As I look out my window writing this, I see wispy clouds, the temperature is going to reach a pleasant 78 degrees today, and we are anticipating a full day of sunshine and Summer perfection (or as I refer to it, “Chamber of Commerce Weather”). I LOVE days like this (and um, who wouldn’t? 75 katrillion people live in California because of this exact type of weather year round).
TOMORROW we are having an al fresco dinner party as we welcome and celebrate the amazing work of our pals Prashan and Shruthi De Visser (you can read more about their work here). Our patio is prepped, the lawn is manicured, my playlist is picked out, I am headed out to purchase my fresh florals in 15 minutes and we’re going to get this show on the road.
HOWEVER, as I look at these wispy clouds and blue skies, I also see the forecast for tomorrow glaring at me from my weather app. 100% chance of rain for tomorrow (all day and night).
Buh-bye al fresco dining beneath the sunset.
Here’s the thing. I could throw a hissy fit, stomp my feet and do a sun dance outside to try to beckon another day of Chamber of Commerce Weather for my event. But that’s not how it works, and my energy is much better spent adapting to the Plan B.
Here’s what I’ve learned about prepping for a dinner party (especially in light of the weather being all indignant and not following my plans. Very teenager-y of you, weather. Very teenager-y indeed).
- Plan for your Plan A. Do it anyway. You never know. Maddie’s wedding was a perfect example of how the skies parted L I T E R A L L Y 15 minutes before the ceremony for her ENTIRELY OUTDOOR wedding and reception. Prior to that it was gale force winds and lots of sweaty armpits and Hail Mary’s. But then it’s like a donut opened up above the property and a perfect halo of sun shone down on their ceremony and reception site and it was a perfect evening. SO PLAN FOR PLAN A, dangit! You might end up with a Sky Donut and wish you had, otherwise.
- Also plan for Plan B. I know, it’s just a helluva lot more planning. But that’s ok. Because being prepared for either scenario will keep you on track regardless of what your day-of scene ends up being. If we get to dine al fresco as planned tomorrow, I’m ready. Like I said, the outdoor space has been prepared as if we are having a big ol’ lawn party. But in the event we need to move the party indoors, I have a plan for that as well. I have linens that will accommodate a different set of tables that fit into my dining area, I have figured out how to reconfigure my living room furniture to make things fit, and I have extra blood pressure pills on standby (I’m only sort of joking).
- Use what’s in season. With regards to the florals for your event, that is! I’m headed off to the Farmer’s Market shortly to stock up on all of the freshest flowers I can find at the most economical price, because the earth is bursting with them right now! This is the smartest way to shop flowers. I know, you may have envisioned X, Y, Z flowers because of Pinterest and its limitless inspiration. And I’ve found that you can get ANYTHING YOUR HEART DESIRES if you’re willing to pay enough for it. That’s cool if that’s within your budget! You can decoupage your table in succulents if you’ve got deep enough pockets and the right resources. But if you’re looking for highest impact for the money, work with what’s in season. And with regards to your flower vessels, purchase what you know you will use over and over again. This may mean staying away from specific color families that will work ONLY FOR THIS EVENT (let’s say you’re throwing a Watermelon Party as my sister did last week for her 4 year old daughter – if I bought all magenta and lime green ceramic vessels for centerpieces, that would be slightly limiting next time I go to have a Thanksgiving party). Pick neutrals that you can use time and time again. OR (even better!) use what you’ve already got. As you add to your vessel collection, continue to purchase containers that are all in the same family so that you can easily mix and match them for future events. Also: these things are super handy. Combining these with some Oasis for holding your blooms will allow you to achieve a really beautiful waterfall look with your flowers and I swear the overall effect is like a multiplied bouquet using the exact same amount of flowers. Money saving tip: this also allows you to really maximize the impact of your colorful blooms while filling your bouquet up with the less expensive greens (that, in my case, we were even able to clip from my mom’s backyard!).
- Sometimes less is more. Fewer options = fewer headaches. Create a menu and stick to it. Choose your beverages and know that your guests will delight in a well chosen glass or two of red or white (they don’t need a wine list to rival Ruth’s Chris). Fewer options also = less waste and less leftover. We are on a mission to not overbuy for this event and I think we might be succeeding.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Who do you know with relevant skills? Involve them! My mom is an artist with a very gifted eye for design. She helped me choose flowers and arrange my centerpieces where they would have the highest impact. My sister owns a paper company and makes beautiful custom invitations and paper suites for special events. She made all of our paper goods for the event from the invitations right down to the menu bags. Our friend owns a local liquor store and helped us to select a perfect, streamlined assortment of beverages for our guests. His help is always invaluable to us when we have events and supporting a local business is far better than hitting up Costco in this case. (I realize I’m lucky to have close relatives so rich in talents, but I guarantee you have more connections than you realize, too! And if you don’t, I just gave you links to several great local resources, so there you go!).
I can’t wait to share all of the after photos, but for today, I’ll be buried in flower petals and jamming out to some tunes that will help me feel all creative and motivated.