Summer party for the company: Ideas and planning for the summer party

While the memories of the Christmas party slowly fade and spring gradually puts out its feelers, we long for balmy summer nights and unforgettable summer parties. So that you can already look forward to your summer party and make it a complete success, we have compiled many helpful tips on planning and organising your summer party.

Whether you are looking for a classic barbecue catering, an unusual event location for the summer or still need ideas for your garden party - the heycater! team is there for you!

9 ideas for your summer party from garden party to beach feeling

You can't start collecting ideas for your summer party soon enough. For your inspiration, we have put together our best ideas for your company summer party. From well-known and proven mottos and ideas to unusual arrangements, from official to informal.

#1 The classic: Barbecue

Barbecues and summer simply belong together! That's exactly why barbecue catering is and remains the most popular classic at summer parties. The trend in 2023: Smoker catering. In the smoker, the meat is cooked particularly gently and not only becomes beautifully tender, but also acquires a spicy smoke aroma. You can celebrate your BBQ summer party anywhere: there is only one condition: it has to be outdoors.

Depending on the ambience, you can have a barbecue for a more formal summer party, but generally it is more informal. Barbecues are also great for a family corporate garden party.

Many of our customers like a good BBQ, but don't like to grill. As delicious as the food is, the clean-up afterwards is all the more unpleasant and finding volunteers for the BBQ can be difficult. That's exactly why heycater! exists, because we're the ones who can get you an all-inclusive carefree package for your company BBQ. We'll take care of your next business event so you can have the perfect barbecue experience.

We support you every step of the way, from creating a menu and choosing the types of meat, fish and meat alternatives to the entertainment programme for your guests. We at heycater! are here to help and advise you. Whether it's a barbecue buffet with a large selection of regional or international dishes, an American BBQ catering or even an all-vegetable barbecue for a summer party - no problem, we can fulfil all the barbecue fantasies of you and your teamies! Find out more about barbecue catering here.

A BBQ buffet is also always very versatile. No matter how demanding your guests may be, there is something for everyone at a BBQ buffet. Everything is spruced up with a nice salad bar or a dessert. We also have a lot of choice when it comes to sweets for the evening. Ice cream catering? Cocktail catering? Or even cocktails on a stick?

Hier findest Du viele weitere Ideen für ein gelungenes Firmengrillen.

#2 Surprising: Mottos for your company summer party

Whether 90s, Vintage Circus or Pirates of the Caribbean - theme parties let you slip into completely new roles and escape from everyday life. A suitably decorated location, food and drinks to match the theme, unusual costumes and accessories round off the concept.

Are you short of ideas for mottos? Here are some of our favourites:

• A specific decade: 80s, 90s or FlowerPower? Perhaps a party with a vision of the future? Or a historical era? A medieval festival can also be very appealing in summer.

• A particular region or country: Mexico, Hawaii, Thailand, Italy or Ballermann? Maybe even a Swedish Midsommar party?

• A film motto: Pirates, James Bond or Star Wars?

#3 Summer in the city: Rooftop party

Above the rooftops of your city, unexpected party location highlights are often hidden. On the one hand, there are cosy roof terraces that invite you to drink an Aperol spritz, and on the other, places where you can celebrate with a sensational view over the city. Such a panoramic view over the illuminated city and its landmarks will make your event unforgettable. Or how about a rooftop pool for that summer feeling?

Perhaps your company building has a spacious roof terrace? Order a summer buffet or BBQ catering as well as a mobile cocktail bar and the summer party can begin!

#4 Caribbean summer feeling: The beach party

Of course, the Caribbean is not the only place with beaches, but there are good reasons why palm trees, lots of fresh fruit and exotic cocktails immediately put many people in a summer mood. Maybe there is a suitable location in your city that you can book for the summer party, or you can turn the office into a Caribbean dream. If palm trees and real sand are not an option, floral and pineapple decorations provide the southern flair.

For catering, cocktails and a buffet with fresh fruit are of course a good idea, but barbecue is also a good choice. Maybe you can find a live band that plays salsa or reggaetón, for example. If you dare, you are welcome to dance to it!

As an alternative to the Caribbean theme, one of the Mediterranean countries also works well as a theme for a beach party - for example, serve tapas or pizza prepared directly on site in the pizza mobile.

#5 A real eye-catcher: the summer street food market

There's a reason why food trucks are so popular: they look good and serve freshly prepared food from burgers to schnitzel, from vegan fast food to light summer cuisine. If you have enough space, for example in your company courtyard, a food truck is a good choice. By the way, there are also ice cream trucks for summer refreshment. For large summer parties with lots of guests, you might need several trucks, so let us advise you!

