The 3 Most Popular Summer Parties: What You Should Know

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Summer is where all of the fun starts. School is out, people are enjoying the outdoors, and families are excited about all of their summer plans. One thing’s for sure – there’s plenty to celebrate in the summer. From graduation parties to class reunions, we are here to tell you what you should know about planning summer events.

Class Reunions

After graduating from high school, it’s easy for people that used to be so close to naturally split apart. Some people keep in touch, but many do not. Class reunions are a great opportunity to reminisce on the good old days and catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while. Not only are class reunions a great time to revisit with old friends, but this can also be a chance to expand your professional network. It is a great time to network and make new connections.

The tricky part of class reunions is planning. This process used to be extremely difficult, but with the rise of social media, it has become a lot easier to connect with people. Start with a class reunion Facebook page and go from there. If there are people that don’t have a Facebook, then write a post in the Facebook group inquiring about them and hopefully someone they’ve stayed in touch with can help connect you. Try to start planning early (one or two years out) so your classmates can plan ahead to attend and arrange travel if necessary.

Family Reunions

No matter the size, family reunions are a great time to rekindle old relationships with the people you haven’t seen in a while and solidify family bonds with memories that last a lifetime.

Planning a family reunion can seem very intimidating at first, but it is all worth it in the end. It’s not easy getting everybody together at the same time in the same location, which is probably why you’re planning a reunion in the first place! Try sending out a quick survey to your family members, asking them of their preference of time and location, a couple of alternate suggestions. According to Group Travel, the most popular time of the year to host a family reunion is in the summer because of the ample spaces outdoor locations can offer and easier-to-plan travel time. Look for a place with a great outdoor space you can use! The most used services are catering and professional photography – you can enjoy the day without anyone having to worry about preparing food or capturing the memories. You can spice things up even more by making your own themed t-shirts for this event, planning games, or setting up a silly photo booth. Whatever you have planned, gathering with your extended family will be a memory you will all cherish for a lifetime.

Graduation Parties

Whether you or a loved one is graduating high school or college, graduation parties are one of the most exciting events to celebrate. This is a time filled with childhood memories and nostalgia, and moving on to future endeavors. A chapter in your life is coming to a close and a new one is about to begin, filled with hope and opportunity. One important thing for mom or dad to keep in mind is this: if you are planning the graduation party, make sure your graduate is involved in all of the decisions since this is their big day! You will also want to begin planning for the celebration early, especially if your child wants a joint party with several of their friends. In that case, the guest list can get large and planning can become more complicated, so you’ll want to begin planning this one to two years out!

One of the most talked about additions to a graduation party is a photo booth. This is a time to be silly with friends and collect pictures for memories you will look back on later in life. You can either rent or build the booth for your party. Another fun idea is making a hashtag for your event. This is a great way to keep up with everything that is happening and gives you an opportunity to look back at the pictures taken. The most important thing is to create a positive, happy environment for your party and don’t forget to tell your child how proud you are of their accomplishments.

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Although planning summer parties is not an easy task, our customizable packages and experienced team make it easy so you can focus on your family and friends and making memories! Check out our social events page for package details, or give us a call today to schedule a consultation or walk-through of our two event spaces in Baton Rouge and Prairieville. We can’t wait to work with you and take the stress out of planning the ultimate summer party.

When planning your event, one of the most important things to consider is how you want it to be served. While many party planners spend lots of time thinking about the menu itself, the type of food service can be just as important in planning the flow of the event and setting the tone for the type of party you have in mind. Read more to find out about the different types of catering styles that best suit your event.

Buffet Service

This is a system in which food is placed in a public area where guests can serve themselves. Usually, the arrangement ranges from appetizers to desserts. After they get their food, the guests return to their designated seating area. The buffet service can be assisted or unassisted. The assisted buffet service includes waiters who are available to take your order and present the food while guests are seated. The more formal events tend to lean toward the assisted buffet style. The unassisted system is the buffet style in which guests serve themselves and is suited for a more casual feel.

Pro: Can offer guests a large variety of food in sizable amounts. Each person can serve what they want, so there is often less wasted food.

Con: Can sometimes get hectic if too many people “rush” the buffet at once, or linger around the food.

Reception Service

This is a service in which appetizers are served buffet-style on a table. The guests typically stand and serve themselves. It is uncommon to sit down to eat. This service style is sometimes referred to as a “walk and talk.” Most of the food is known as “finger food”. The reception service is most commonly used at short meetings and birthday parties.

Pro: Usually the least expensive. Works well for networking and business gatherings where you want to encourage people to walk around.

Con: Guests may leave the event hungry because of just eating “finger foods”

Plated Service

At a plated meal service, guests are seated at tables and served by a waiter. This service is usually intended for more formal events. Plated meals are the most efficient catering style and work great for all types of events. Plated meals are served two ways: guests are given options for their entrée, or you can serve a single-entree meal. If you choose to have a single-entree, it is best to choose a meal that appeals to the majority of guests. Guest factors will depend on the cost of this service. There are typically 3 courses that are served: soup/salad, entree, and dessert.

Pros: Can be more enjoyable for guests because they are being waited on

Cons: Typically have less variety in food; most expensive; does not encourage socializing, as people are confined to their tables.

There are many types of catering styles, but choosing the right style for your event is completely up to you! Your budget as well as the type of mood you want to set for your event will probably be the two most important factors in helping you determine what type of food service to employ. And don’t be afraid to leave it to the pros! An experienced party planner or caterer will be able guide you and help you decide what’s right for you and your guests. Bon appetit!

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Tag: Event Planning