party?
Retirement parties are often semi-formal. While it will have emotional and fun moments, it also has lots of speeches.
This segment of the retirement party planning guide will help you form the run of show.
Here are people you can reach out to while creating a speech lineup for the event:
- Ask the retiree’s coworkers and colleagues who have worked closely with him/her. Ask them to share their anecdotes, stories, and memories with the retiree
- Family members of the retiree can also give speeches to talk about their life outside the office
- CEOs and managers must also give a speech to acknowledge the retiree’s contribution to the organization
- Lastly, the most important speech during the retirement party is given by the retiree
D. Where do you conduct a retirement party?
This retirement party planning guide is created to get your creativity flowing. So, here are some conventional and unconventional options to secure a retirement party venue.
- Common Area in Office: This is everyone’s go-to for hosting retirement parties when it’s mostly colleagues on the guest list
- Banquet Hall: The reason why this type of venue is picked is because it can transformed for any theme and scale of event
- Restaurants: This venue is preferred when you don’t want to worry about the catering services
- Home: One’s hall or backyard can make for a relaxed venue for retirement parties
- Hotels: For a more luxurious retirement party, you’d want to consider this option
- Club/Lounge: Block a few hours or book a table at such venues for the event
- Cruise/Boat: If you’re lucky enough to work near a water body, this is a loved option amongst senior-position retirees
E. Step-by-step retirement party planning guide
If you’re new to event planning, here are some guiding steps for you.
1. Budget planning
To know what you can and can’t have at your event, you’ll need a clear-cut budget. You can consult with the company or retiree’s family to know their spending capacity. From there on, you’ll need to create a detailed event budget. Click on the linked guide to learn how.
2. Put together a guest list
Based on the budget and retiree’s wishes, put together a guest list for the event. Knowing the headcount will help you make bookings in the future.
3. Finalise the venue
Explore all the venue options that are best suited to your budget. Both budget-friendly and extravagant options are discussed in the section above.
Start your search early and finalize the booking.
Based on what the venue offers, you may have to outsource catering services.
Another thing to consider while booking the venue is the seating arrangement. Since, retirement parties often have long speeches, you’ll need all attendees to be comfortable.
4. Themes for retirement parties
It’s not necessary to have a theme for such events. However, it’s always a good idea to align the event theme with the retiree’s interests.
For example, if the retiree is into camping, you can have that as the theme!
5. Decor needs thinking
While you’ll need the obvious celebrator decor with balloons and motifs, you also need to personalize it.
Decorate your event venue with pictures and symbolism from the retiree’s milestones in life.
6. RSVP and other minor considerations
It’s a good practice to get everyone on the guest list to RSVP for the event. This will help you get an even clearer headcount.
Do ensure that your RSVP-based invite also collects information like dietary restrictions and plus-ones.
7. Secure event entertainment
You may want to hire a live band, a DJ playing the retiree’s favorite music, or incorporate interactive activities.
For the latter, hiring or assigning an emcee/host is a good idea.
8. Communicate your expectations
As for any type of event, there are a lot of stakeholders that make an event a success. So, you must assign tasks and keep track of progress.
For example, if there are four people giving speeches, do take their updates from time to time.
For other stakeholders like decorators, it’s a good practice to communicate visually using pictures. Tell them exactly what is expected.
9. Develop a run of show
As things start to come together, you’ll get a better understanding of how the event is going to be.
But, at the crucial time, you’ll have to write down a minute-by-minute run of the show. Here, you’ll write exactly what is to follow after each event. For example, a dance performance after the opening speech.
Having this write-up will help you coordinate the event better on the day of the event.
10. Create special moments
As an event planner, you need to know that this is amongst the more emotional personal events.
To nail it, you need to have a segment that is dedicated to the retiree. Create a video montage or present a gift that holds emotional value for the retiree.
11. Create contingency plans
As an event planner, you must also think of the worst-case scenario. What if one of the key guests doesn’t make it on time? Or if the weather is unfavorable? What if there isn’t enough food for the guests?
Ask yourself such questions and have solutions at the back of your mind. While we hope you don’t have such issues, it’s always good to be prepared!
F. How do you say goodbye at a retirement party?
Since you already know the sentimentality behind this event, you’d want to read this section. Here, you’ll learn creative ways to bid farewell to a loved employee.
These may require a little bit of DIY and a whole lot of effort, but we believe the retiree has earned it.
- Leave a blank notebook and let all guests sign it with their message and contact details. It’ll be a keepsake for the retiree and also a way to contact all colleagues
- Keep in mind the favorite activity/hobby of the retiree. Get all guests to perform that together. For example, if the retiree has painting as a hobby, you can plan a sip and paint even
- Create a picture wall with the retiree’s memories in the office and milestones in life
- Conduct a trivia to ask how well the existing colleagues know the retiree. Even if some of the answers are wrong, it’s another opportunity to know the retiree better
- Allow guests and family to raise a toast after their speeches
- Have a photo booth so colleagues can preserve their last memory working with the retiree
- Get the retiree to plant a tree at the office premises. The retiree might be leaving, but the tree will have its place in the workplace forever
- Cut a cake. It’s simple but a must-have activity at your retirement party
G. Retirement party planning checklist
You’ve finally made it to the most important section of this retirement party planning guide.
Here are all the party-planning steps:
- Create event planning budget
- Select venue
- Finalise theme
- Send invites/RSVP
- Create a video montage/picture corner
- Align all the speeches by order
- Get the retiree a farewell gift
- Hire decorators and caterers
- Book event entertainment/celebrities
- Hire a photographer to capture memories
- Prepare a run of show
H. Retirement party planning guide: Additional Resources
Event planning is a very intricate field. This retirement party planning guide is well-curated with all the doubts you may have. But, there are still some core event planning tips you’ll need to apply. Use this linked guide to get in-depth knowledge.
Lastly, another common hurdle you may face is that of budget. To solve budget constraints, this event cost-cutting guide is curated to help you unburden yourself.
With these additional tips and guides, you’re on the right track to plan the best retirement event possible.
To get more tips on event planning, scroll down and submit your email ID below.
See you, EventTuber!