Our insider tip for your summer festival are market stalls! The small siblings of food trucks combine their culinary diversity with show cooking and turn your summer festival catering into an incomparable experience. Their advantage: they require little space and can therefore be realised in really any location. Our caterers offer you a wide selection of international dishes. Whether it's a do-it-yourself bowl station or small stands with various delicacies from all over the world!

#6 A summer daydream: The garden party

There's nothing better than spending sunny days and balmy summer nights in the fresh air. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of your summer party with a picnic or a seated dinner, or let yourself be invited to an idyllic family-style dinner on a laid table in the countryside. Lanterns and fairy lights underline the cosy atmosphere in the darkness of the balmy summer night and some exciting stories are told around the campfire. You can also choose a theme for the garden party - there are almost no limits to your imagination.

#7 Learn and enjoy together: The cocktail party with cocktail course

Learning something new together bonds teams and brings new experiences. And it is well known that broadening horizons has a positive effect on work performance. Why not take part in a cocktail course as a team and then taste the creations you have made together? By the way, the whole thing also works virtually or at hybrid summer parties when the remote team is to be included. With the help of an online cocktail course and a box that sends all the necessary ingredients directly to your home, your own kitchen or living room table becomes a cocktail bar. Fun and enjoyment included!

It's too warm to study and mix your own cocktails? How about a mobile cocktail bar that mixes delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails on site and serves them directly to your seat?

#8 Summer party for active people: Sport challenges

Are you a sporty company where all employees are very active? Maybe sport is also part of your business. In that case, a summer party combined with a sporting activity is a good idea. One advantage: the programme is taken care of. In addition, it is very bonding for teams to complete challenges together.

Examples of sporty summer parties can be:

• Raft building

• An outdoor rally

• Climbing park

• Archery

• A table tennis or table football tournament

• Canoeing

• Sailing

• Disc golf

Of course, especially for sporty summer parties, plenty of drinks and catering should be planned in. Drinks are provided at all times by a mobile bar, in between all participants can help themselves to a snack buffet and as a reward at the end there is a large menu or a barbecue.

#9 A fresh breeze: Summer party on the boat

Who doesn't like spending time by or on the water? Boat trips are very popular as a team event and are also great for summer parties. From rafts for very small companies to large party boats, there is a wide range of offers. Of course, food and drinks should not be missing on the boat. If you hire a boat with its own bar, thirst quenchers are taken care of. Perhaps a buffet or menu is also offered. Some boats can also be hired with a DJ for background music.

The planning: 10 steps to the perfect company summer party

Are you planning the summer party for the first time or are you looking for new ideas for this year? If the company summer party has always been held as a company barbecue in recent years, a beach party, for example, is a welcome change. Our experienced event planners have put together our best tips for you so that planning is stress-free and you can experience an unforgettable celebration together.

#1 Start planning in good time

In order to secure the most beautiful venue, the best catering and also your desired date, it is important to plan your summer party in good time. Since many companies enquire about locations and caterers as early as four months before the party, it is advisable to start planning as early as possible. Our heycater! experts are also happy to help you with last-minute enquiries and, thanks to their overview of available capacities and dates, can quickly help you find something suitable for your summer party.

#2 Determine the number of guests

Think about who will be invited to the summer party: Is the event only for employees? Can a companion be brought along? Should business partners and clients be invited? Keep in mind that the selection of your guests will have an impact on the budget as well as on the size of the location, the programme and the catering.

In order to answer this question, it can also be useful to define a goal for the summer party in advance: is it only about the teambuilding aspect or should contacts be made and strengthened? Is the focus on fun or should milestones, successes, new products or other company news also be highlighted and celebrated? Of course, the available budget can also determine how big the summer party can be.

#3 Find the right date

The earlier you set the date for the summer party and inform everyone invited, the greater the chance that as many people as possible will be able to attend. Certain times are better suited than others: Pay particular attention to peak times within the company or holiday periods.

For many staff members it is helpful to be informed about the summer party in advance with a "save-the-date" email. Depending on the number of employees, you can also start a Doodle poll to find a suitable date. Ideally, you should choose two or three alternative dates in addition to your preferred date before asking your service providers. In this step, you should also consider what time the company party should take place, how long the event should last and what the rough schedule should be.

#4 Set the budget

As soon as you know how many people will come to your company summer party and how long it should last, you can define the budget for your party in the next step. Ideally, you should consider the amount available per person and calculate the total budget accordingly. This will determine how much you have available for the catering and any service providers for the programme, but also for the location.

A small hint: Expenses for company parties remain tax-free up to an amount of € 110 per employee.

#5 Choose an appropriate theme

The framework conditions for your summer party are set - now it's finally time to organise! To make your event unforgettable, the first step is to choose a theme that runs through the entire event. This can either be a motto such as "The Great Gatsby", "Midsommar" or "Beach Party" or simply a culinary type such as barbecue catering or street food including a food truck.

