Pacing the reunion dinner

A company reunion dinner works when the food, the speeches and the festive moments take turns. It struggles when they compete: a leader speaking over clattering plates, lo hei squeezed in while dishes are still arriving, a lucky draw that runs past the point where people want to go home.

Decide the dining style first

A seated banquet gives the night a clear rhythm but needs stage cues and kitchen timing planned together. A buffet encourages mixing but needs tables released in turns so the queue does not swallow a segment. A short standing reception helps when colleagues arrive from several offices at different times.

Give every speech a job

If several leaders speak, they should not all recap the year. One can thank the team, another can recognise contributions, and a final speaker can look ahead. Agree the order, the length and the main message beforehand, and test any slides on the venue's own screens.

Plan lo hei as its own moment

Tossing yusheng together is often the part of the night people remember. Treat it as a planned segment with a clear start, a short warm explanation from the host for anyone new to it, and time to tidy the tables before the next item. Think about guests with limited mobility, and make sure colleagues who would rather watch still have a place at the table.

Keep the programme modest

• Place high-attention segments when service is quiet.
• Keep acknowledgements between courses short.
• Choose one well-placed performance over several scattered ones.
• Collect dietary needs the same way from everyone, with a clear deadline.

Guests came to eat and talk with colleagues. Every segment should leave them wanting a little more rather than glancing at the time.

If you are drafting the running order now, a practical note on fitting speeches and lo hei around dinner service covers the detail of each segment.