With the hot weather we’ve had the last few days, it’s hard to believe that December is only a few months away. For some of you, it might be too early to start doing your shopping or start unpacking the Christmas decorations from garage boxes- but for those of you that are in charge of planning your company or family holiday party, it’s never too early. Fortunately, Zocalo has many options that might fit your needs- if you decide to give us a try, here are a few suggestions on how to make you’re planning easier and less time consuming:
1. Identify your guests: Who is this party for? Is it for customers, employees or family? Do they drink alcoholic drinks or soft drinks only? Are there any vegetarians? How are they getting to the restaurant, by car, walking or taxi?
2. Identify your budget: We offer a wide range of prices depending on many options and preferences. You can determine your budget by a per person price or by a total price. Keep in mind that taxes and gratuity will be added to most parties. The number of guests and the date/time you select will be the most important factors that will determine your costs. If the Morelia room (our banquet room is out of your budget, perhaps you could consider a table in the main dining area, patio or bar area.)
3. Select Date: The date will be one of the most crucial parts of your planning. You might have an absolute date that your boss has decided on or that is convenient for everyone. However, if you can be flexible with the date you could save your company tremendously or you could offer more to your guests. A Thursday instead of a Friday, or a Sunday instead of a Saturday could be up to one thousand dollars in difference.
4. Select time: The time is almost as important as the date and is equally influential in how much you will spend. If your event is from 6 to 9 on a Friday or Saturday night, you will pay a premium price. But if you manage to bring your party on an off time like from 2 pm to 4 pm or 4 pm to 6 pm, your price will be considerably less.
5. Select Food menu: We have an infinite selection of food options. You can start by looking at the sample menus we have on our website- zocalosacramento.com. We can also customize a limited or family style menu according to your taste and budget. If time is an issue, you may also consider a pre-ordered menu. The family-style menu can be a great option for rehearsal dinners or for holiday parties in which one of the goals of the event is for guests to get to know each other better. This menu can also allow you to have more options for less money.
6. Select Beverages: The beverage section is probably the one that creates more concerns because of the costs and the fear that guests might have one too many drinks. But you don’t have to empty your bank account or company funds. You can always get a package with pitchers of margaritas or beer. If you have a limited budget, pitchers of sangria and pitchers of beer may be the way to go.
7. Select extras: If you are thinking of lighting up the party with a Mariachi, we can recommend you different ones ranging in quality and price. Another option could be a solo guitarist which can play both English and Spanish songs. They are much less expensive and they are more flexible than a full band. Flowers can definitely set the mood in your party. You can bring your own or have a company deliver them. We can also take care of them for you. Our preferred flower vendor knows the room better than any area florist and can deliver them as well.
8. Fill in our contract to secure a date: Once you go through your checklist, you can download a contract from our website; www.zocalosacramento.com and send it back to us.
I hope these suggestions can make your planning a little easier so you can still enjoy this warm weather and relax.
