Now that you have a design plan, it’s time to get to the hands-on fun. Overall, be sure to order your decorations early enough so that they can arrive on time. It can be frustrating to miss the mark and not have a few key pieces to your plan. If you must order decorations in bulk, do so at least a month in advance to make sure that they come in one piece. It’s also important to do quality control as these items arrive to make sure that you are all set for the big day. If you need time-sensitive items like balloons and flowers, be sure to recruit help for these items to arrive before the party.
A few days before your party, it's time to set your menu. Choose exactly what you plan on serving to fit your party's theme. Whether it's a few light snacks or multiple courses, it's important to know exactly when each item needs to be prepped. This is also a good time to begin planning your tablescape. Try to incorporate live elements or items your guests will be using. We spoke to the founder of Brightland, a sustainably sourced olive oil company, to get their hosting advice.
"When creating a tablescape, my go-to centerpieces include lemons, bud vases with herbs and bottles of Brightland! These warm olives by Brightland’s Chef in Residence, Noreen Wasti, are the ultimate addition to any cheese board and my favorite dish for entertaining." - Aishwarya Iyer, Founder/CEO of Brightland
Ordering fresh flowers requires precise timing, but the process is a whole lot easier when you schedule delivery online. With this method, you get a direct email confirmation of your order and can verify the sending address. For the best results, schedule your flower deliveries at least a week in advance to arrive the morning of the party or the night before. This will ensure that the flowers will look their very best. It also gives you just enough time to place them in different vases or make finishing touches.
- Pro tip: You can find plenty of seasonal decorations right in your backyard! If you have some fallen leaves or wild berries around you, harvest them the day of the party for a gorgeous addition to your event!