How to Host a Green Event

Anyone can host a party or event, but creating a gathering that is eco-friendly probably seems like an entirely different undertaking.

Whether you are strongly supportive of conservation efforts, or just simply hoping to throw an earth-friendly bash of which you can be proud, going “green” in your party planning is easier than you think.  We have used our unrivaled experience in the catering and event planning industry to compile our top tips to hosting a green event, making your green party planning efforts an easier-than-ever success.

Throwing a Green Party

It starts with an eco-friendly vision.  Entertaining requires both passion and vision, and entertaining with environmentally-friendly practices takes additional planning.  Keep these items in mind as you prepare for your eco-friendly party:

• Locally-grown, locally-crafted and locally-sourced food and drink items
• Environmentally-friendly party decorations
• Energy-conscious lighting, heating/cooling, grilling and entertainment options
• Minimizing waste, utilizing sustainable options and recycling where possible

Eat, Drink and Be Local!

One of the easiest ways to “green” an event is to keep your food and drink local.  This means purchasing locally-grown produce, sourcing locally-raised meat products and drinking locally-crafted beverages throughout your event.  Keeping your food and drinks local incurs fewer costs—monetary and environmentally.  Local products use less resources to preserve, package, ship, store and distribute than those that come from farther away.  Purchasing local goods is also environmentally-friendly because it reduces the amount of gasoline burned in the shipping process.  Those goods come from local farmers and craftsmen, meaning your money is spent boosting your local economy.

Get Environmentally-friendly Party Decorations

Consider using eco-friendly décor when setting up your green party space.  Purchase decorations made from 100% recycled goods, or, better yet, utilize natural products like flowers, greenery, potted plants, whole fruits and vegetables and other live or edible items to enhance your earth-friendly party.  Flowers, especially those that are potted, and other greenery are great because they can double as eco-friendly party favors, living past their uses as party-time decorative items.  Whole fruits and vegetables placed in bowls throughout the event space add color to your “green” décor, can be utilized as earth-friendly party munchies and are easily taken home to be used for meals or snacks.        

Seek Energy-conscious Lighting, Grilling and Entertainment Options

Every party or event requires a variety lighting, heating/cooling, entertainment and sometimes even grilling options.  Consider these eco-friendly ideas:

• Energy-conscious lighting—utilize natural lighting as much as possible.  Move your party outdoors to a patio or porch, or employ energy-efficient light bulbs throughout your home and event space to minimize energy usage.
• Energy-conscious grilling—avoid lighter fluids, clean your grill regularly and use sustainable bamboo chips in place of charcoal to reduce carcinogens and obtain great flavor.
• Energy-conscious entertainment—gather items you already have to create your party entertainment.  Play cards, have a game of touch football or softball in your backyard or do something earth-friendly—like planting trees or picking up trash at a local park—to keep your eco-friendly event guests entertained.

Minimizing, Utilizing and Recycling

Minimize the amount of waste at your party by utilizing sustainable dinnerware and party products (items that can be reused or recycled).  Ask guests to carpool, ride bikes or walk to minimize the amount of gasoline burned en route to your eco-friendly event. Recycle as much as possible, setting out well-labeled containers for plastics, metals, glass, papers and food waste.  If possible, compost your food waste for added sustainable party practices.Visit our Green Party Pinterest board for even more green inspiration!

 More Articles You Might Like

• Wedding Place Settings
• 2014 Event and Wedding Trends
• Sample Catering Menus

Wedding Place Settings

Spring is on its way, bringing with it the excitement of plenty of spring and summer weddings.If you’re one of the lucky ones getting married this spring, or if you’re helping to plan the wedding of someone who is, you know that table decorations and place settings can be a big wedding planning stressor.They don’t have to be, though, especially when you have a base from which to start building your dream wedding place setting designs.  We’ve created this guide to 2014 Wedding Place Settings to help you find the perfect place settings for your upcoming wedding celebration.

What Type of Wedding Place Setting Do You Need?

When planning your perfect wedding place settings for your wedding tablescapes, it’s important to keep a few essential items in the front of your mind:

1. Type of Wedding—traditional, cultural, destination, 1^st vs. 2^nd wedding, etc.
2. Type of Food Service—plated sit down, casual, buffet-style, chef action station, etc.
3. Themes and Colors—beach party, winter white, rustic, color schemes, etc.
4. Wedding Décor—florals, lighting, entertainment, etc.
5. Functionality—the must-haves for guests to enjoy your wedding meal

The type of wedding you’re having can make a huge difference when it comes to how you plan your décor, including your wedding tablescapes. Tablescapes and wedding place settings should be functional while simultaneously working with—and enhancing—your overall wedding event décor.  Pinpoint what type of wedding you’re having, and then proceed to the next step for easy wedding place setting planning.What’s Trending in 2014 Wedding Place Settings?Florals—and in a variety of capacities! These flowers are coming in bright colors that accent the rest of the tablescape, match the bride and groom’s wedding theme colors, or provide excess elegance or fun. Place some in a small vase at each guest’s seat, work them into larger bouquets to adorn the table or lay them on top of each guest’s plate with a name tag to act as a place card. Don’t miss out on a great chance to really make a color splash with these easy-to-work-in elements.Simplicity & clean lines—instead of the common over-the-top tablescape production, we’re seeing many brides and grooms select simple tablescape and wedding place setting designs.  Choose a tablecloth or overlay that works with your wedding theme or wedding colors.  Next, select simple dinnerware and linens that provide elements of sophistication and elegance.  Accent with appropriate silverware and glassware, and use smaller elements—such as brightly colored florals (see above for more floral ideas!)—to bring a little something extra to this effortless wedding place setting design.Natural and rustic—bringing the outdoors inside. Utilize plenty of natural elements like florals, small potted plants, earthy candles and other natural items to bring your favorite components of the spring and summer into your wedding place setting designs. Choose colors that reflect nature, such as greens and browns, to create rustic-inspired place settings.  Focus on pastel colors, oversized flowers, and plenty of green accents to keep this natural and rustic place setting design truly alive.

Patterns—patterns, and more patterns! From vintage checkers and needlepoint-style linens to elegant lace and paisley designs, and encompassing everything in between, brides and grooms are selecting elegant patterns to adorn their wedding place settings and wedding tablescapes. Current patterned trends in wedding place settings include chevrons, not as a whole linen but as a table runner—that’s a big one! Patterns are an excellent way to grab your guests’ attention while also creating fun and stylish décor choices that are sure to be memorable.Elegance—may seem like a no-brainer when it comes to wedding décor planning, but this wedding place setting concept is here to stay.  Brides and grooms holding weddings with all types of themes are bringing out the fine silver, stylish china, crystal stemware, flawless linens and chic floral designs to create a rich, storied wedding event of dreams. Consider using menus and linens colored in pastel hues to really “make” this Victorian-inspired theme. Also, utilizing just a touch of glam—something with a little glitz added to either the table numbers, place cards, runners or other smaller decorative items—will add an air of sophistication that isn’t too over-the-top.Textured fabrics and linens—your tablescapes don’t have to be one-dimensional, and creating a textured look from the base up is a creative way to bring literal layers to your wedding place settings. Select linens with soft ruffles, lace overlays or three-dimensional flowers to help generate a more fun and fashionable aspect in your wedding place settings’ sophistication. 

Round vs. Square Tables—you can choose one or the other, or follow a current trend of mixing the two! Each style of table seats a different number of guests, which means that having a combination of both might make accommodating your guest count a little bit easier. Use both round and square tables for a creative, functional room design, and select square china for an added touch of simplicity in your wedding place setting.Round vs. Square China—a personal decision, but an essential one when completing your wedding place settings. Round china on square tables or square china on round tables adds a bit of a classy contrast that will help create an eye-catching and clever tablescape design. Additionally, sticking with your wedding theme while taking into account your guest count will help you to select the type of china (and tables—see above!) that will best accommodate your wedding day diners. Your wedding planner or caterer will be able to help you choose patterned china vs. plain white, as well as aid you in pairing your round or square china with the appropriate linens for your event.For even more wedding ideas, visit our Weddings Pinterest board.Need help deciding on an indoor or outdoor wedding or reception?  No problem!  We'll help you make your decision with this long list of pros and cons for indoor and outdoor weddings.  Indoor or outdoor, you'll want exquisite tablescapes and table settings for your big day.  View these 10 Ideas for a Beautiful Wedding Tablescape for more inspiration.You'll also be interested in the latest wedding trend in Boston--a wedding registry, for your actual wedding!  Take a look at this unique and growing concept.

Event Spotlight: High Wire Doughnuts

Our client approached us wanting a creative, quirky and cocktail-style breakfast party.  We were immediately excited to get started on this event!The client wanted a really fun and imaginative way to display doughnuts because the guest of honor loved doughnuts.  So, we brainstormed possible ways to display these tasty breakfast treats and dubbed the event “High Wire Doughnuts”.The BG team constructed a “high wire” custom copper display unit where we hung dozens of doughnuts for guests to admire…and eat!Since it was clear this wouldn’t be a typical breakfast event, we wanted to add even more interesting ways to display our food.  In lieu of the typical fruit display, we created a fun, deconstructed Berry Bar by filling vintage apothecary jars with fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.What the client really loved about this event was the juxtaposition of the modern white and plexi with the vintage jarsThe menu included tray-passed breakfast hors d’oeuvres, which were as inspiring as they were delicious. They included:

• Petite Chicken and Waffles
• Mini Potato Latkes
• Sausage and Biscuits
• Baked Eggs in Mini Bacon Cups
• Caramelized Onion and Egg Quesadillas
• Hanging Homemade Doughnuts
• Fresh Berry Bar
• Yogurt and Granola Panna Cotta

We also offered guests refreshing tray-passed mocktails, because what’s a brunch event without some fruit beverages?The awesome sight of hanging doughnuts sure made guests hungry, and we saw lots of full stomachs and happy faces.  Overall, this event was a smash hit.

