Planning an Event During Covid
Planning an Event During Covid – we recommend checking with your local and state authorities before starting to make plans.
Here is a link to the CDC:
Whether you are planning a Thanksgiving dinner or a small celebratory gathering at your home, here is a list of suggestions to help you navigate planning an event during these uncertain times.
If you don’t have time to start planning, please call our office at 310-994-7789. We are more than happy to jump on a call and talk about your event.
Thanksgiving – currently in California we are being advised to keep it to three households or less. We are also being advised by the CDC to have your dinner outside.
Check with the CDC and local and state authorities for the latest information.
Micro events don’t have to mean micro food and micro decor.
If you are working with a caterer, we suggest kicking up the menu a few notches and offering your guests delicious appetizer options.
If you want to breakaway from mini quiches and chicken skewers, here’s some fun and creative ideas for your consideration:
Stuffed crab mushrooms with Hollandaise sauce or if you are a vegetarian, consider having your caterer stuff the mushrooms with breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic and butter. Talk with your caterer to find the right recipe for you.
Crostini served with olive tapenade or other favorite toppings
and or
Crostini served with bruschetta and goat cheese (my favorite)
and or
Crostini served with sliced pear, blue cheese and honey
Salads –
Asian pear, pomegranate, toasted pecans, Havarti cheese, market greens and champagne vinaigrette dressing
Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, garlic, croutons, parmesan dressing, lemon vinaigrette and anchovies if you prefer.
Decide how long you will have guests at your home. Decide on a menu to work with your style of dinner.
Desserts-
Offer something fun such as flavored cupcakes or your favorite kinds of mini pies.
If you are throwing an engagement party, order a small cake and place it on a pretty stand decorated with edible florals with your favorite colors.
Keeping Your Event Safe:
In-person gatherings in which individuals are from different households should remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear masks, do not share objects, and people should come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).
We recommend having a server wear a mask and serve your guests to avoid cross contamination with the utensils.
Have plenty of hand sanitizer onsite.
Decor and Comfort:
There are so many beautiful and creative options to decorate tables. You can find fun linens at reasonable prices versus using a black banquet linen on your buffet table. Have fun and dress up your tables!
If you are having an intimate party and you have a small amount of tables, check out the linens at Home Goods for the bar (front and back) and food stations. If you are having high top and or low top 36″ tables, you can find cute linens for those too at reasonable prices.
There are linen houses that will mail you the linens with return bags. After you’re done with your event, you place the linens into the bags send them back to the linen house.
Decorate the buffet tables with an assortment of carved pumpkins – add pretty florals and succulents for fun.
Add fun cocktail napkins for bar and food.
Have plenty of ice on hand for water and the bar and decide on which beverages you want to serve at the bar.
Flatware and plates- if you are hiring a caterer they will guide you on quantity.
If you want to stay away from using pumpkins for decor, we love to mix-up our table scapes with fresh fruit, candles, crystal and florals.
Rain and cold weather plan – ideally if you have a covered patio that is great to entertain. Check out the local weather forecasts starting 10 days before your event and make sure that you have heaters on order, so your guests don’t get cold. If you don’t have a covered patio, call your local rental house and ask about canopies and tents.
We recommend letting your guests know that the party is outside, so they dress warm.
For more tips, please call us at 310-994-7789.
Wishing everyone safe and fun holidays!
