Retirement is a significant life milestone for many older adults.
Hosting a retirement reception is a respectful way to honor the contributions of an individual's life and work. Whether the party's for a boss, colleague, parent or friend, start planning early to ensure that many guests will attend and that you can secure an appropriate venue. Host the reception on the person's last day of work or shortly after that time. Invite the person's family, friends and colleagues to help celebrate the person's accomplishments and the successful conclusion of his career.
Theme
Choose a theme for the retirement reception. The theme can be anything you want, but pick something that you think the guest of honor would appreciate. For example, you could have a "Bon Voyage" theme with nautical-inspired decorations or an "Aloha Retirement" theme that is Hawaiian inspired. The theme can also relate to the person's profession. For example, a fun theme for a retiring English teacher might be "The Next Chapter" or "Here's Where the Story Ends." Include the name of the theme on invitations, napkins or other party-related props and decorations.
Venue
The venue for a retirement reception should be big enough for the number of guests and provide plenty of space for dancing, mingling or other activities you have planned. Book a section of a restaurant or a hotel banquet room, or host the party in someone's backyard or large house. If you will be having music or asking people to give speeches, make sure you have the necessary equipment, such as speakers or microphones. Also, make sure there is enough seating, as many friends of the guest of honor might be in their later years and will probably tire of standing.
Speeches
Ask friends, family members or colleagues of the retiring person to prepare speeches for the reception. Allocate about an hour for people to pass around the microphone and tell funny stories or inspirational anecdotes about the person's life and work. You can also play a game where you ask all of the guests to answer a question about the guest of honor, such as "What's the funniest thing this person did during a client meeting?" or "How do you think this person will spend his time during retirement?" Have the guests write down their answers on paper and give them to the guest of honor or read them aloud.
Decorations
Decorations can add a lot of ambiance to a retirement reception. Keep the decorations related to the theme and include things like balloons, streamers, colorful tablecloths and a table with presents. Project a slide show of pictures on the wall that include photos of the guest of honor. Get napkins or plates from a party store that say things like "Over the Hill" or "Old as Dirt." Decorate the guest of honor's chair to make it look like a throne, complete with streamers, beads or other festive trinkets.
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