How to Throw a Retirement Party

Is there anyone who does not look forward to the day when they can ignore the alarm clock and forget about going to work forever? Retirement is a big reason to celebrate, and there is no better reason to throw a party. Here are some things to keep in mind to make your event a memorable one.

1. First: Decide on a location

   Where you actually hold the party is determined by the number of people attending, the season, the time of day and whether the event is taking place indoors or out. You may decide to play it safe and rent a room or facility rather than risk bad weather raining on your party; if you go with a tent, make sure you have a rain back-up plan.

2. Second: Put together a guest list

   Once you have a location reserved, consult your budget and see how many people you can invite, then put together a guest list. Pad it by 10 percent to allow for last-minute additions, children, guests etc. If you expect to have a number of children in attendance, it is wise to hire a childcare professional and create an area where they can play. This prevents disruption of the main event and also makes it easier to keep an eye on all of the children at once.

3. Third: Design a party theme

   If the honoree has a particular hobby or avocation, it is easy to build a theme around it. Having a theme also makes decorating easy. A golf theme, for example, influences the invitations, the table settings, food, cake and even the entertainment. Party stores are a great inspiration for ideas and often have sales on themed items at seasonal point in the year.

4. Fourth: Present a memorable keepsake to the retiree

   This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for the retiree, so make it special by buying a personalized keepsake. If your budget is tight, put together a scrapbook filled with remembrances from co-workers past and present (this requires some advance planning). Have someone give a speech that points out the career highlights of the honoree and makes him or her feel special. Place disposable cameras on each table, have guests take lots of photos, then collect the cameras at the end of the event and make a slideshow or album of the pictures. Taking the time to put some thought and effort into a retirement party leaves a lasting impression on both the guests and the honoree.