16 Great Olympic Party Ideas

It’s Winter Olympics time, and though we’re not in Sochi, that doesn’t mean we can’t have our own Olympic fun back here.The Olympics are a rare and wonderful occasion, and one we believe should be celebrated, so we are sharing our top 16 favorite Olympic party ideas with you right here.

Serve International Cuisine

Of course this would make our list; we love international cuisine!  There are so many ways you can work your Olympic party menu.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Russian.  Russian?  Yes, Russian, and not only because they’re hosting!  Typical Russian cuisine might include: shashlyk, pirozhki or syrniki.  And, of course, you can’t forget the vodka.
• Eastern Europe or Middle Eastern cuisine.  Sochi is right across the Black Sea from the Eastern Europe countries, and it’s also a neighbor to the Middle East.  Concentrate on either of those cuisines for your party.
• Food from around the world.  Take your guests throughout all different parts of the world with sushi, Moroccan food, Ethiopian food, Peruvian food, Polish food, Thai food and more!
• Global potluck.  Have each guest bring a different dish from any country of his or her choosing to the party.  Or, to ensure there aren’t duplicates, assign a country to each guest and ask each to bring a dish representative of that culture to the table!

Mix Olympic Rings-Colored Cocktails

Cocktails are one of our favorite ways to transform an event.  In fact, our Dr!nk bartending team is one of the leading cocktail and bartending services in Boston!  We recommend serving up drinks and cocktails in any of the Olympic ring colors, such as these classics:

• Blue: Blue Sapphire martini (served with blue Curacao, Bombay Sapphire gin and dry vermouth)
• Black: Guinness or any dark stout beer
• Red: Bloody Marys
• Yellow: lime margaritas, frozen or on the rocks
• Green: mojitos (ok, these aren’t necessarily green, but when you use enough mint leaves, they sure look like it!)

Plan Fun and Games

What’s an Olympics-themed party without some fun and games?  You can do a variety of things for your at-home Olympic competition, and we have a few fun suggestions for you:

• Beer Olympics.  Teams split up, each representing a country, and compete in various drinking games, such as cards, darts and pong.
• Have your party at an ice skating rink.  Hold speed skating races or “figure skating” contests where you give participants a list of easy tricks to try and complete.
• Have your party outside in the snow where you can have actual winter games and activities.  Instead of snowboard or skiing, you can build snowmen or snow forts and gives prizes to the best creations.

Make Edible Medals

At your party, you can give away edible medals to either the winners of whatever competitions you hold or to everyone who attended your party.  You can make your medals out of string or ribbon and any round, cookie-like food!  Bake different cookies for a variety of medals, or add food coloring to your cookie dough so you can giveaway gold, silver and bronze-colored cookie medals.

Hold Cooking Contests

Don’t want to hold any athletic competitions for your Olympic party?  No problem.  If there’s one thing that brings people together, it’s food.  Why not turn your party into a cooking competition?  You can either ask guests to bring their best fill-in-the-blank recipe (i.e. chili, pizza, mac ’n’ cheese…) or you can make it a cook-off and provide the kitchen and equipment for everyone to “throw-down” their best recipe right then and there.  The winner could go home with one of your edible gold medals!

There are so many more great party ideas that we think you'll love.  Like these:

• 5 Awesome Oscar Party Ideas
• 10 Winter Party Themes and Ideas
• How to Host a Beer Tasting Party at Home

5 Awesome Oscar Party Ideas

Are you thinking about hosting an Oscars-themed party?  Invite a group of friends and family over and tune in on to see which stars will go home with a coveted statue.

Oscar Party Idea #1: Make it an Old Hollywood Glam Party

Reminisce with a glamorous Old Hollywood-themed party.  This event’s décor would include lots of movie reels, statues, the colors black and gold and plenty of feathers.  Think 1920s and the art deco phenomenon.Libations: champagne toast followed by cocktails (martinis and mint juleps!)Red Carpet Recipe Ideas:  Seafood, such as crab-stuffed mushrooms or lobster ravioliOr, get a bunch of menu inspiration from these sample menus right here.

Oscar Party Idea #2: Predict the Winners

Print out a list of all of the categories and nominees and give one to each guest.  Hand out pens or pencils with each list and ask guests to predict who they think will win the Oscar.  At the end of the night, tally up everyone’s scores and give away your own Oscar statue to the guest who made the most correct predictions!Want to make your own statue?  Paint a male doll solid gold and glue it to a stand.  Or, if you would rather make edible statues, whip up a batch of sugar cookies using a cookie cutter in the shape of a statue.  Use frosting to glue the sugar cookie to a round chocolate cookie which will serve as the stand.

Oscar Party Idea #3: Pick Your Favorite Movie and Theme Your Party

Was your favorite nominated movie Captain Phillips?  Center your party theme on it by turning your house into a nautical wonderland.  Serve up some seafood and fruit cocktails, too.Maybe you want to set your party in the late-70s after Oscar-nominated American Hustle.  Recreate that world in your own home with plenty of sparkles, sequence and the appropriate music.  Serve plenty of cocktails and rich finger foods.  Maybe even dust off the fondue pot and serve up that 70s classic!Gravity is also nominated for Best Picture.  Give your party a whole new atmosphere when you decorate your house like outer space after this Sandra Bullock and George Clooney hit.It doesn’t matter what movie you choose; all you have to do is get creative!

Oscar Party Idea #4: Construct a Popcorn Buffet

Maybe you don’t want to incorporate an entire theme for your casual get together, but would still like to do something special for your party.  Try creating a popcorn buffet with different flavored popcorn varieties.  Some crowd favorites include caramel corn, cheddar cheese popcorn and buttered popcorn, but don’t be afraid to get creative.  Mix some M&Ms into one bowl of popcorn.  Offer different popcorn seasonings.  Make a batch of spicy chipotle popcorn or upscale chocolate and praline popcorn.  It’s easy to make your own seasonings or add your own goodies to a batch of popcorn.  Simply separate your flavors in big bowls on your buffet table and let guests come up and try whatever combination they think looks delicious!Bonus:  in lieu of standard small bowls, give each guest a popcorn tub or box to use just like the movie theaters do.  Serve other movie theater favorites like sodas and candy.  You could even provide a candy table with Twizzlers, Snow Caps, Sour Patch Kids, Peanut M&Ms and other popular movie theater candy.

Oscar Party Idea #5: Come as Celebrity Couples (or Singles)

Ask guest to come dressed as their favorite actors.  Couples can dress as famous Hollywood couples, and your guests’ actors don’t have to be limited to just those in attendance at this year’s Oscars.  Go back to the beginning of Hollywood time—and get creative!  Have your guests try and guess who each person is, or, if you’re having a large party, provide nametags for each guest so that everyone will know which “actors” are in attendance.Décor should still center on cinema, but instead of having an Old Hollywood party, turn your house into a modern red carpet movie premiere.

At this rate, we will still be in a winter wonderland come Oscar time.  Consider incorporating some of our 10 Winter Party Ideas into your Oscar viewing party!Keep guests warm and cozy with one of our six warm winter cocktails!Of course, TONS more wonderful Oscar party ideas can be found on our Oscars party Pinterest board.

Top 10 Backyard Wedding and Reception Tips

If you’re thinking about hosting your wedding and/or reception in your backyard, we have some great tips for you.

Here are our best backyard wedding ideas, tricks and answers, whether you’re getting married here in Boston or elsewhere.

Elegant Backyard Wedding Ideas

1. Plan it.  Backyard weddings are a great way to save money on the venue space, although you must remember that you’ll need to consider many things before you can commit to this idea.  First question:  Do you or your parents have a backyard big enough for your wedding?  To answer this, you must think about your guest list and about what type of reception you would like to have. Do you envision a plated dinner or a buffet?  Passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktail bar or grilled picnic food?  Each type of reception comes with different capacities.  Will you also be hosting your ceremony in the backyard, or just the reception?  You’ll need even more space if you’re hosting both.

Tip:  Talk to a rental company or a catering company—yes, we can help answer these questions!—before you make this decision.  They will know how much space you will need to set up tables, booths and a dance floor to accommodate your guest count, and will likely suggest different catering options that best meets your visions and space constraints.2. Prep it.  If you have at least 8 weeks’ time, you should be ready to prep the backyard.  If you’re hosting a backyard wedding in the summer, great!  Nature can take care of most of your décor costs—although you’re going to have to help it along.  Plant your gardens this year with your event design and layout in mind.  It will be difficult, though, to get your gardening in order without knowing where everything will go.

Here’s a great tip:  talk to your wedding planner, rental company or caterer about the event layout before you do any work.  Sometimes there are tables and prep areas that our clients forget to take into consideration or new layout ideas we come up with to maximize the space when we visit the site.3. Theme it.  Whether you’re looking for a simple backyard wedding or an elaborate, elegant wedding design, your theme will drive most of the aesthetic decisions from here on out.  Sophisticated country?  Vintage?  Rustic?  Whimsical?  Every theme comes with different flowers, photo frames, centerpieces, chairs, linens, catering choices and more.

4. Tent it.  This is one of our biggest recommendations.

We largely recommend this: rent a tent!  Not only will this come in handy should there be a little inclement weather on the day of your wedding, but it also provides you with much needed shelter from things as simple as too much sun or a light breeze (think of your delicate decorations on the tables…you don’t want them to tip, break or blow away!), gives you privacy and adds decorating opportunities (see: light it up).  Trust us when we say tents are great for backyard weddings large and small.5. Dance floor it.  What’s a backyard wedding reception without a dance floor?  Lots of holes in the grass, that’s what.  Be kind to all those women in high heels and those poor blades of grass growing in the danger zone, and rent a dance floor for guests to use in lieu of just a grassy area or even a patio or deck.  You’ll want something flat and smooth.

