2026 Holiday Party Ideas for Memphis
Let Your Guests Steal the Show
Think back to the best holiday party you've ever been to. Not the one with the fanciest invitation. The one you still bring up.
Chances are, you remember a specific moment. The coworker who strutted down the red carpet like it was an awards night. The friend who landed on the Naughty list and spent the rest of the evening demanding a recount. The whole group crowded around one print, laughing so hard nobody could get a word out.
Moments like that aren't luck. The best hosts plan for them. And planning for them is exactly what we've spent this year doing at Cheers Photo Co.
The moment when the guests take over
Every great party has a turning point. The venue sets the stage, the food and drinks set the mood, and the music gets people loosened up. Then something gives your guests a reason to jump in and become part of the night instead of just attending it.
That's the part people describe when someone asks, "How was the party?" Our job is to make that moment happen on purpose, and to make sure your guests take it home with them.
Enter: The Monday After test
If you're planning a company holiday party, here's the simplest way to know it worked. Listen on Monday.
Are people still talking about it? Are the captures bouncing around the group chat? Did several people already change their profile picture to one from that night? Did the person who planned it overhear people in the hallway talking about how this was the best party they’ve ever planned?
The holiday party is one of the only times all year your whole team is in one room without an agenda. It's a thank-you, and the best thank-yous feel personal. Give people something to laugh about together and something to keep, and they'll remember who made it happen.
Six ways to let your guests steal the show
Here's our 2026 Holiday Collection. Each one is built around a single moment your guests will remember.
2. Snow Globe 360. Guests step onto the platform, the camera circles them in slow motion, and snow swirls all around them, like they're standing inside a snow globe. We can brand every video with your company logo or party name, and the finished videos land right on guests' phones, ready to share.
3. Naughty or Nice Cards. Every guest gets a trading-card keepsake with their portrait and an official verdict. Office parties love this one, because someone always contests their ranking. It's a conversation starter that lasts all night and a keepsake that ends up pinned to a cubicle wall.
4. The Holiday Gazette. Your guests land on the front page of a vintage holiday newspaper. For companies, the headlines can celebrate the year's wins. For private parties, they can share the family's biggest news. Either way, everyone gets to be the headline.
5. Holiday Mail. A vintage holiday letter keepsake, stamped and sealed, with each guest's portrait inside. It's a lovely fit for client appreciation parties and for hosts who want to send guests home with a proper thank-you.
6. The Orniment. Each guest's capture is sealed inside a clear ornament they can hang on their own tree. It's the kind of party favor that comes back out every December, for years.
Made in Memphis: A holiday collaboration with local artists
We can’t wait to announce all the details! We are creating an exclusive collection of holiday designs you'll only find at a Cheers Photo Co. event in collaboration with local Memphis artists.
A portion of every experience booked from that collection goes directly to the artists. So when your guests steal the show, they do it in original art made right here in Memphis, and two local small businesses get to keep doing what they love!
A little December math
Christmas falls on a Friday this year. That leaves three Fridays and three Saturdays that work for most holiday parties: December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19.
There are a lot of events happening in December as well so don’t forget:
Raised By Sound Fest is onDecember 4th and 5th
The St. Jude Marathon takes place on December 5th this year
The Memphis Art Museum is opening to the public on December 6th
Six nights, and just about every company and host in Memphis is looking at the same calendar. If you know you're hosting this year, pick your date first. Everything else can follow.
Quick answers
How early should we book? As soon as you know your date. The six prime December nights go first, and the experiences with custom designs need a little lead time.
Do you provide Santa? No. The Santa Studio includes the red carpet, lighting, photographer, and team. You bring your Santa, and we make sure every portrait with him is a keeper.
Will this work in our home? Usually, yes. Most of our studio setups need about a 12 by 12 foot space with 9 foot ceilings and most booths need a 10 by 10 foot space with 8 foot ceilings. We'll walk through your space on our first call.
Can it be branded? Absoutely! Every experience can carry your company's logo, colors, and messaging, or your family name and party theme.
Check your December date
We bring holiday experiences to companies and private hosts across Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Olive Branch, Southaven, Oxford, and Nashville. Tell us your date and a little about your party. We'll let you know if it's open and which experience fits your crowd best.
This year, let your guests steal the show.