6 Tips for Running a Successful Retirement Party
1. Make a Guest List
You may be planning this party for a friend, a family member, or a coworker. No matter who it’s for, it’s important that you consider who the retiree in question may want at their retirement party. If it’s someone you don’t personally know well, find a way to reach out to them and let them know what you’re doing.
2. Find a Location
Wherever you choose to hold the retirement bash, we’d suggest looking somewhere other than the office. Consider heading to a bar or someone’s house so that everyone involved can experience a change of scenery.
3. Choose a Gift
It’s far from uncommon to give someone a gift at their retirement party, and it’s important that it’s a thoughtful one. A gift card or bottle of wine may teeter the line of being a touch too cliché, and a personalized gift says a lot about our appreciation for someone.
4. Create a Fun Playlist
Why throw together a generic playlist when you can have a theme? Choose one hit song from each year the retiree has spent in the job market and compile these into a playlist that tells the story of their career—start to finish.
5. Create a Memory Book
This is a fun activity that’s often done at weddings, though it works just as well at any other ceremony. Purchase a blank book, some pens, and a polaroid camera. Then, encourage guests to take pictures to tape into the book and write a kind message for the retiree.
6. Play Trivia
Who doesn’t love a good trivia game? Spend some time collecting facts about your retiree and compile a list to have on hand during the party. Run a little trivia event and see who knows the most about the person of the hour!