By the way: From here on, the heycater! team will gladly take care of the organisation of your summer party and suggest various themes and mottoes, suitable locations and delicious menus.

#6 Find a location for your summer party

The choice of locations for company summer parties is vast: from light-flooded lofts with roof terraces to beach clubs, restaurants in the countryside to party ships, there are no limits to creativity. The important thing is that the location offers space for all your guests, but at the same time is not too big and therefore looks empty. Since the summer weather in Germany is unfortunately not always very reliable, it is also a good idea to consider a bad weather alternative.

Here, too, the experienced event experts from heycater! will be happy to assist you: we will suggest various venues, explain their special features and visit your favourite locations with you so that you can get an impression of the premises and the surroundings. If you like the location, we will gladly make a binding reservation for you and take care of everything else.

#7 Find the right catering

Delicious food and drinks are the highlight of every company summer party. From finger food and market stalls to barbecue catering and food trucks, you have a variety of options to inspire your guests. Here, too, the heycater! team will be happy to help you: we select the right caterers for you from more than 300 and put together individual menus that correspond exactly to your wishes and match the theme and location. Popular types of catering for summer parties are, for example, a professional barbecue with smoker, a summery cold buffet, perhaps even with finger food, or a food truck with delicious street food. Of course, it can also be a little more festive - fine dining for the garden party perhaps? If families with children are invited, an ice cream truck is another option.

Of course, we are happy to take into account any special requirements of your guests and are also happy to offer vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free dishes. (By the way, it's a good idea to ask in advance if there are any allergies or dietary restrictions so that you can estimate what proportion of the catering needs to be vegan, vegetarian, halal, lactose-free or gluten-free, for example). All offers are completely transparent so that you can easily compare the prices of the different caterers.

#8 Take care of the details

Once the location and catering have been decided, the next step is the supporting programme and decoration. Do you need a DJ or a photo box to entertain your guests? Are you planning special surprise effects? Which decorative elements support the theme of your event? Are there any special regulations on the part of the location? Have you drawn up a site plan and do you know what is to be placed where? Do you need technical equipment?

Here, too, our event team has many ideas and tips from its many years of experience that will give your summer party that special something. We also know good musicians, bands and entertainers who would love to come to your summer party.

#9 Care for anticipation

A few weeks before the event, the guests should receive their invitations with all the important information. In addition to the place, date and time, the invitation should also state whether and which company is desired or permitted and whether there are any guidelines for the wardrobe. If the party has a theme, you should also let your guests know so that they can prepare themselves. A rough planning of the programme is also helpful.

Indications that allergies and diets are taken into account in the catering also reassure guests who may be unsure whether they will find sufficient food for their needs.

#10 Make sure everything works as planned

Coordinate with the caterer, the location and other service providers and brief everyone involved in good time so that your summer party goes as planned. Make sure that you have considered all the specifics: Can the delivery of catering and decorations take place smoothly? Which service providers will be on site at what times?

Of course, you can also simply leave the entire planning of your summer party and thus the coordination of all service providers in our hands and we will take care of everything for you.

Games for the summer party

As an icebreaker or for the entertainment programme, party games are very popular on casual summer holidays with a family character.

We have put together a few ideas for you:

• Hulahoop contest

• Darts, with an outdoor dartboard or as balloon darts

• Treasure hunt or rally

• Minigolf

• Tug of war

• Tripod run

• Goal-shooting contest

• Can throwing

• Slacklining

And if a pool is available and can be used, classics such as water polo or water basketball can be played.

The summer party as a team-building measure and an appreciation event

It is well known that teams that get along well work more effectively and come to work with more enthusiasm. There are always good reasons to celebrate together - company successes, a successfully completed project, the progress of the past years or the mastering of crises and challenges (a survived pandemic that brought many companies to their knees or a difficult situation in one's own industry, for example).

A summer party can also be a good opportunity for new employees to be better introduced to the team, to get to know their colleagues better or to show employees that they are important to their superiors and the company. It is important for employee motivation that employees feel valued. Positive feedback and trust in everyday working life are an important measure, but rewards such as a team meal or company events also have a positive effect. So why not create another event in the year besides the obligatory Christmas party and organise a summer party for all employees (and their families)?

By the way, this is also a good opportunity to invite important business partners and customers and to strengthen the relationship with them in an informal atmosphere.

Event catering for your summer party with heycater!

heycater! makes your company summer party something special: with our event concepts and the delicious catering of our partners, you ensure that your celebration will be remembered for a long time. Whether food truck or fine dining, finger food buffet or barbecue - we have the right event catering for you, your team and your guests.