Hint: this is definitely a recommendation that’s right up there with renting a tent on the must-do list.6. Light it up.  A huge perk of a backyard wedding is that you can light up this space with as many (or as few) beautiful strands of lights as you could possible want—and you can begin the stringing as early as you need to since no one else is renting your event space.  We suggest stringing lights throughout the ceiling of the tent and wrapping them around trees.  Consider hanging or placing even more lights, Chinese lanterns and candles on chairs, tables, trees and other natural shrubbery.  Wedding lighting is worth the upgrade almost every time.  Take a look at these photos.  What would they look like without such exquisite lighting?

7. Rent it.  Rent your tables and chairs from a rental company—or through your catering team, who will either rent the equipment themselves or know with whom you should speak for the best styles for your budget.  When you rent your equipment, you won’t have to worry about the setup or take down.  You just show up, sign on the dotted line and the entire reception will be constructed for you.

Huge tip: you will not regret this help on your wedding day.  Also worth considering is the temperature.  Are you hosting your wedding on the hottest day of the year?  Consider renting equipment that will help cool down your guests so that no one gets too hot and uncomfortable.  If you’re hosting a late fall backyard wedding and the evenings are known to cool down, there are plenty of attractive looking heater options you can also rent from your rental company.  Another big tip: temperature controlling equipment is always a good idea.8. Personalize it.  It’s your backyard—let people know!  Personalize your backyard wedding with the kind of intimate details only a backyard wedding could afford.  Hang Polaroids of you two from the tent or on the backs of your chairs.  Showcase your baby photos and engagement photos.  Display your parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos around the backyard or frame them for a side table.  Decorate the tent, the trees and the tables with memorabilia that is special to you two.  Don’t forget about the inside, either.  In the bathroom, for instance, leave something special, like perfume and cologne, mouthwash and floss and other toiletries along with framed photos of either wedding-related things or photos of you and your fiancé.  Turn the living room and kitchen inside the house into a shrine commemorating your relationship.  This day is all about you.9. Separate it.  Depending on how much room you have to work with, consider creating different "areas" or zones in your backyard.  For example, incorporate a casual seated area away from the dance floor and tables that provides guests a little bit of intimacy.10. Game it.  With an outdoor wedding—and one in your backyard, nonetheless—you get to host games and entertainment your way.  Set up a couple of lawn bag or cricket games.  Guests can play while they wait for you to finish your photos or while they have a cocktail.  As long as the sun is still out and the music’s not dance-material, your guests will be looking for something to do.

Tip time: take a look at your guest list and make note of how many children will be at your reception.  Consider a small children’s tent or game area.  Backyards without fences might lead to wandering children, but the more occupied they are by fun and games, the less likely they’ll be to wander into trouble.11. Remember it.  Come up with creative ways to remember your wedding day.  The obvious is to hire a photographer, which probably seems as though it’s a must-do.  We agree.  Document as much of that day as you can.  Also consider hiring a videographer, renting a photo booth, setting up a photo or video guest book and more.  More creative guest book ideas for backyard weddings can be found here.

We hope you think these backyard wedding ideas are useful!  Even more useful, though, might be our biggest backyard wedding planning tips.  For your reference, we have laid out our biggest tips from within each backyard wedding idea right here:

• Tell your catering or rental company your guest count and ask them to visit the site before you decide your yard is big enough for your ceremony and/or reception.
• Talk to your vendors before you plan your garden so that you can incorporate this year’s design into the event’s layout.
• Rent a tent!
• Get yourself a real dance floor.  Decks and patios aren’t stable or comfortable enough.
• You will never regret the setup and teardown help of a respectable rental company.
• Rent equipment to cool down or heat up your outdoor area.
• Give the children something to occupy them, or risk little wanderers.

For even more backyard wedding inspiration, visit our Weddings Pinterest board.Are you considering a Winter Wedding instead?  Take a look at these hot winter wedding reception ideas!Don't know if you want an indoor or outdoor wedding or reception?  No problem!  We'll help you make your decision with this long list of pros and cons for indoor and outdoor weddings.  Indoor or outdoor, you'll want exquisite tablescapes and table settings for your big day.  View these 10 Ideas for a Beautiful Wedding Tablescape for more inspiration.You'll also be interested in the latest wedding trend in Boston--a wedding registry, for your actual wedding!  Take a look at this unique and growing concept.

10 Winter Party and Wedding Ideas and Themes

We’ve scoured the web for our favorite winter-themed party ideas and winter wedding themes, as well as perused through our repertoire of winter-themed weddings and events, and brought them all together for you right here.

Now that the holidays are over and we’ve rung in the New Year, no one wants to see another red and green party for at least ten months.  But, even though we’re holiday-partied-out, we can still enjoy ourselves this year with these awesome winter party theme ideas and any of these winter party tips.  Or, we can get a jump start on planning a beautiful winter wedding and reception for a year or two to come.

Winter Party Ideas and Winter Wedding Themes

Ski Chalet.  This theme is very wintery, cozy and chic.  Incorporate elegant, natural pieces and rustic, sophisticated wooden accents.  Fireplaces are a plus, so if your venue has one, feature it prominently.

• Menu:  Hearty stews, such as rabbit or beef, with a s’mores bar for dessert
• Drinks:  Craft beers and red wine
• Décor:  Acorns, pine trees, winter wreaths, snowy branches and other ski resort décor

White Winter Wonderland.  White, white and more white.  White décor, white flowers, a white sweets table, a white cake and white place settings will make this an elegant and beautiful theme.

• Menu:  White fish, shrimp, crab or lobster with veggies
• Drinks:  White wine
• Décor:  White everything!

Fire and Ice.  They might seem like clashing elements, but fire and ice is a sultry winter party theme that incorporates the best bright reds and light, icy blues.

• Menu:  A sophisticated surf-and-turf menu with cold seafood appetizers and hot hors d’oeuvres, such as this fire and ice appetizer
• Drinks:  Two specialty cocktails, such as drinks with Fireball Whiskey or Blue Curacao
• Décor:  A single event space divided into two distinct areas, one featuring fiery reds and the other frosty blues

Cozy Romantic.  This warm and welcoming theme will have guests wishing they were snuggled up on a couch with a mug of hot cocoa.  Warm colors against wooden décor are inviting and oh-so-cozy.

• Menu:  Soups, stews and chowders
• Drinks:  Winter lagers and warm cocktails.  Hot toddies, mulled wine and other warm cocktails from this list of warm winter cocktails
• Décor:  Deep reds, browns and purples with candles and votives throughout the entire event space

Winter Woods.  This is a beautiful theme idea that incorporates the deep greens of the forest, wintery trees and the sharp white of fresh snow.

• Menu:  Roasted or deep-fried game, such as turkey or pheasant
• Drinks:  White and red wine, craft beer
• Décor:  Pine green with plenty of pinecones, acorns and other forest-inspired elements

Fine Wines.  This scene can either be created in a wine cellar or recreated to appear like a wine cellar.  Oak barrels and other wooden elements could line the walls, and dark wooden tables and chairs serve as décor all on their own.

• Menu:  Mediterranean-inspired dishes with pastas and fresh herbs
• Drinks:  A classy selection of red and white wines with a dessert wine for after-dinner drinks
• Décor:  Elements of oak and deep reds with plenty of candles and candelabras

Re-New Year.  This beautiful and timeless winter party would focus around the concept of time.  Between the centerpieces, wall art, place settings and accent pieces, this theme very tastefully incorporates clocks, watches, timepieces and anything else time-related into the event design.  It’s chic, classy and very glitzy.

• Menu:  Roast duck
• Drinks:  Champagne upon arrival, but also classic cocktails such as martinis, cosmos and Manhattans
• Décor:  Sparkles, glitter, sequins and a big ball to “drop” at midnight

Snow Globe.  Welcome guests inside your favorite snow globe.  This winter party theme is floor-to-ceiling white with fun winter elements dancing throughout the venue.

• Menu:  Hearty menu items, though this event’s feature will be the sweets table with a variety of cakes, tarts, pies, cheesecakes and candies
• Drinks:  White wine, dessert wine and cocktails such as gin and tonic
• Décor:  Bring the outside in with snow-covered shrubbery, benches, light posts and other outdoor fixtures

Countryside Winter.  This theme is much more casual than most of the others on this list.  Guests can cozy up in big, warm sweaters while admiring the whites and rustic colors of their surroundings.  Those brave enough to endure the outdoors (with the help of a heater, most likely) can turn their outdoor party space into a beautiful and memorable evening.

• Menu:  Mashed potato bar and beef tenderloin carving station
• Drinks:  Something warm, like Irish coffee, and mulled wine at dinner
• Décor:  Lots of white, obviously, incorporating furry blankets, seat cushions and pillows into the décor to make it functional and warm as well as beautiful

Black and Ivory.  This theme is winter parties at their most sophisticated.  The two colors, used in elegant and tasteful patterns, will dominate the evening’s look, while an equally elegant menu feeds and hydrates guests.

• Menu:  Passed appetizers leading up to a plated dinner of parmesan crusted chicken or Portobello mushrooms
• Drinks:  Full, premium bar
• Décor:  Black and ivory, in a chic striped, chevron or other simple, decorative pattern, paired with assorted florals and elegant centerpieces on each table

All of these ideas and more can be found on our Winter Party Theme Ideas Pinterest board.  For more winter party and wedding ideas, warm up your guests by serving one of these six warm winter cocktails!

Company Holiday Party Planning Checklist

In case you’ve decided to throw a last minute holiday party for your company, or, if you’re halfway through the party planning process and you want to make sure you’ve thought of everything, we have compiled a checklist of universal company holiday party planning guidelines.We’ve made the list, now you can check it twice!  Make sure that all of your bases are covered, and you’ll give your organization one heck of a time—with very little stress on your part.If you like searching Pinterest, we've got even more ideas on our Company Holiday Party Planning Checklist board.

