Planning a Holiday Party in Lake Geneva: A Host's Checklist

Somebody has to plan the holiday party. If that’s you this year, here is the checklist we’d hand a friend: what to settle first, what you can leave for later, and the questions worth asking any venue in Lake Geneva before you sign anything.

1. Settle the headcount before you settle the date

Every other decision depends on how many people are coming, so get a realistic number first. Count everyone you’ll invite, then think about who usually shows. Partners, plus-ones, and kids can double a list fast.

The number tells you what kind of room you need:

• Under 15 or so: a large reservation might be all you need. Call ahead, ask for the tables to be pushed together, and skip the event paperwork.
• 15 to 50: you’re in package territory, usually a partial buyout, where part of the room is set aside for you.
• 50 and up: look at a full buyout, where the whole room is yours.

At Emmi’s, packages start at a 15-guest minimum. The dining room seats up to 100 for a full buyout, and partial buyouts work for smaller groups. A room filled to its last seat feels tight, so leave a little slack in your number.

2. Pick the hour, not just the day

Holiday parties don’t have to be at night, and in December there are good reasons to go earlier:

• Daytime parties are easier on guests. Nobody drives home in the dark, sitters aren’t needed, and people with evening plans can still come.
• Lunch works well for teams. Close the office at noon, eat, raise a glass, and send everyone home early. It reads as a gift.
• A holiday breakfast or brunch is memorable. Waffles, eggs, coffee, and a mimosa make a warmer room than another hotel ballroom dinner.

Our event packages follow the day: a breakfast buffet, lunch buyouts like the Midday Supper Club, and dinner buyouts up to the Full Supper Club with passed appetizers and an ice cream drink to finish. See them all on our private events page.

3. Decide plated or buffet

• Plated keeps people in their seats and conversation going. It suits speeches, awards, and smaller groups. Guests usually pick from two or three entrées ahead of time.
• Buffet keeps a big crowd moving, gives picky eaters options, and suits a mingling, come-and-go party.

Ask whether the venue does both. Ours does: plated or buffet, and anything on the dine-in menu can be offered at your event.

4. Sort out the bar early

Drinks are where budgets drift. Decide on one of three approaches up front:

• A hosted package with a set price per person for a set time. It’s predictable, and the easiest to budget for a company party.
• Drink tickets, which hold everyone to a fixed number and suit mixed crowds.
• A cash bar after a hosted toast. Generous at the start, cheaper overall.

Emmi’s bar packages are priced per person for two or three hours, from beer and wine up to top shelf, with non-alcoholic drinks included. A Wisconsin party probably wants Old Fashioneds on the list. Make sure the package you pick includes them.

5. Ask about the fine print

Before you commit, get answers to these, in writing:

• Is there an event fee, a service charge, or a food and beverage minimum, and does it change in December?
• How much notice do they need for the final headcount?
• Can you do a walkthrough or a tasting?
• What happens if weather keeps half your guests home?

For the record, here are ours: the event fee is 5% of the event subtotal and pays for an assigned event manager. Full-buyout minimums vary by season and date. We ask for 72 hours’ notice. Walkthroughs and tastings can be scheduled. It’s all on our events and catering page.

6. Make arriving easy

Parking can make or break a winter party downtown. Pick a place where guests don’t have to circle for a spot or walk three blocks in the cold. Emmi’s has free reserved parking. If guests are coming from out of town, a venue near a hotel takes care of the drive home too.

7. Or bring the party to them

If the office or the house is the right setting, think about catering instead. Emmi’s caters off-site too, including the Harbor Shores event spaces, with packages from diner-style breakfast spreads to sandwich lunches and supper club dinners, ready for drop-off.

The short version

Count your people, pick the hour, choose plated or buffet, put a fence around the bar, and get the fine print in writing. Do those five things in November and December takes care of itself.

When you’re ready, send us an inquiry with your date, your headcount, and the time of day you have in mind. Our events team will take it from there.