Holiday parties are an excellent way to show appreciation for your employees and it’s not uncommon for companies host them toward the end of the year. But how soon is too soon to start planning a holiday party? That depends on what you would like to do.

Are you planning dinner or a catered event? Surprisingly, these types of events begin to get booked as early as January, so if you start your search in November for a December event, you may be hard-pressed to find an available venue or a caterer. Now is a great time to start calling around to check availability, but if you do happen to find that the location you were hoping for is booked, you can think a little outside the box. Consider having your event on a weeknight night instead of on a Saturday. Friday nights are an excellent option and generally have more availability than weekends.

You can also think outside the box on the event itself. Have you considered taking everyone bowling? Go kart racing? Closing the office early to have a potluck? Or even hosting in your own home? Sometimes having an informal event can allow your team to relax and get to know each other better without the stiffness that can sometimes accompany a more formal event.

Regardless of what you plan, now is a great time to really start thinking about how you would like to express thanks to your team for all of their hard work.