• Decide on the type of party you’ll be throwing.  Will it be company-wide?  Extravagant?  Casual?  Employees, plus-ones and spouses only? Are clients invited, too?
• Create a budget.  This might already be established by the bosses.
• Make a guest list.  This will be based on the first item in the checklist.
• Set a date.  If you’re just getting to this, those red hot party dates are probably tough to solidify with caterers and venues. Work with your venue and/or caterer to choose an available date and timeframe.  If the desirable Fridays and Saturdays are already spoken for, try hosting your company’s holiday party on a Thursday evening instead.
• Select a venue.  This should be done in accordance with the previous step, since available dates will be hard to come by. That is, of course, unless you’re hosting at the boss’ house or at your office.
• Select a caterer.  Again, this should be done ASAP to ensure that the best available caterers have ample ingredients and the appropriate staff to make sure your holiday party is a success.
• Choose hosts and/or speakers.  Look within your company first.  If no one comes to mind, consider asking a recently retired individual to whom everyone looked up or really enjoyed having around the office/building.
• Pick a theme.  Now this is the fun, creative part.  Come up with a theme, such as White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Candy Land or Gothic Holiday.  This theme will provide the foundation for the rest of the creative planning process.

• Plan your entertainment.  What goes with your holiday theme?  If you’re considering a live band or DJ, you might be a little late to capture the top entertainers.  Try asking around the company to see if anyone is in a band outside of work, or has a friend, son, cousin, etc. who would be willing to entertain.  Also consider asking local children’s choirs or community groups to perform.  If you don’t want a big entertainment act, plan several smaller interactive activities, which just happens to be one of our hot company party trends right now.
• Decide on the dress code.  Formal, casual or somewhere in between?  Make this decision based on the theme, venue and budget, and relay this information to guests via the next step of the planning process.

Formal attire is one way to dress up your evening, but make sure your decor and theme matches the level of sophistication if you're asking guests to get all dolled up!

Casual attire is great for holiday parties with tons of activities and games and for events with lower budgets.

• Create and send out your invitations.  The invitations should reflect the holiday party’s theme as well as the dress code.  To remove doubt from guests’ minds, be sure to let them know that if it’s a formal event, you’re expecting bowties and gowns and vice versa.
• Plan a holiday menu.  Work with your caterer to create the best possible menu fitting both your theme and your budget.  Some caterers already have holiday menu themes, which are helpful for those planning well in advance or at the last minute.

• Plan the bar.  Will you offer premium, top-shelf bar service?  Will you need more than one bar?  Will you have a specialty cocktail based on your theme?  Your caterer can help you answer all of these questions and many more.  Or, head to our dr!nk page for some help right now.

• Schedule a site visit.  You’ll want to do this with your venue coordinator and invite your vendors and caterer along.  This will give everyone involved the opportunity to judge what the best event design and set up will be, as well as help your vendors pre-plan for all deliveries, including dock space, number of stairs and back room or kitchen space.
• Decide on awards and recognitions.  Many successful holiday parties incorporate a yearly review or recap, which usually involves recognizing individuals, teams or the entire company for a job well done. Use this annual opportunity to recognize the key contributors to the company’s success handing out any plaques, trophies or awards your higher-ups deem appropriate.
• Create an itinerary.  Writing out a detailed itinerary, being sure to go over it in detail with your caterer and vendors so that each scheduled delivery is double- and triple-confirmed, will help make the event run much smoother.
• Plan décor, tablescapes and lighting.  Some caterers and venues have the ability to take care of all three.  Talk with your vendors about planning this portion of the event as they are experts and should be able to complement your event visions perfectly.

• Plan your prizes and favors.  Especially if you’ve opted to utilize one of this year’s holiday party trends and have schedule a series of smaller, more interactive entertainment activities, plan on giving guests small tokens by which to remember the evening when they participate in any of the activities.  Leave them with party favors, too, when the evening concludes.
• Raffle off gifts that give back.  Incorporating some kind of charity into your party itinerary is a classy, respected and increasingly appreciated move.  This aspect could be as simple as asking guests to bring something to donate, or as elaborate as giving away gifts purchased from companies that give back through a company raffle.
• Hire a photographer.  Documenting your holiday party is a great social media sharing opportunity as well as perfect for email marketing material.  Photographs should go up on your company’s website and circulate around the office to help keep spirits up long after the holidays are over.
• Host the party!  It’s game time.  You’ve planned and planned, and now it’s time to experience!  Enjoy all of your hard work.
• Create a follow-up. Feel free to use the photos from the photographer for this part of the post-party process.  Your follow-up can be in a newsletter you send to clients, in an email to employees, on social media for everyone to see, or otherwise, of course. Use the party’s success to your advantage by creating a final opportunity to deliver some kind of positive message to company employees and/or clients.

For more on corporate holiday parties, check out these 7 Corporate Holiday Party Trends happening right now.  They're sure to spark some creative ideas for you and your event.What's a winter-themed party without a warm winter cocktail?  Six of the seasons finest warm drink recipes can be found right here!You can also take inspiration from old events, holiday or otherwise.  We're happy to share a few corporate events with you to help spark your imagination, such as thisawards and recognition dinner and this 900-person holiday event!

Event Spotlight: Fall-Themed

Our Boston financial district client’s open house event featured some of BG’s most creative catering tricks, including the colors of fall, foods of the season and results of great proportions.Take a look at this successful autumn event theme and catering in the brilliant images below.We began with visions of the fall season, using warm browns and reds as inspiration for tablescapes, layouts and food presentations. The floral design was an important element, elegantly tying natural sophistication into the theme and presentation. We created a customized menu for our client that equally suited its preferences and the event theme.  Our resulting menu satisfied both to the extreme!Our stationary and passed hors d’oeuvres menus included:

• An Antipasto Display
• Fiery Pumpkin Dip
• Traditional Hummus
• Grilled Chicken Skewers
• Roasted Tomato Soup Sippers
• Mini Cheeseburger Sliders
• Fingerling Potato Cups
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Warm Pretzel Bites

 Our !ndulge Petite Sweets menu, accompanied by Micro Roasted Coffee Service, included:

• Hand-wrapped Salted Caramels
• Chai Spiced Pumpkin Cookies
• Carrot Cake Pops
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
• Apple Pie in a Jar
• Chocolate Bacon Desserts

The drink service included a special fall-themed Apple Cider, Cranberry and Vodka cocktail that guests loved!At the end of the event, guests left with a token of the client’s appreciation, as well as a sweet take-home treat to enjoy later.  Each of the takeaway gifts were pre-wrapped in cellophane and tied with a company logo-branded ribbon provided by the client.Our takeaway gifts included:

• Caramel Apples
• Pumpkin Whoopee Pies with Cream Cheese Filling
• Chocolate Whoopee Pies with Orange-dyed Vanilla Filling

This fall-themed event was a hit with the guests and a true homerun for the client.  With a little time left this fall season, events like this are great ways to organize your Thanksgiving dinner or party before the snow hits and we’re all singing holiday tunes!

20 of Our Favorite Thanksgiving Tablescape and Decorating Ideas

Thanksgiving décor and tablescapes are a big part of many Thanksgiving dinners.  Most families spend the afternoon or evening seated at the table, making it a key focal point.  As a result, much of the autumn décor effort should be directed here, on the feasting place.Tablescapes are one of our most popular event design elements.  With all of the autumn-inspired possibilities, needless to say, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays for which to decorate.Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving tablescape and décor ideas perfect for this holiday season.Personalized Pumpkins.  Mini pumpkins can be used as place setting identifiers.  Paint the initials of each guest on a very small pumpkin and place one by each place setting.

Thankful Tree.  This centerpiece really gets dinner guests into the Thanksgiving spirit.  Have guests write one thing for which they are thankful for on a precut paper leaf.  Attached a ribbon and ask each guest to hang his or her leaf on the tree.  The tree can then be placed in the center of the table or as a part of the buffet table décor.

Hues of Brown and Champagne.  These two colors are very complementary and work especially well when put together to create a tablescape.  Choose one of them to be your dominating color, probably the champagne, and accent the table with a few brown elements, such as the napkins and the candle holders.  Be careful not to go overboard with the accent color, though.

Apples and Pears.  Use these two fall fruits as your place setting name tags.  Choose one or both and place one on top of each butter plate at the table setting.  Write each guest’s name on a leaf cutout and tie it around the stem with a small ribbon.

Gourd Vases.  Carve out a gourd or pumpkin, cutting off the tops to make each one into a vase or bowl.  Then fill with fall flowers, grasses and other decorative elements, placing the filled vases along the center of the table.

Tree Branches.  Tree branches are wonderful accents to any fall tablescape.  Collect several leafless branches and bunch them together in sets of tall, clear or colored vases.  Place the vases in a line along the center of the table.  Also, consider using a single tree branch to grace the tops of each place setting with a name tag tied to each one.

Colored Goblets.  Instead of traditional, clear wine glasses, use colored wine goblets tinted with autumn shades or the hues of your color scheme to add useful color to the table.

Fall Foliage.  Some of the best elements of fall décor can be found just outside your home.  Collect brightly colored dried leaves to surround your centerpieces.  The more vibrant the colors, the more vibrant the tablescape.

At the Lodge.  Incorporate an outdoorsy-feeling to the tablescape with a lodge theme.  Use plaid tablecloths, lots of reds and browns and faux deer antlers as décor when creating the centerpiece.  Wooden candle holders would also go well with this design.Bold Chargers.  Use boldly-colored chargers to give your table an upscale and elegant look.  Just be sure to stick with the tablescape color scheme when doing so.

Pinecone Trays.  A pinecone is another elegant element of nature that makes for perfect décor and centerpiece elements.  Fill vases or bowls or varying sizes with pinecones.  These are especially versatile elements because they go with light or dark color schemes and can be used as a centerpiece or as accents to other bolder centerpieces.

Napkin Placements.  There are so many creative ways to place napkins at each table setting.  Roll the napkin up and place in a napkin ring; fold it lengthwise into a long rectangle and let it hang off the table underneath the plate; fold it into a long, skinny stripe and wrap it horizontally around the top plate in the place setting; fold into a 3-D triangle and prop it on top of the place setting…the list goes on and on!

