Everyone is being asked to the same few weeks. A team that never has trouble meeting in March suddenly has school concerts, travel, other parties and year-end deadlines all competing for the same evenings. Ask in a group chat and you get a pile of "maybe the 12th?" and "I'm out that week" that nobody can tally.
A holiday party is also one of the few events where turnout is the point. A date that loses half the team, or the one person everyone wants there, defeats the purpose, so it's worth seeing who can make each option before you book the room.
How Commonhour works for holiday parties
Create a plan with the dates you're considering, such as a few evenings in the weeks before the break. For a work party you can also offer a lunch. Turn on All day if you're only choosing a day, or paint start times if the hour matters.
Share one link in the team chat, the club group text or an email. Everyone opens it in their browser and taps when they're free. No account, no app.
Watch the ranked list fill in. The dates that work for the most people rise to the top, with a note of who can't make each one.
Pick a date and send the calendar invite to everyone who's free, so it's on their calendars and not just in the chat.
What it works for
Work and team parties. Choose between a lunch and a few evenings for your team or department before the venue gets booked up.
Club and group parties. Pick an evening for a running club, rec league, choir or hobby group that only meets a few times a month.
Friends' holiday parties. Find the one night in a crowded December when most of your friends are free.
Remote team celebrations. Each person sees the options in their own time zone, so a team spread across regions can see what every time means for them.
Tips for a better turnout
Ask early. Send the link in early November, not the week before. Open evenings disappear quickly in December.
Offer three or four dates, not ten. A short list gets faster answers when everyone is busy. Mix weekdays and a weekend if you can.
Check who can't make each date. Each option shows who's missing, so you can tell if a date loses the people the party is really for.
Set a reply-by date in your message. Say when you'll decide, and send one reminder to anyone who hasn't answered.
Calendar invites are free, always. Google Calendar, Outlook, or an .ics file, with everyone who's free already added as a guest.
What it doesn't do yet
Commonhour finds the date or time. It isn't an invitation page: it doesn't collect RSVPs, dish sign-ups or gift lists, or split costs. Without an account a plan takes up to 12 responses; sign in with a free account to go past it. A free account takes up to 20 responses, so for a company-wide party, poll a planning group or one lead from each team rather than everyone.
Holiday party scheduling questions
How far ahead should I ask about a holiday party?
As early as you can. December calendars fill with other parties, travel and school events, so a link sent in early November leaves more open evenings than one sent the week before.
Does everyone need an account?
No. They open the link and tap the dates they're free, with nothing to install. Without an account a plan takes up to 12 responses; sign in with a free account to go past it.
Can I use it for a remote or virtual holiday party?
Yes. Commonhour shows each person the options in their own time zone, with a manual override, so a team in different regions can see what each time means for them. If your options span a clock change, double-check the time in the invite.
Can I choose between a lunch and an evening?
Yes. Offer a lunch time and a few evening start times in the same plan, and the ranked list shows which one fits the most people.
Is the calendar invite free?
Yes. Sending the calendar invite is free, with Google Calendar, Outlook or an .ics file, and everyone who said they're free is already added as a guest.