Entertaining 101: Preparation

 

Last week, in our Entertaining 101 series, we talked about “Getting Started”. Today, I’m sharing with you four ways to prepare and plan early.

1. Plan your menu out several weeks before your event date. Kim Macon of Tasteful Creations by Kim, a South Carolina based caterer suggests polling your guest list for any special dietary needs. She generally will prepare food with ingredients common to most people which is usually not bothersome to anyone that may be highly allergic. For the event, she likes to place food cards in frames to specify the name of the food or special ingredient such as pork or peanuts for guests with dietary restrictions. Kim states its best to include a vegetable medley or a simple dish that covers all appetites on your menu.

2. I highly recommend hiring a caterer even if they only provide the most time consuming foods such as the meats and/or desserts. If a caterer isn’t in the budget or you love to cook, it is wise to include dishes on your menu that can be prepared early and placed in the freezer.

3. The day before your event, set the table and add any last minute decor. I also like to create a timeline for the day of the event. This timeline will help with the smooth flow of the day.

4. Event day has arrived! Plan accordingly to have all items checked off your list and be ready to receive your guests at least one hour before your event start time. Don’t forget to reflect this on your timeline. Now that you have planned and prepared early, take the time to enjoy your guests.

Are you entertaining this holiday season? What are you doing to prepare early?

Photo credit: Kim Macon. Her full interview will be published here on December 19.