Silly Season – when office parties and weddings become the unlikely siblings of celebration

At Umthunzi Hotel November and December are the two months in the year when yearend office parties and weddings are almost a daily occurrence. Cocktails, cocktail dresses, flashy cars and fabulous foods – it’s here, there and everywhere. The world is in party mode and our event planners and chefs go a little greyer every day while doing what they love most.

At first glance, office parties and weddings seem as different as a stapler and a wedding ring. However, take a closer look, and you’ll find that these seemingly unrelated gatherings have more in common than you might think. Join us on a whimsical journey as we explore the delightful parallels between these two worlds.

 

Forced Small Talk

 

Whether you’re at the office holiday party or a cousin’s wedding, you can’t escape the awkward dance of forced small talk. The classic “So, how’s work?” won’t fly at an office party and is the equivalent of asking, “When’s the big day?” at a wedding, when it has clearly arrived. Both scenarios involve navigating through conversations with distant relatives or colleagues you rarely interact with, desperately searching for common ground and new topics. A safe topic for both occasions may be “What are your holiday plans?” This subject opens the doors to honeymoons, Christmas plans or just explaining you are dead tired after the year and want to stay home with a good book, your dogs and a glass of wine.

 

Dress Code Dilemmas

 

At both office parties and weddings, the eternal struggle of deciding what to wear reaches epic proportions. Should you go for the classic black tie or opt for the slightly more relaxed business casual? Deciding between a power suit and a ball gown can be just as challenging as finding the perfect balance between professionalism and flair. Let your party theme be your guide, and despite everything, opt for comfort – your average party is about five hours and you want to be able to walk, breathe and eat in comfort. Event planners know the golden rule with party themes and dress codes is to be quite vague and stick with dress code themes like:  “Black is back”,  “Diamonds are forever”, “No jacket required” and our favourite for beach weddings which Umthunzi is famous for “Shoes are optional, but keep the rest white”.

 

Dancing Dilemmas

 

Ah, the dance floor – a place where rhythm goes to hide, and coordination takes a vacation. Whether you’re at an office party or a wedding, the pressure to dance or not to dance looms overhead. There’s always that one person who insists on showing off their questionable dance moves, leaving the rest of us torn between joining in or pretending to be intensely interested in the buffet.

Given our unique South African traditions there is also the option of a sakkie-sakkie or “langarm”/two-step dance which opens up opportunities for showing off (yes, the couples who go to dance classes or have been married for ten years or more), Bollywood moves or even a bit of traditional “Imvunulo” where men and women are dressed in traditional attire of leather skirts and beaded aprons. Sit back, pour yourself a drink and be prepared to be entertained, either way.

 

Speech Fiascos

 

Office parties and weddings are notorious for the nerve-wracking tradition of speeches. At the office party, the CEO might attempt to crack a joke that falls flatter than a pancake. Meanwhile, at weddings, there’s always an uncle who thinks he’s a stand-up comedian but ends up delivering a speech that has everyone cringing. It seems that microphones have a magical ability to transform even the most eloquent speakers into stumbling, bumbling amateurs. Having said that, every now and again you do get and MC or CEO that tugs at the heartstrings and inspires us to be better people. We salute you and thank ChatGP and other forms of artificial intelligence for writing a speech of under 5 minutes with an intelligent joke included.

 

Photo booth Shenanigans

 

No celebration is complete without a photo booth, right? Whether it’s a corporate event or a wedding reception, people can’t resist the allure of silly props and cheesy backgrounds.  We suspect it also serves the purpose of filling that dreaded lull in any party – that dead space between the starter and mains when you wonder at what stage the Chef will be ready to delight you with his culinary skills. Suddenly, the shyest office introvert and the most reserved wedding guest transform into glamorous models, striking poses that will undoubtedly resurface on social media the next day. On the upside, a year from now Facebook will remind you of that glamorous moment and you will sigh or smile inwardly singing “Mamma Mia, here we go again…”

 

In the end, despite their differences, office parties and weddings share the universal truth that celebrations, in all their awkward and amusing glory, bring people together. And ladies, it’s also a great excuse for a brand new dress – something with a bit of bling to brighten up the year that was. So, the next time you find yourself at an office party or a wedding, embrace the similarities, revel in the quirks, and remember: life’s too short not to dance poorly and laugh heartily at the office party or wedding reception!

We wish you a Blessed Festive Season, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe, stay beautiful and we will see you again in 2024!

She knows her Merlot from her Mojito, her hotel from her motel. From craft food to caviar, her innate curiosity about life and wanderlust provide inspiration for her blogs, articles and press releases about the travel, wedding and Spa industry. Over twenty years in the hotel marketing & PR arena with impressive hotel groups, from Dubai to Durbanville, has evolved into the pure enjoyment of freelance projects under the banner of About Branding.