It’s holiday season, which usually means that during the next few weeks, many companies will be hosting some kind of celebration or social gathering for their employees. These types of events present a great opportunity to set up a date with someone special.

Three reasons to bring a date to your company holiday party:

1. It will probably be more fun than going solo – not that you can’t have a great time on your own but sharing the night with someone that you are romantically interested in will sure make things a bit more exciting.

2. You will be safe and within your comfort zone – since you will be with your date in a group of familiar faces, you are much more secure than if you hit the town with someone you don’t know well enough to trust just yet. Also, being surrounded by people that you know will likely help you to feel more at ease whereas your date might have a bit more reason to be nervous since he/she probably doesn’t know anyone other than you so that puts you at an advantage.

3. Input from friends/colleagues – many people tend to share a sense of camaraderie with their colleagues so by letting your work buddies weigh in, you’ll get a few outside opinions about the chemistry between you and your date.

While there are plenty of reasons to invite a date to your next holiday party, it is also important to handle the date properly while you are on it. Here are a couple of tips for how to make it a success:

1. Go easy on the alcohol – getting too drunk and causing a scene is a classic office party mistake that singles should be careful to avoid. Not only could it potentially ruin your date but it could put your job in jeopardy as well. Knowing your limits and sticking to them could spare you from a lot of unnecessary humiliation.

2. Don’t leave your date hanging – since you invited your date to the party and you are likely the only person at the party that he/she knows, it is important that you be prepared to stick by him/her for the evening. While it’s not a big deal if you go order some drinks or use the restroom, try to avoid leaving your date alone for extended periods of time, as this will likely make him/her feel uncomfortable.