The economy is putting a pinch on some firms' holiday party plans, but many Mont­gomery businesses will cele­brate as always this year.

Companies that are planning on partying this Christmas gave a list of reasons: a good year, the need for optimism and just be­cause it is the end of the year.

Those curtailing celebra­tions say the economy just makes it difficult to gather em­ployees and clients and cut loose.

It isn't just employees who are missing the party this year. Service providers, who depend on holiday parties for a large chunk of their income, say this is the worst year in decades.

Richard Harden has tended bar at Christmas parties and winter balls for years. The calls for his services slowed down so much this year that the We­tumpka resident said he is leav­ing the business.

"It is declining quite a bit," he said. "It is because the em­ployers, a lot of them, are cut­ting back."

For Harden, it is a double whammy. Some companies are cutting out parties altogether. Others are going to simpler af­fairs, maybe a covered-dish lunch with no booze.

"They are going to holiday drinks like punch or eggnog," he said.

LWT Communications, a Montgomery marketing firm, isn't one of those companies. It planned its annual celebration at a ballroom with a catered meal for employees and spouses.

Cindy Scott said the compa­ny felt celebrating was entirely appropriate because it set reve­nue records in 2008.

"It was the best year in com­pany history," she said. "We have our largest staff."

The company has always cel­ebrated at the holidays, both for employees and clients.

LWT represents a number of Montgomery companies and of­ten calls on its clients for places to hold its party.

This year, the company cele­brated at 129 Coosa, a ballroom that is one of the first parts of Montgomery's Alleyway proj­ect.

The party will be for employ­ees and guests, and the company will also celebrate with clients, Scott said.

Mount Scrap Material, a re­cycling company, isn't celebrat­ing this year.

Bobby Armstrong said the economy, and what it means to the company, just makes a cele­bration inappropriate.

The company has never held parties, but traditionally pro­vided a gift -- normally a ham or turkey -- to its workers.

That won't happen this year, Armstrong said.

"We are not giving them," he said.

He estimated it would cost up to $8,000 to provide the food this year, something that just isn't in the company's budget.

"We just can't do it," he said. "We had to lay people off. It would be bad to go and give out these gifts."

Dick Morris of Regions Bank said the company would contin­ue its practice of each branch or business unit planning its own celebration. The company does not have a central Alabama cele­bration for all its employees.

"We are still doing some­thing similar," he said.

Celebrations at the bank in­clude everything from a cov­ered-dish breakfast or lunch to an evening out at a restaurant.

"We let everybody do what they want to do," he said.

Adams Hudson, owner of marketing firm Hudson Ink, said this holiday will be like any other -- a time for his employees to enjoy themselves at the com­pany outing.

"Every year we have a par­ty," he said. "It is for employees and their guests. This year is no different at all, except we changed the venue."

Hudson said the change was not because of economics, but because the company had done the same thing for a few years and just wanted to do something new.

He said having the party is important to employee morale.

"If I show cracks, I think they would follow suit," he said.

While Hudson said he finds it important to have the party, he fully understands those who cancel because of the soft econo­my.

"If you let people go and have a party, they may wonder if you couldn't have kept someone," he said.