How to (safely) host the ultimate end of summer party
Summer 2020 has been different for all of us, to say the least. Instead of a summer filled with music festivals, office 5–7s, jet setting, and endless beach days, we’ve now embraced cottage weekends, many (maybe too many) nights at the driving range, and countless outdoor activities. Despite our summer adventures differing from our usual, we’ve all made the best of it. As we notice the sun beginning to set a little earlier, pumpkin spice szn creeps upon us. So let’s take the time to celebrate the last of our new summer norm, and end on a positive note — safely of course.
We came up with the ultimate guide to throwing the best & safest end of summer-COVID friendly party. While we’re not talkin’ corporate events, there’s a little event planner in all of us so we wanted to spill the tea on all things from cool parties to tips on how to keep everyone safe.
PARTY IDEAS
To really WOW your guests and bid this summer (a bittersweet) goodbye we’ve come up with some ideas to exit summer 2020 with a bang.
Movie night
Drive-in theatres have been popping off this summer, bringing us back to an era we all wanted to be a part of. Even better, now, you can bring the drive-in theatre to your home. Set up your outdoor theatre by using a projector on the side of your house or garage and host a screening of your film favorites. Plan a girls' night watching Mean Girls, have a scary movie marathon with the Halloween franchise, or a total action-packed night with your fave Fast & the Furious. Be sure to have ample amounts of space for the screening so you and your guests can all properly social distance. Get cozy with a cute lounge set up to set the mood. Need deco inspo? Check out our End of Summer Party Pinterest board for ideas to create movie vibes. Don’t forget to prep all the best movie snacks to munch on during the film! Make it a true movie theatre concession stand heaven and have a table lined up with all the best movie treats. Go all out — serve popcorn, a variety of candies & chocolates, nachos, and hot-dogs. Rule of thumb: there can never be enough food.
Outdoor karaoke
Not in the mood for the movie night? Host an outdoor karaoke soiree instead! We all miss the rush of heading up on stage to belt out your go-to karaoke song, and since karaoke nights have been put on hold, bring it your home. You can still safely social distance and use the outdoor projector setup for a fun-filled night of singing all your favorite tunes. Have all the guests bring their own mics, and have an entertaining designated MC to pump everyone up in between finding all requested songs! Get ready to bust out all your favorite tracks and see who in your group can be the next star on The Voice.
ALL ABOUT THEMES
Make it the party everyone talks about for the rest of the year by giving it a wicked theme.
- Mexican fiesta (taco vibes)
- Summer Luau
- Boho Chic
- Wine tasting (here’s your opportunity to throw in a fun activity. Have everyone bring a different kind of wine, sample off tasters, and then guess where it originates from and the price)
Pool Party
We have limited time to go for a dip so take advantage of the warm weather we have left and host a pool party! There has been no evidence that COVID-19 can spread through recreational water, making this a safer gathering option, provided that there’s social distancing among guests. Make your pool party more insta-worthy by giving it a theme — nautical vibes with sailor aesthetics, a classy & chic white party, or summer camp with tons of activities (contactless one's ofc). No pool, no problem. Rather than lounging poolside, cool down using your sprinkler system, throwing a water balloon and water gun fights, or take your party to a local lake.
Boujee Picnic
Although we’ve probably picnic’d more than usual during this summer, make this last one really count. Scout out the best picnic locations nearby to really make it a unique experience — by a waterfront, a lavender field, or a closeby extravagant park. Being outside in a spacious setting makes it easier to follow safety precautions and really lets everyone enjoy the party! You can take your picnic party to the next level and give it all the boujee extras by hiring local customized picnic companies to take care of setting up the scene! They offer services to make it really extra like furniture setup, delicious menus, and themes! Here are some of our fave companies in our major cities offering luxury picnic services:
MTL: Les Picnic Chicks & Picnicmtl
NYC: Perfect Picnic NYC
Hiring one of these companies eliminates the stress of getting the food & decorations off your plate, so you can really enjoy the party (especially the cocktails) with your group.