Cranberries and Cinnamon.  These elements go hand-in-hand—both the colors and the items themselves.  Fill vases or centerpieces with cranberries and add tied cinnamon sticks for accents.  These two things also make great toppers for place settings, used separately and together.

Acorn Décor.  Fill vases and small glass jars in varying heights with acorns.  Top with mums or other fall-colored flowers and place throughout the table.

White Thanksgiving.  Create an all-white tablescape, utilizing white in every element from the tablecloth to the plates to the napkins and the candles.  If the influx of white is too much, add a pinecone to each place setting with a nametag on it for a single pop of fall color.

Picture Frames.  Small picture frames can be used as place setting identifiers.  Create simple nametags—using your party’s color scheme, of course—to be framed and set in front of each place setting. Use these creative markers to identify where each guest is to sit at dinner.Personalized Cookies.  Make or purchase elegant cookies in a variety of fall designs—utilizing shapes such as leaves, acorns, pumpkins, etc.—and stencil the name of each guest onto the cookie in frosting.  Put one cookie on each place setting as place markers, and also give them to guests to take home as a Thanksgiving party favor.

 

Caramel Apples.  Much like the personalized cookies, individually-wrapped caramel apples can serve as both party favors and place setting tags.  Tie a nametag around each elegantly-wrapped caramel apple with a theme-following, color-coordinated ribbon.

 

Pheasant Feathers.  Pheasant feathers can offer a fun, elegant twist to traditional Thanksgiving tablescapes and centerpieces.  Add the feathers—fake ones are available at many craft stores—to your bouquets of flowers and vases.

 

Mini Menus.  One thing that is common throughout many holidays and celebrations is printing out small menus and placing them on each place setting to make guests aware of what’s to come in each course.  The mini menus can be designed to fit every theme and centerpiece idea, tying all elements of your Thanksgiving celebration together flawlessly. 

Event Spotlight: An Awards Night to Remember

We at BG pulled out all of the stops during one of our most recent events, the MIT ALC Awards Dinner.This event was a huge hit, and with such a large crew geared up, we couldn’t have been more excited to give this wonderful client a really super evening.The evening began with the set-up.  Our crew arrived on scene and quickly got to work with a briefing of the timeline of events to come.Not long after, the entire team worked together turning this great venue……into the beautifully arranged landscape below.The scene was set, the crew prepped and we were more than ready to produce a night to remember.As the evening began, all 350 guests were invited to mingle in the reception areas.The kitchen was hard at work behind the scenes preparing the delicious cuisine that guests would enjoy later in the evening.We passed and set up stations of hors d’oeuvres throughout the beautiful venue.  Our tray-passed hors d’oeuvres menu included Butternut Squash Soup Shooters, Roasted Pumpkin Tartlets with Duck Confit, Garam Masala Chicken on Petite Papadom, and a Manchego, Sliced Fig and Almond Crostini.Our stationary hors d’oeuvres included  a Mediterranean display and an Imported and Domestic Cheese display.As the dinner began, we invited guests to take a seat to enjoy a first course of Mixed Greens in a Ficelle Cuff Crouton.  Following the salads, guests dined on a duo plate of New England Crab Cakes and Slow Braised Beef Short Rib, Sautéed Haricot Vert, Roasted Root Vegetables with Heirloom Carrots, and Assorted Artisan Rolls.Immediately following the dinner service, guests dined on a delicious Flourless Chocolate Cherry Cake dessert.As the dinner segment of the event wound down, guests tuned in for the presentation portion of the evening honoring those receiving awards.It was a beautiful evening, and one that we hope the MIT ALC Awards guests won’t soon forget.  We know our BG team sure won’t!

25 Halloween Party Tips

Halloween is a time to be crafty, and when you’re hosting your own Halloween party, it’s all about the creativity.We’ve scoured the web, our networks and our own planning teams’ experiences to bring you 25 Halloween party suggestions.  So here they are, our best Halloween party tips and ideas.  And of course, more great Halloween tips can be found on our Pinterest board, Halloween Party Ideas!1.  Crafty cakes.  Two bundt cake pans are the perfect shape to create a pumpkin cake.  After baking them, just flip one upside down and connect the flat parts of each cake with orange frosting.  Then, cover the entire pumpkin-shaped cake with orange frosting.  Add a little green at the top and a stem (an upside down green colored or frosted ice cream cone works great for this) and you have the perfect pumpkin cake.2.  Save a step.  Instead of painting a pumpkin white before decorating it with Halloween words and designs, just buy a white pumpkin—which are a real thing and much more popular than you might think!

White pumpkins are classic, chic decoration for any Halloween party.

3.  Eyeballs.  String plastic googly eyes on fishing wire and hang them from the ceiling or wall to make both look like they have spooky eyes.4.  Brain cakes.  Use a pastry bag with a number 10 round tip to decorate cupcakes or cakes.  In a big zigzag, crisscross pattern, stripe the cupcakes from one side of the other to look like brains.5.  Edible eyeballs.  Doughnut holes dunked in white chocolate and decorated with skinny red lines and an M&M make the perfect edible eyeball.6.  Christmas in October.  Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to shape your cookies.  When the cookies are done cooking, add white frosting skeletons over each one to create skeleton cookies.

Get creative with cookie cutters and frosting.

7.  The double costume.  Make your Halloween costume a double.  Consider a two part costume or costume party, such as Scary Super Heroes.8.  Pumpkin beer.  Turn a pumpkin into a keg by gutting it from the top and putting a small tap on the bottom.  Pour in the beer and enjoy.9.  Ghost candies.  Paint two eyes and a mouth on individual pieces of meringue, adding a bunch of mini ghosts to your edible sweets table.

Turn plain candies into edible decorations!

10. Safety first.  Use glow sticks instead of candles for easy, safe and colorful glowing pumpkins.11. Simple and Spooky.  Use glow-in-the-dark paint to paint your pumpkin so that it glows in the dark, creating an easy pumpkin decoration.12. Chinese Halloween.  Black, white, orange and purple Chinese lanterns make great Halloween party decorations.  Hang them over the food table for some fun.

Chinese lanterns set the Halloween party mood.

13. Pumpkin punch.  Carve out a pumpkin and cut the top off so the bottom looks like the shape of a large bowl.  Put a glass bowl inside to make a perfect pumpkin punch bowl.14. Pumpkin cooler.  Using the same process as in 17, turn a bowl-shaped pumpkin into a cooler, and place beer into the pumpkin cooler.  Set it out at your party.15. Floating hand.  Fill a plastic glove with water, tie it shut, and then put it into the freezer.  Use the hand-shaped ice cube to keep your punch cool…and to spook your guests.16. Pumpkin dip.  Carve out a small pumpkin to fit around a small dip bowl.  Set your bowl (with dip) inside the carved pumpkin for presentation.

Pumpkins make perfect bowls for dips, punches and soups.

17. Shots.  Serve shots in plastic syringes.   The more colorful the shots, the more festive they are!

Go "mad scientist" with plastic syringe shots.

18. Hanging webs.  Wrap black string around a blown up balloon in a crisscross and zigzag pattern to look like a spider web.  Spray with hairspray or spray glue, then pop the balloon.  Add plastic spiders to make it look like a ball of spider webs and spiders.  Hang from the ceiling for decoration.19. Arachnophobia.  Tape black plastic spiders all along a light colored wall to make it look like a bug infestation.20. Bloody candles.  Wax from a red candle looks like blood when you drip it over a light colored surface, such as a bigger white candle.

Candles are some of the most versatile Halloween decorations.

21. Mad scientist.  Put the heads of old dolls in jars and line them up for a creepy table decoration.22. Baby pumpkins.  Color Jack-o-lantern faces on Clementines, tangerines, oranges or other small orange fruits you have sitting in your kitchen for edible everyday snacks.

Even your every day fruits and veggies can wear a costume.

23. Wine bottle décor.  Dress up your collection of old, empty wine bottles in classic Halloween characters, like a Jack-o-lantern, witch and vampire.24. Pick your Poison.  Stock your bar with bottles of premixed drinks made in a collection of old fashioned bottles.  Label each with a creative—and spooky—drink name.

Dusty, spiderweb-ridden decor can double as part of your bar.

25. Pumpkin wrap.  Wrap small or medium sized pumpkins in dark mesh netting, tying the gathered ends at the tip with ribbon for classy, no mess décor.More decor and lighting ideas and photos for all occasions can be found here!

Event Spotlight: Photo Nights Boston—at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama

On October 3^rd, Photo Nights Boston held its public photo festival at the Cyclorama in Boston, an event venue operated by the Boston Center for the Arts.Photo Nights Boston, a non-profit organization founded in 2010, promotes photography as a chance to “Project Yourself.”  The group supports local photographers and artists throughout the year, culminating in a public photo festival catered by BG Events and Catering.The Cyclorama is a classically beautiful Boston event venue featuring a wide open space that can be dressed to fit any kind of event theme and fit a very large number of guests.  Since the benefit was for Photo Nights Boston, we turned the Cyclorama event space into a sleek, industrial city atmosphere using the different regions of Boston as our inspiration.The photos themselves were captured all over the city of Boston, so we decided our menu should reflect the same love for our city.  We featured cuisine made famous by geographic location, with examples including North End Italian, Chinatown and Fenway Park.Guests were able to experience Boston’s unique culinary scene through an array of appetizers, hors d’oeuvres and other casual foods.We displayed the food on towering steel shelving throughout the Cyclorama, giving guests ample space to congregate and dine while also supporting our industrial city theme.The lighting crew designed wonderful effects on each food display, creatively mimicking a Boston city night inside our venue.Our signature dr!nk service provided plenty of delicious beverage options and prompt service from bars strategically located throughout the venue.Across the Boston venue, we scattered groups of sleek, white lounge furniture to give guests a place to sit and eat while enjoying the photos and mingling with other photography supporters. Overall, the festival was a huge success, and we can’t wait to work with Boston’s Cyclorama and Photo Nights Boston again!

