CAN YOU OFFER SOME GENERAL ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING EVENTS ?
People like to feeltaken care of , and that is the best way to entertain . Be truetowho you are as a host . Don ’ t like cooking ? Great ! Break out the wine bucket you got at your wedding and never use , throw on atable cloth , light some candles and have the take-in on serving platters . Use more candles than you think you need , and be sure you mix in candles of varying heights .( Candle light shaves ten years off of everyone , trust me .)
Ibelieve visual clues give guests an idea of what to expect . Setting up a bar , setting your table and dimming the lights cues people that they are there to enjoy . And , what could be better than that ?
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WHAT CAN HOSTS DO TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID ?
The hardest thing about planning an event rightnow is that all of your guests may not be on the same page when it comes to COVID prevention . When I work with clients to determine how many guests they should invite , I always suggest they think about how they would feeliftheyhad to make the much feared and dreaded “ Someone tested positive ” call . Would they feel like they used their best judgment ? Did they ask their caterer , planner or venue to use best practices ?
I closely follow what corporate and big budget events are doing as they follow very rigorous protocols and think of ways to modify those protocols for my clients . Self-service buffets are definitely out . Unvaccinated guests are out ( unless there is a known health reason ). And , COVID tests a few days before the party are very much in . There ’ s a new cottage industry of on-site COVID testing companies , and some people are choosing to rapid-test guests on site , pre-party .
WHAT ’ S THE BEST WAY FOR POTENTIAL HOSTS TO THINK ABOUT ENTERTAINING NOW ?
There is one thing all of my social clients have in common right now : They have to let go of the dream event they ’ ve always envisioned and operate in the here and now . Whether it is a wedding or a bar-mitzvah , many clients have atough time letting go of the way parties were before this mess . Who wants to think of masks , COVID tests and paring down guest lists when it is time to celebrate the most joyous parts of life ?
My feeling about events , and life , to be honest , is “ Some is better than none .” We might not be abletoplan the exact event we want right now , but we can still access its essence . ■
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RESULTS WILL BE REVEALED IN OUR SPRING 2022 ISSUE
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