Company Holiday Parties

[Skyblade]

So, we are having a really nice company holiday party at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. Everyone is invited to bring a guest. Most of the people that I work with are married, so no doubt they will bring their spouse. Everyone else is dating someone so they will bring their SO. I, will have nobody. Due to this upcoming event, I searched my head for a male friend in SB that I could possibly bring to this event, and you guessed it, I have no male friends in Santa Barbara.
I know that this event is somewhat optional, but I don't think that I should not go because it is important for me to participate in company gatherings in order to create a good impression, etc. But I know I will be miserable if I go by myself because everyone will be w/ their SO and I am a chronically shy person so I will just stand around and try to blend in if I go by myself.
I guess I could just bring a female friend, but that seems weird I guess. I don't know, this whole thing just bums me out.

[cheshrcarol]

Skyblade, my company has a similar Holiday party that I'm debating right now if I should bring a friend or a real date. At our party they have a cocktail hour time and then in separate baquet room is the dinner. If yours will be similar, I would just get there at the end of the cocktails and find a table with people you know and sit down. I'm sure dinner will be fine, probably the whole table will be talking, not just between couples. At mine there's dancing too, but usually that doesn't happen until hours into when everyone's drunk.

[snowgirl77]

I'm with you two! My company (all 5 of us) always go out to a really expensive restaurant. They all bring their spouses, I always am the wallflower. I don't want to bring a friend, just because I know he would get teased relentlessly. Even so, I'm horrified that I have to go stag for the third year in a row. Stupid holidays!

[tiredofphilly11]

I feel your pain! Everyone here is married or has an SO. Plus for some reason everyone in my office (maybe because i'm the youngest by 5 years) thinks I have this happening social life.

[and1grad]

Originally posted by Skyblade
I searched my head

Funny.

snow,
Why would your friend be teased?

My division is the same way. ~ 98% married...with children. Funny thing is, most DONT bring the spouse/fam. Its usually all staff. Usually we have some kind of icebreaker type game to liven things up. It gets the non workers into the mix a little more. One year we had all the management submit baby pix and made a game outta guessing who was who.

[Skyblade]

I searched my head's rolodex I meant

[MOS9904]

My company has a large holiday party. They used to include SO's, but now dont.
My father attends several of these parties his clients throw, typically my mom doesnt go, and not many people bring dates or anything.

So you probably wont be the only one there without a date. Plus why feel such pressure about it, sure its the holidays, but go and have fun. Im sure you have people in the office you chat with...hang out with them and if they are married or have SO's make the time for fun with them!!

Personally, I would never bring an SO or spouse to a holiday party. Work is work, I dont need my SO coming with, Id rather just go alone.

[cheshrcarol]

Personally, I would never bring an SO or spouse to a holiday party. Work is work, I dont need my SO coming with, Id rather just go alone. People here would think it was REALLY weird if someone didn't bring their spouse or SO. It's one thing if you don't have one, but to intentionally not bring someone that everyone's heard you talk about would be weird. Plus, the company throws this big expensive party as a christmas present, it's a social function - we don't really sit around and talk about work.

[shimmer728]

Skyblade......two years ago I was in your same situation. I was new to the area and didn't have anyone to bring to my office party. But I knew there was this guy who had a crush on me, so I basically used him to be my date. Kinda bitchy.

I was a horrible date, too......my co-workers and I all got kind of drunk and I ditched him, leaving him to sit at the table alone. To make matters worse, my jacket got stolen from the restaurant we were at, and I chewed him out for it, as if it were his fault. This guy ended up being a complete tool, but still, I was way out-of-line. :redface:

We ended up dating for a few months after that, but it did not end happily. I tend to think my behavior on our first date had something to do with that. :D

At my new paper, I don't know if we are having an office party or not. I probably won't go, since I don't work in the main office and don't know my new co-workers that well. I'd probably have more fun if I went to the holiday party for my old newspaper.

[tartytwenty]

My last place had insanely huge anti-drinking rules. So they got rid of X-Mas parties before I worked there, so pry 10 years ago or so. Instead the boss puts on an apron with other directors and they served you turkey durning your normal lunch (1/2 hour) and you weren't supposed to take any longer lunch than usual. BLAH

This place is local government so I work for the taxpayers. LOL, so no bonuses or parties. Which is cool. Our department will have a potluck lunch to celebrate and everyone brings a dish. Definitely no SO's involved.

[labrat2111]

At my work our department has a little pot luck get together which is nice. It ends up being about the 8 people I work with and spouses/SO's and some kids. You guys are getting me all bummed out though making me realize I'm the only one in my department who is single -- I guess I'll be okay after a drink or two;)

[NorthernAngel]

The invitations for the Christmas party have gone out today. It's at this really fancy restaurant and all the spouses, SOs are coming along for sure.

Guess what, my husband is still in Paris at that time (he's been gone 2 months now). I can just see the evening from here:

G: "So, you're here alone - didn't your husband want to come?"
Me: "He couldn't make it, he's in Paris at the moment for work"
G: "Really how come? When's he coming back? Do you miss him?"
etc...
REPEAT

(groan)

[snowgirl77]

I guess everyone ends up in a bit of holiday pain, married or not, right Angel? and1, to answer your question, my workplace is, shall we say, pretty obnoxious? I'm the only girl, so all of the boys will love the chance to gang up on my date. It's just their sort of tough-guy sense of humor. It just makes me sad because I would like to ask someone, but why invite him for a free meal when it's only going to suck for him?

[SmilesSoSweet]

I'm not looking forward to my office Christmas Party. It's the same old thing every year where everyone has a date except for me. I don't even have a guy friend (gay or straight) to take with me. There are about 35 employees there and most are married or have SOs. I did have a SO but we broke up a couple months ago. We're still friends, but he lives out of state now so asking him is out of the question. In the memo for the party it says to bring a date, so there's just more pressure to bring someone. Last year when I asked one of the admin assistants if anyone was going solo, she was like yeah, there are quite a few. What I didn't know until the night of the party was that the others going solo where dating other co-workers with the company so they were each other's date. Not fun for me. As for just sitting with a bunch of co-workers I'd usually hang out with... well the tables are set up in even numbers, so all the Christmas parties I've gone to, I've thrown off the table by being the odd one. It's not required to go, but if you don't, they give you a hard time like, "everyone on your team is going, why aren't you?" It's childish, I know, but still, it just bugs.

[paiger81]

I have an SO, but he is not into corporate America<-his personality just doesn't mesh-> so I end up having to make a lame ass excuse about why I am not bringing him with me.

Me and another girl(whose husband left her a few months back) are going stag together.

[Kitty]

We have company holiday parties and also company retreats. Last year we went to Hawaii for a week and were allowed to take one guest. Everyone went (because it was a free trip to Hawaii) and a lot of the younger women who are in their early 20's and single just brought friends.

Also - I have a friend who is in the exact same situation as you are and she's taking her sister. So, I don't think it will be too weird if you don't have like an official date or SO.

[chrisp]

no holiday parties here....nothing special for the holidays...although some departments seem to celebrate anyways. not mine tho. but i do get a bonus check which is nice.