‘Tis the season! Well, almost.

Some think it’s taboo to start talking “holidays” before we’ve even celebrated Halloween, but event planners have to live in a completely different world when it comes to the holiday season.We live by the “it’s never too soon to plan your holiday party” motto.  And you know what?  With all of the added responsibilities the fall and winter bring each year, our clients agree!We are now entering primetime holiday event planning mode, with new corporate events, private holiday parties and winter wedding inquiries coming in every day.  This year, the holiday event trends are theme-based, and not just your typical “Winter Wonderland” theme done over and over again.With the growth in popular social media sites such as Pinterest, the craving for creative party themes and ideas is everywhere.  And it’s super contagious!  Having caught the need ourselves, BG Events and Catering crafted three new and unique holiday party theme ideas, and then we formed exclusive themed menus for each one!Three themes for the Holiday Season 2013:Ski Lodge.  Think cozy, think warm, think comforting…this holiday party theme centers around comfort foods with creative twists.  We’ve reworked the classics into an extravaganza-worthy cuisine and paired our menus with an exquisite, welcoming and snuggly event design.  Warm chocolate browns mix with whites and coppers to turn the cold winter night into an intimate and tranquil scene.  Finding inspiration in classic Scandinavian design, your event details—from the wood and winter florals right down to the smallest berries—will captivate guests in the moment.Art Deco.  This theme is truly alive with the striking characteristics of the Art Deco era.  Indulge in your choice of small, elegant platters or a luxurious buffet of decadence.  Treat your eyes to the distinctive patterns and emblematic designs of this iconic era, and give your palate a reason to go back for seconds.  The Art Deco period is infamous for luxury and extravagance, so give your guests a celebration of which Gatsby himself would be proud (without breaking the bank!).Winter Solstice.  Blue, white and silver hues brighten the chill of winter darkness with this holiday party event idea.  This vibrant theme honors the winter season and the symbolic occasion marking the longest night of the year, which, in many cultures, is reason enough to host a celebration.  We’re bringing that feeling to Boston with creative winter menus and lively holiday décor maximizing the merriment of your event.Bonus:  BG Events and Catering is offering a freebie this holiday season.  When our clients send in their signed contract within 10 to 15 days of receiving the proposal, they can choose one of the following freebies:  cordials with coffee, a specialty cocktail, high tops with linens, LED uplighting or upgraded white Lucite bars.  Consider it our holiday gift to you!

How to Host an Oktoberfest Party

Traditional German food, beer, music and general merriment: that’s what Oktoberfest is all about.  An Oktoberfest party, to many, is an autumn celebration staple, and we say give the people what they want!Here is how you can host your own Oktoberfest party.Setting the Scene:  An Oktoberfest BiergartenOktoberfest is meant to be outside, usually in a biergarten or under a big tent.  Setting up a biergarten is much easier than it sounds…a real “garden” isn’t even necessary.  Rather, assemble a collection of picnic-like tables in a small outdoor area, cover the area with lights and you’ve set the scene!  As for the beer tent, consider renting or borrowing a large tent, fill it with tables and chairs and cover it with lights.

• PARTY TIP:  Use strings of white Christmas lights to decorate the biergarten and/or beer tent.

Seating and FurnitureRepeat after us:  “I will not use my nicest furniture and seating at an Oktoberfest party.”In other words, do not borrow Grandma’s antique Bavarian dining table if you plan on channeling your inner Oktoberfest at this celebration.  Your goal is not to impress guests with intricacies of finely-crafted, vintage wooden tables and chairs.  Your number one goal is to make sure you provide seating and tables that are as sturdy as possible.  The big Oktoberfest festival in Munich, Germany, is famous for dancing, singing and bustling about, around, over and on top of all surfaces.  In the event that your party gets a fraction as rowdy as the real festival, you’re definitely going to need stability over aesthetics.

• PARTY TIP:  This one is worth repeating.  The sturdier the table and chairs, the better (and safer) your party will be!

DécorYou can still have a nice-looking setup at your Oktoberfest party, despite the “sturdy” table and chair situation.  One of the easiest ways to make your tables look pristine is to cover them with tablecloths.  A white and blue checkered pattern is quite common throughout the festival, so consider using that pattern on your tablecloths, party napkins, streamers and other décor.  The blue and yellow combination is also in abundance during the two-week-long celebration in Munich, so that particular color scheme is also a fine choice.

• PARTY TIP:  Your tablecloths and décor will be spilled on, especially since most of the food is eaten with your fingers.  Try not to use any cloth favorites when covering the main eating tables.

FoodAny traditional German food is applicable at an Oktoberfest party.  The most traditional foods, however, are roasted duck, chicken, sausage and bratwurst.  Be sure to serve up whatever dish you choose with plenty of vegetables.  The celebration isn’t all about the main course, though.  Other typical Bavarian treats include German pastries, like Mohrenkopf, and, of course, fresh pretzels.  Big cookie necklaces adorned with red-frosted names and affections are another German favorite, though these are as much for show as they are for nourishment.  If your Oktoberfest party guest list is reasonable, consider giving each participant a cookie necklace with his or her name (or, for more fun, nickname!) written in icing.

• PARTY TIP:  If you don’t think you can handle all those cookies, then consider giving pretzel necklaces.  Simply string small pretzels around a piece of yarn, long enough to dangle loosely from each recipient’s neck.  Guests can take a bite whenever they please.

BeerAt last, the good part!  What’s an Oktoberfest celebration without Germany’s finest ales?  In order to be considered a true Oktoberfest beer, the beer must have been produced in Munich, Germany.  There are six different breweries in Munich that produce beer for the festival, and there are usually upwards of 30 different types of brews from which to choose.  Since your party won’t be within the German city’s limits, we suggest incorporating plenty of leeway on the Munich-brewed rule.  As long as there is beer at your party, guests will be happy.

• PARTY TIP:  If you want to be as true to the Oktoberfest experience as possible, make a few German beers available, such as Hofbräuhaus, Augustiner and Hacker, all of which should be available at your nearest beverage depot store (and all of which you can sample at your own beer tasting party beforehand!).

MusicWhile most Oktoberfest parties have some variation of the traditional polka-like music, chances are you guests would appreciate a nice mix of popular music with the occasional traditional song.  As the party is getting started, ease guests into the spirit of the festival with Ein Prost, inviting guests to (attempt to) sing along.  From there, mix and match German songs with whatever you and your crowd like best.

• PARTY TIP:  Provide printed out or displayed lyrics to the most popular German drinking songs so guests can try to participate in the fun.

For more tips and tricks on how to host an Oktoberfest party, visit our Oktoberfest Pinterest board.  

How to Host a Beer Tasting Party at Home

We love beer!  And we especially love craft beer.  There are thousands of craft breweries across the country, ranging from light to dark, and all waiting for your discovery.  There’s nothing quite like finding a fabulous new beer, except maybe helping a few friends discover their new favorite brew at your own beer tasting party.For those reasons and more, we’re going to share with you some great tips on how to host a beer tasting at your place.

1. Pick a theme.  Every good party has a theme—even wine tastings are built around themes—and beer tastings should be no different.  Some example themes include:  Summer Beers, Light vs. Dark, Oktoberfest or simply a type of beer, like Stout.
2. Prepare your beers!  It’s best if you’ve had a chance to sample the beers yourself before introducing them to your beer tasting guests. That way you can make suggestions and share some of your notes before they give each one a try.  Once you have your theme, pick up plenty of your chosen selections at the nearest beer superstore.  TIP:  This is where a guest count comes in handy.  You’ll want to budget about three tasting servings for every bottle, with a couple of extra bottles in case you have some extra thirsty participants or unexpected guests.
3. Good beer glasses are just as important as good beer.  Ok, maybe not just as important, but they’re number two on the list.  You’ll want to sample each beer in a stem glass, not a pint glass.  In the event that you don’t have enough of the proper beer glasses, you can certainly use wine glasses instead.  Most households have more wine glasses on hand anyway.
4. Create the proper atmosphere.  If you ask the experts, they’ll say to create a quiet, calm and focused atmosphere for your beer tasting, but what kind of party would it be if there was no music or liveliness?  Here’s how you can compromise: have a separate room or section of the house dedicated to the “tasting” portion of the evening.  Switch rooms when it’s time to take that first sip of a new beer, then go back around the food table or into the social area of the house when the tasting is finished.
5. The actual tasting.  You should use all five senses when tasting a beer.  First look, smell, taste and feel.  The hearing part comes after the first sip, when you begin to discuss with, and listen to, the other guests’ opinions of their samples!
6. Pairing each beer with food.  Pairing each beer with a specific food is a classy and fun way to feed guests at your beer tasting party.  Cheeses and chocolates are the two most typical beer tasting pairings, but you can’t very well survive a night of beer tasting with just those two edible items.  Incorporate a meal, perhaps around those two ingredients—cheese goes on pretty much anything, and chocolate makes for a great ingredient in marinades—somewhere into the evening.  Serving the meal after the official beer tasting is usually best.
7. Cleanse the palate.  This one is big!  Cleanse the palate with either water or some kind of bread (crackers will also work) in between each beer for the full tasting experience.

Now that you know the steps to hosting a great beer tasting party at home, here are a few more things to think about:

• If hosting a beer tasting is too expensive for your budget, help cut down the cost by asking guests to bring their favorite six-pack to the event and make it a collaborative beer tasting experience.  You’ll be challenged with organizing the beers on-the-fly, but it will certainly give you a chance to test out your beer knowledge and hosting skills.
• Organize your beers from light to dark.  Start with the light, refreshing beers and move toward those dark, intimidating beers.  Even with a light-to-dark line-up, though, you should cleanse the palate in between beers with some crackers or at least a sip of water.
• Sparkling water cleanses the palate even better than still water.  It may not be as refreshing to drink, but those bubbles sure do rejuvenate that palate.
• If the budget allows it, send everyone home with a party favor, such as a six-pack, or purchase an extra bottle of beer per each guest (in assorted flavors based on the beers you offered at the tasting) and let people choose which ones they’d like to take home.
• Save the bottle caps.  Beer tasting is meant to teach you and your guests which new beers you love (and want to try again).  Save the beer caps and give them as souvenirs to those who fell in love with a new beer—and as a reminder of which beer to put in their carts the next time they go to the store.
• Give everyone a pen and paper—or have people pull out their smartphones—to take notes about each beer, ranking its flavor, aroma, appearance and feel.  Sometimes saving the bottle caps isn’t enough.  You’ll want more detailed notes on what each beer tasted like so you know what to ask for at the bar the next time you feel like having an amber ale.

