Planning an At-Home Event (3 of 4)

Continued…

Parking

Is there enough parking on the street or do you need a valet service? Can people park in the yard? What if the lawn is muddy? If you don’t have adequate parking, budget for a valet or busing service to a nearby lot. Depending on the particular day - a nearby school, church, city area, or business may allow you to utilize a lot for a small fee.

Catering

Catering is often the reason people will choose to have an event at home. You can make your own food, utilize a friend’s talent, or order from any restaurant you choose. But keep in mind - do you need food setup items? Chafing dishes, water/drink jugs, tea/coffee chafers, etc? Are you choosing items that can be kept warm with just chafing dishes or that need to be made fresh to retain crispness. Does your caterer provide any special equipment needed and are they willing to cook on-site?
Are the food items suitable for the typical weather? Will any food items be at risk for spoiling or be an attraction for insects/pests? Do certain items need to be kept covered?
Is kitchen access or a sink needed?

Food Service

Plates, glassware, silverware - disposable, compostable, or reusable. I don’t recommend disposables for events as they are a huge source of waste. However, if you plan on using compostables, is the home in an area where compostables are collected or can you make a plan for them to be collected? If you plan on using actual dishware & silverware, is there a sink setup where dishes can be scraped and/or rinsed?

Help

Are you having a planner help organize the day? Do you have a bartender? Will the caterers be serving or just setting up the buffet items? Do they have staff or are you hiring someone to help clear plates and glasses from tables, and to help with general clean-up after the event? Have you met with and vetted the staff to ensure a professional service?

Coming up...All the Little Things (4 of 4)..