Get ready to party.
This week I'll share my take and tips on how to party right. Warning: look away if you can't be bothered with details. Me, I can't get enough of the pesky things. :)
The bones of any good fete start with the basics: food and drink. Sure, a lively guest list is important, but once the guests arrive, spirits and snacks keep things alive. Naturally, great attention was given to each for our party. So much so, in fact, that we made a last minute venue change that cost us new invitations and express-fee $$ from our Calligrapher. It. was. worth. it.
Lacroix was a star.
Let's start at the beginning. We scheduled a meet and greet with the Lacroix Dream Team - Executive Chef Cichon, Pastry Chef Ortega and Restaurant Manager M. Merlini and covered everything under the sun. Balloons got nixed, oysters got added and pink ruled the table. The gracious gentlemen embraced our need to cover the details and Lesa and I both greatly appreciated their willingness to meet and talk forty.
Selecting the right venue and, more importantly, finding a good match of talent and personality goes a long way to the success of any event. So does getting to know your space. I snapped these shots and sent them along to the florist for design planning.
Other success bits to consider -
spirits. Have a signature cocktail to greet arriving guests {ours, veuve clicquot pink}
sweets! Here is where Lesa and I, co-hostesses, disagreed. I wanted a selection of sweets at cocktail hour, she did not. Because it was important to me, we did. And I'm so glad. Aside from being absolutely delicious, the delicacies added such a pretty element to the decor. Chef Ortega and crew outdid themselves.
restrictions. We worked in advance with the chef to cover all our guests needs. i.e. some non-meat, some non-seafood, no social statement foods {veal, fois gras}, and no innards {non adventurous eaters} Oh, brother!
table seating. We opted for place cards {gorgeous place cards!} and took great care in considering who sat where. We ended up with couples together and it worked. As she approached the table and noticed place cards, my sister hopefully exclaimed, "Oh, do I get to sit next to my husband?"
fun. Keep it fresh! We included a round of shots to close out the cocktail hour {so perfectly chilled!}, a twin quiz between courses to engage the table, a tour of the kitchen, and a videographer and insta-camera to capture the action.
moodboards & style. Inspiration is everywhere, take advantage of it. I'll share a glimpse of my favorite pinterest party ideas tomorrow.
flowers & candlelight. Dim lights and fresh blooms make a room. We engaged two florists whom sent proposals. While sweets were important to me, flowers were so to Lesa. She had high standards and both submissions were spectacular, but in the end Sullivan Owen {Best of Philly Mag winner} was our choice. Her use of floral garlands and glittery, mercury votives/vases won our hearts. This was her initial mock-up.
And one area where we struggle, in party planning and in life, is swift decision-making. Both Lesa and I aren't great at it. And, with so much involved, the details can pile up so don't get bogged down. Keep decisions quick and stick to 'em. Of course, practice makes perfect.
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