For even more great beer tasting ideas, visit our Beer Tasting Party Ideas board on Pinterest.

Outdoor Movie Party Ideas

The nights are warm and inviting, which means it’s the perfect time of year to throw an outdoor movie party!  Take a look as we share some tips and ideas for your next (or first!) outdoor movie night.What you’ll need for an outdoor movie party:

• The essentials:  projector, screen, movie(s)
• The comforts:  seating, blankets, pillows
• The sustenance:  refreshments, concessions
• The little things:  details to make your night a hit

The EssentialsYou’re going to need a big white screen on which to show the movie.This could mean using the old fashioned projection screens that many of our science teachers used to pull down from the top of the blackboard when showing us the periodic table, or, more likely, it could mean that you need a large white (preferably clean) bed sheet.Hang either one from the side of your house, or find a way to prop it up against a temporary structure.You’ll also definitely need a projector to pair with your big white screen.  If you don’t own a projector, don’t run to the store and buy one (they’re not cheap!).Chances are you know someone who owns one.  Don’t know where to look?  Start with your electronic-savvy friends.  They’ll know who you can talk to.  If all else fails, you can rent a projector for a small fee.Once you’ve solidified the equipment, you’ll need to pick out the entertainment.  When choosing a movie, consider the following questions:

1. Is your party a neighborhood gathering?  Then you’ll want to choose a family-friendly movie.
2. Is your party a birthday party for kids, or is its purposed to entertain small children?  Then you’ll have to go with a rated-G or PG film.
3. Is your party for adults-only?  Then you’ll have a much broader range of movies from which to choose.  You’ll also have a larger number of picky movie critics to please, most likely.  For adults-only parties, consider your guest list, and then consult these themes to find out which might best fit the audience:
   1. Black & White, with movies like A Streetcar Named Desire, On The Waterfront, Rebel Without a Cause
   2. The Classics, with movies like Cool Hand Luke, The Usual Suspects, The Godfather
   3. 80s, with movies like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghostbusters
   4. Sports-themed, with movies like Remember the Titans, The Natural, Raging Bull
   5. Feel like a Kid Again, with movies like Harry Potter, Toy Story (or anything by Disney and Pixar), Shrek
   6. Academy Award Winners, with movies like Gone with the Wind, Schindler’s List, Gladiator
   7. Epic Movies, with movies like Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars
   8. Documentaries, like The Thin Blue Line, When We Were Kings, Bowling for Columbine
   9. Thrillers and Horror Films, with movies like Psycho, The Shining, Jaws
   10. Action-packed, with movies like Die Hard, The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction
   11. Comedy, with movies like Some Like it Hot, Airplane, There’s Something About Mary
   12. Ladies Night, with movies like Titanic, Terms of Endearment, The Notebook
   13. Guys Night, with movies like The Sting, Dances with Wolves, The Shawshank Redemption

Make sure that you divulge the theme of the night when you invite your guests.Or, to rid yourself of the element of surprise, let them know which movie or movies you plan on showing that night.TIP:  if you want to give your audience some say in the flick, have five or six movies on hand.  As guests arrive, let them vote on their movie of choice while they sip on a beverage and enjoy some pre-movie snacks.The ComfortsYou and your guests are going to want to be as comfortable as possible while watching the movie.This means you’ll need plenty of seating in an array of preferences.  Offer guests chairs, reclining chairs, pads on the ground, bean bag chairs and anything else you think your guests might want to use.  Whatever you do, make sure you have plenty of blankets and pillows with you, because most guests will want to get cozy during the movie.TIP:  if you don’t have enough to go around, put on the invitation that guests should bring a chair, pillow and blanket for themselves.The SustenanceWhat’s a movie night without a few snacks?You’ll want to offer a variety of drinks for your guests, including cola, flavored cola, punch, juice boxes, water, iced tea and Slushies (if you have a Slushie machine).For the adult-friendly parties, also offer wine, beer, coffee and tea.TIP:  if you want to get creative with your evening, make a specialty cocktail that goes with the movie theme you’ve chosen.As for the snacks, candy and popcorn are must-haves.  Consider the typical movie theater candies such as Snow Caps, Junior Mints, Twizzlers, M&Ms and Sour Patch Kids.  Also, consider some other traditional movie theater treats—like nachos and soft pretzels.For the creative host, pre-make a special treat that includes a mix of popcorn and candy in individual baggies or on individual trays for each guest.If you’ve got a bonfire going, hot dogs and s’mores are fun to cook and enjoy before or during a movie.The DetailsThese movie nights are outdoors, so you’ll have to prepare for some additional “guests” when hosting.  Make sure there is plenty of bug spray and mosquito spray to keep those unwanted pests away.Tiki torches and strings of lights—provided they are away from the movie screen and projector—are great decoration ideas.Additionally, providing some kind of light near the “concessions” and around the entrances to your house is necessary for safely walking around at night.TIP:  in case of rain, ask that your guests bring an umbrella or have a covered tent close by to allow guests some shelter.  Set up a second tent to cover the projector and screen.  Movie night doesn’t have to end just because of a little drizzle!See some more Outdoor Movie Night event inspiration on our Outdoor Movie Pinterest board!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Party Ideas and Tips

We’ve nearly reached the beginning of summer, and though the weather might indicate we’re already there, it’s not officially our favorite season until Midsummer arrives.  Midsummer is an international holiday celebrated around the various corners of the globe, including the States, and it is frequently looked upon as “the party of the year” in many countries.There are many ways to celebrate Midsummer and Midsummer’s Eve, with the two most popular being first, the traditional Swedish Midsummer celebration, and second, a minor twist on Midsummer, compliments of the great William Shakespeare and his play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  We’re going to discuss the latter and teach you how to throw a Midsummer Night’s Dream party of which Old Bill himself would be proud.How to Throw a Midsummer Night’s Dream Party:The ingredients are simple; it’s the degree to which you take each that will be the deciding factor in how “fairytale” your party will be.  Here’s what you’ll need in order to celebrate Midsummer like the fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.Nighttime.  This is a simple concept:  host the party in the evening so that the magic of nighttime will put your guests in the right Midsummer Night’s Dream-mood.Nature.  The forest set the scene for nearly the entire Shakespeare play, and the weather is most cooperative during the month of June.  All signs point to having this event outdoors.  If you have the option, choose to host the party in or near the woods, but if that is not a possibility, a backyard will do just fine.  Just as it’s important for your venue to be amid the beauty of nature, your decorations should reflect natural beauty as well.  Consider decorating with lovely white flowers, putting plenty of them on each table and scattered elsewhere throughout the venue.Magic.  While the play’s script itself is quite magical on its own, the plot involves a slew of real magical elements.  Play up the magic angle with plenty of eye-appealing illusions, such as glittered jars that look like they are full of “fairies,” sparkling lights wrapped around trees, candles that don’t go out when you try to blow them out, lights hanging from fishing wire on trees to make it look like they are floating…and there are plenty more lighting tricks that will make the evening appear magical.Fairy stuff.  The play, after all, is about fairies and their mischievous lifestyles.  Consider making your party a costumed affair, inviting fairy wings, glitter, more flowers, long flowing dresses and plenty of white garbs.  Create a crown of white flowers, which is traditional in typical Midsummer celebrations, that will add to your “fairy-look.”Cuisine.  What’s a party without a themed buffet?  Serving your guests at a Midsummer Night’s Dream party doesn’t have to be difficult.  No chips, no salsa and nothing deep fried for this light and graceful affair.  Think elegant finger foods and natural, grown-from-the-ground or picked-from-the-trees ingredients.  Your menu could include tea sandwiches (with the crusts cut off!), fresh fruits, sophisticated vegetable-filled salads and plenty of desserts.  Desserts, such as small pies, chocolate cakes and anything fruit-related, are necessary.  Fairies love sweets!Surprises.  At a Midsummer Night’s Dream party, surprises are most welcome.  Small prizes, hidden treasures, surprise lighting, a secret garden and a dance floor that appears later on in the night are all welcomed wonders as the party goes on.  Try to plan on revealing at least one hidden party element during your party to shock, impress and entertain guests at this decorative and elegant gathering.See some more magical Midsummer event inspiration on our Midsummer Night's Dream Pinterest board, and view the photos below! 

Memorial Day Food Ideas and Cookout Recipes

Second only to 4^th of July, and well ahead of Labor Day, Memorial Day weekend is one of the heaviest barbecue weekends of the year.In addition to being a fine day of remembrance, Memorial Day BBQs are the official kick-off to summer and always involve an immense collection of food.  If you’re looking for something fresh and light to ring in the warm weather this year, we’re here to help make your celebration delicious.  Below you’ll find an array of scrumptious, summer-filled food ideas that provide a different take on the typical hot dog and burger for your Memorial Day Cookout 2013.

Memorial Day Food Ideas

Try to summer-up your entrées and salads with these twists.The Burger:  Inside-out burger made by forming the beef around the cheese and some of the fixings before cooking.  TIP:  be sure to use a hard or a semi-hard cheese like Swiss, Gouda, Edam or Cheddar.The Chicken:  Margarita chicken cooked with lime, chile pepper and a splash of tequila, and served with a light summer salsa.  TIP:  serve as a main entrée or cut up and serve in a mixed salad.The Salad:  A light vinaigrette-based herb potato salad—with no mayo!  TIP:  add a squirt of lemon juice and a teaspoon of grated lemon peel for a little zest.

