Tips for a Successful and Easy Summer Party

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Tips for a Successful and Easy Summer Party

In the heat of summer, an outdoor event is a bit a risky endeavor.  You never know when you begin your planning if it will be hot, wet, humid, buggy or even cold.  But that does NOT stop anyone I know from having a party!

So, it’s best to be prepared and do things that will help your party be a success.  Here’s a list of things for you to think about so you can relax and enjoy your party and friends when it arrives.

1. TIMING - Hold your party after 6:00pm.  Even it is on the weekend.  Why? Well, if it is during the week, you have to let people get a chance to freshen up between work and your event.  Plus no matter if it is the week or weekend, after 6:00, the stifling heat of the day is over and you can enjoy the evening breezes and the sunset to cool things off a bit.
2. CRITTERS - Spray for bugs (at least an hour prior) or have plenty of citronella candles around.  No one wants to be carried away by mosquitos.  And no matter how much they love you, they won’t stick around long once they start to get bitten.  Plus, no one wants to put on bug spray after they got all pretty for your event.
3. HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT – Call Amazing Edibles!  We’ll take care of most of this list for you! (312) 563-1600
4. SHELTER - Do you have room for a tent?  Get one!  Now this can be a bit of a logistical challenge because the tent company will need to come out prior to your event and will have to have JULIE come out and locate your various underground wires, pipes and other stuff you don’t want to pound a stake into.  Once you’ve been through this, though, you will be happy you got your tent.  It will give you shade from the sun, or protection from the rain and your guests will be much more comfortable.  Something else to think about are 10x10 popup tents.  They are perfect for smaller yards and your friends and neighbors might even have one or two you could borrow!
5. RENTALS - Make sure you have enough tables and chairs and any other rentals you need, such as linens, china, glassware, flatware, etc.  We work with Tablescapes, a wonderful rental company in Chicago for most of our rental needs and highly recommend them!
6. MENU - Keep things like your menu and drinks simple.  You don’t want to have to spend the entire party making sure all those complicated recipes are done perfectly.  Stick with things you know and can do well.  Not a cook?  Go to your local deli and re-plate the treasures you find there.  No one has to know!  Also, for a summer party – keep with a cold/room temperature menu so you are not cooking in your kitchen or on the grill the day of your event.  And even if you decide to do all the cooking yourself, hire some staff to do all the setup, bussing and breakdown so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Amazing Edibles has Amazing staff!  Call us and we will be able to get you the perfect servers and bartenders for your event.
7. COST EFFECTIVE & FRESH – Shop your local farmer’s market for your fresh ingredients and flowers!
8. GUESTS – Keep your guest list short so you can enjoy them and they can enjoy you.  Or, if you are a party king or queen, invite everyone you know and have an all-out smashing time!
9. ENTERTAINMENT – Almost everyone has an iPod these days. Just bring out your stereo and plug it in and you’re ready to go!  If you’d rather have some live musicians, check in with your local festivals, churches or pubs to find out if they have recommendations for local musicians.  We also have entertainment that we can recommend, just give us a call! And you may not know, but our sales diva, Lisa, is a singer and performer and knows many wonderfully talented musicians in Chicago.