Memorial Day Appetizers

Appetizers are really just additional side dishes at a Memorial Day BBQ.  Accompany your Memorial Day weekend menu with some of these summer apps.The dip:  Fresh, spicy salsa served with baked tortilla chips.  TIP:  when you bake your own chips and serve with a spicy enough salsa, you can skip the salt for a healthier—yet still tasty—appetizer.The fruit:  Fruit salsa, though technically another dip, is a delightfully sweet appetizer option.  TIP:  serve the fruit salsa with cinnamon-flavored pita chips for a killer combination.The cheese:  Grilled goat cheese may not be the most popular of side dishes, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy the taste.  TIP:  dedicate a small section of the grill for any non-meat food items.  That way, vegetarians can enjoy this and other dishes without any contact with meat.For more Memorial Day recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.

Memorial Day Drink Recipes

Offer a healthy selection of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, but offer both with a summer variation.The Cocktail:  Watermelon-flavored martinis are the epitome of summer drinks—what’s more “summer” than a watermelon?  TIP:  serve this as a greeting cocktail, and limit it’s availability to before dinner only.The Beer:  Local breweries will have the best selection of summer beers, and fortunately for us Bostonians, Samuel Adams has a deliciously refreshing Summer Ale.  TIP:  Boston beer lovers have all of New England’s breweries to choose from, including such summer beers as Red God, Fisherman’s Sunrise Saison, Otter Summer and Harpoon Summer Beer.The Lemonade:  Arnold Palmers are the traditional half-lemonade, half-iced tea beverage that’s often overlooked at barbecues, but loved by all.  TIP:  premix the drinks in a large lemonade dispenser and offer the option of adding vodka to the adult beverages.For more Memorial Day drink recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.

Memorial Day Dessert Recipes

Not many will have room in their bellies for more food after you’ve served them all of the above.  Nonetheless, Memorial Day desserts are still a necessary part of the weekend BBQ tradition.The Crisp:  Peach Crisps are sweet and summery in all the right ways.  TIP:  cook two, leaving one out to eat and the second warming in the oven. Those waiting to digest their meals can still enjoy a warm treat.The Shortcake:  Very Berry Shortcake is an easy and customizable meal topper because you can put any combination of your favorite berries (or the most readily available berries) into the recipe.  TIP:  use blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream to show off a little support for our red, white and blue.The Cookie:  Lemon-flavored shortbread cookies are the summer cookies.  TIP:  leave a few platters of the cookies out on several tables so people can nibble on them as they mingle with other guests.For more Memorial Day dessert recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.

Healthy Memorial Day Recipes and Ideas

Memorial Day food doesn’t have to be unhealthy.  In fact, most of these menu ideas are the lighter versions of standard BBQ food concepts.  For an even healthier Memorial Day experience, you can always consider these ideas:Healthy cookout alternatives:  Grilled veggie gazpacho, red cabbage coleslaw, veggie baked beans, lettuce wrapped turkey burgers, salmon burgers, water with lemon, unsweetened iced tea, angel food cake with fresh strawberries and fruit sorbet—these are all an even healthier alternative to the Memorial Day appetizers, salads, main dishes, sides, drink and desserts listed above!For more healthy Memorial Day recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.

Memorial Day Cookout Recipes

Some people might envision how to prepare and cook some of the Memorial Day food ideas above, while others might be looking for the actual recipes.  Below you can find the Memorial Day grilling recipes for some of our suggested menu items, in the event that you’re not the creative culinary connoisseur you wish you were. You can still provide something fabulous for the party!Recipes:Inside-out Burger, recipe makes 4 servingsYou’ll need:  ½ lb your choice of cheese, 1 lb lean ground beef, 1½ tsp paprika, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 egg, ½ tsp pepper and your choice of fixings.To prepare:  mix beef, spices, sauce and egg in a bowl using your hands.  Shape into eight very think patties.  Mound ½ tsp cheese into center of four and cover with remaining four patties.  Seal the edges with hands. Grill evenly on each side over medium heat.  TIP:  Do not “press” the patties or the cheese will ooze out.Herb Potato Salad, makes 8 servingsYou’ll need:  ¾ cup olive oil, 1 lemon, 1½ tsp grated lemon peel, 1 green pepper, 1 small- to medium-sized onion, ¼ cup each of chopped cilantro, basil and mint and 2½ lb red-skinned potatoes.Directions:  Mix oil, juice of 1 lemon and lemon peel in a bowl.  Mix in green pepper and onion, finely chopped, and cilantro, basil and mint.  Cut already boiled and cooled potatoes into cubes.  Mix in with other ingredients.  Season with salt and pepper.Fruit Salsa, makes 12 servingsYou’ll need:  2 kiwis and 2 green apples, peeled and diced; 1 lb strawberries, diced; 8 oz raspberries, diced; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp brown sugar; and 3 tbsp fruit preserves.Directions:  Mix all ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.Watermelon Martini, makes 8 servingsYou’ll need:  ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, 5 cups seedless watermelon, 1¼ cup vodka, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 3 oz watermelon schnapps.Directions: Boil the sugar and water until sugar is dissolved.  In a blender, puree the watermelon.  Blend the sugar water, watermelon, vodka, lemon juice and schnapps.  Sweeten with simple syrup to taste and serve with watermelon garnish.Very Berry Shortcake, makes 8 servingsYou’ll need: 1 lb sliced strawberries, ½ lb blueberries, ½ lb raspberries, 1/3 cup sugar, juice from one lemon, 8 ounces Greek yogurt, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup sugar, 2 tbsp brown sugar and 8 store-bought or handmade biscuits.Directions:  In a large bowl, mix berries, 1/3 cup sugar and juice from one lemon.  Refrigerate.  In a medium bowl, whip yogurt, cream, ½ cup sugar and brown sugar until fluffy and stiff.  To serve, cut biscuits in half and spoon on berry mixture and sweet yogurt whipped cream. Cover with top half of biscuit and serve.

Fun Memorial Day Family Activities

This weekend is about getting up and having fun as much as it is about eating.  Try these fun, family-friendly Memorial Day activities to loosen up the party and cause a little laughter.The games:  pickup slow-pitch softball game, badminton, volleyball, horseshoes, swimming or water games, card games, card tournament between tables, guess-the-amount-of-candy-in-a-jar game, bocce ball, lawn darts, Frisbee golf and, the ultimate barbecue game that all Memorial Day cookouts must have:  bags, or, as some people call it, cornhole.For more fun Memorial Day celebration ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.

How to Host a Cinco de Mayo Party

Cinco de Mayo—the fifth of May—is one of the largest Mexican and Mexican-American observations of the year.It commemorates Mexico’s surprising victory against the French in La Batalla de Puebla as well as celebrates Mexican heritage well across North America.These days, you don’t have to be of Mexican descent to wear a sombrero and sip a margarita in celebration.  In fact, we’d like to share with you some party tips and hosting ideas for your Cinco de Mayo party.

Creative Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas

There’s something fun and spicy about the colorful Cinco de Mayo celebration.  It’s an occasion open to so many creative possibilities, beginning with the cuisine.  From Mexican favorites to flavorful twists on classics, consider these Mexican menu ideas:

• Pineapple salsa with corn chips
• Chicken fajitas with peppers, onions and chipotle en adobo
• Roasted green beans with Latin spices
• Tortilla romaine salad with grape tomatoes, peppers, onions, Cotija cheese and strands of tortilla

BONUS menu idea!If you’re feeling exceptionally creative, you can design edible table centerpieces.  Use a tiered appetizer tray to house chips and salsa and perhaps even more Mexican-inspired finger foods.  Dress your tiered tray with paper flowers (or real ones) for added color. Visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest for more creative Cinco de Mayo recipe ideas.

Cinco de Mayo Decoration Ideas

Bold, bright colors should adorn your entire set up on Cinco de Mayo; it is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration whose famous décor and architecture are amongst some of the most colorful in the world.  Pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and blues…they all have a place on the table.Consider using:

• Brightly colored flags and banners
• Lots of green, white and red
• Paper flowers and paper lanterns
• Colorful fabrics to use as table linens
• Colorful napkins and place settings

Visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest for photos of even more Cinco de Mayo decoration ideas.

Cinco de Mayo Party Games

While most know that a piñata truly is a must-have for your Cinco de Mayo party, your guests will likely desire additional games to play throughout the day or night.  As most Cinco de Mayo fiestas are multi-generational, consider breaking down the itinerary with games for adults and children.

• For the kiddies, try the “Pass the Orange” game.  Break everyone into two teams.  One person on each team holds an orange underneath his chin and passes it to the next person on his team.  The trick is no hands allowed, and no dropping the orange, or you must start over.
• For the adults, chili pepper eating contest is a spicy favorite not meant for the weak of taste buds.  Line up contestants with a bowl full of chili peppers and a one-minute time limit.
• For both kids and adults, Mexican “kick ball” is a traditional Mexican party game.  Set up two identical obstacle courses through which two teams must dribble a soccer ball.  When the contestants reach the end of the course, they run back to their original starting point and pass the soccer ball to the next contestant.

Visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest for more fun Cinco de Mayo games.

Cinco de Mayo Music

Load your iPods and smart phones with traditional Mexican music—that means meringue, salsa, Latin and, perhaps most of all, mariachi.  With this great, upbeat music, you can expect to have people up and dancing the meringue, salsa, rumba and mambo at any moment—so it would be wise to incorporate an open space in your layout to use as a dance floor.Consider including these artists in your repertoire:

• Vincente Fernández and son Alejandro Fernández
• Luis Miguel
• Carlos Santana
• Los Tigres del Norte
• Juan Luis Guerra
• Maná
• Selena

For more great Cinco de Mayo party ideas, visit our Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas board on Pinterest.