HOW TO KEEP IT SAFE
Now that all these great party ideas have you thinking about invites, it’s important to remember that the pandemic isn’t over and safety has to be a top priority when it comes to in-person gatherings. Here are some tips on how to celebrate with everyone safely:
Prep properly
Guestlist
Even though you want to invite your long list of friends to make it like any other summer bash, keep your guest list to a minimum. Limit your guests to those in your household and the small social circle you’ve been hanging with during quarantine. This will make you and invited guests feel more at ease. It’s important to respect your city’s private gatherings limit to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — so check out the government’s COVID restrictions for private gatherings in our 3 major cities: Montreal, Toronto, & NYC.
Expectations
As much as we follow guidelines and take precautions, any gathering poses a risk. Ease attendees’ minds by being as open and direct as possible. Be sure to inform your guests about the party’s itinerary. Let them know the guest list & size, the food & drink sitch, and set a designated time slot for the party to avoid keeping everyone together for too long. By keeping your guests completely in the loop, you’re being as transparent as possible and making them aware of any risk that may be involved when attending your party.
Note to Self
Many of us are totally over our cabin fever and stoked to hear gathering restrictions being loosened in our city to finally see our friends and family again. While most are happy to ditch our homes in favor of social interaction, not everyone is there yet. We’re still in the midst of pandemic and not everyone is comfortable gathering again. Don’t be offended if some decide to skip out and RSVP no. If you really want to include them, send them a zoom link or Facetime them in so they can virtually join in on the fun!
Hosting safely
It’s all about the setup
Keep the party outside as much as possible and set up any outdoor or seating furniture beforehand in a layout that adheres to 2-meter social distancing. Having a safely prepared layout design will make guests more likely to practice social distancing. To up safety precautions, you can have guests bring their own seating — lawn chairs, blankets, or cushions to avoid sharing furniture and ask that members of the same household sit together.
Wash those hands
You already know it… you gotta wash ya hands! Start the party off by having guests wash/sanitize their hands once they arrive. Set hand sanitizing stations all throughout your space. Place them in spots where people will most likely be touching common surfaces — tables with food, next to coolers with beverages, and close to any door where people may be entering your home.
Rules for the loo’
You can decide whether you want your guests to use your bathroom or not. If you feel comfortable letting your guests in, make sure it is safe for everyone. Let everyone know there are protocols to follow when coming into your home — first, washing hands before entering, and avoiding other rooms. Place a sign on the bathroom door to remind them to wipe down any surfaces they touched (doorknobs, sink, countertops), and don’t forget to place disinfectant wipes in the restroom! Skip out on the fancy hand towels and have them use paper towels instead to dry their hands.
Time to feast
Food can really be a way to someone’s heart so make sure your food spread doesn’t fall short. With that being said, be sure to take safety measures so your guests can dine without any worries.
Have one person in charge of the food: Have one person in charge of cooking or BBQing so there aren’t as many people in contact with the food. If your guests are bringing something, have one person prepare everyone’s dish making them the only ones touching any serving spoons and platters.
Beverages: The refreshments… everyone’s favorite part. To drink safely, there are a few things you can do to have minimal contact and sharing going on. Get the Spritz going by having a designated bartender to make the party’s drinks — be sure to pick your friend who knows how to actually make cool cocktails! Have multiple coolers set up & labeled with what type of drinks are inside (soda, water, beers, etc.) to avoid people searching and touching every beverage inside.
Catering: Want to serve food the safest way possible? If you’re feeling uncertain about how to prepare and serve safely, ask guests to bring their own food. This way guests’ contact is reduced while everyone still enjoys their meals. If you want to stick to being the super host you are, order individual food boxes for each of your guests. This allows everyone to take extra precautions while digging into the same grub, and you can support local catering businesses at the same time (we ❤️ local).
Serving: Rather than serving large portions think one-bite toothpick apps and pre-cut servings. This way guests avoid touching serving spoons and platters and can grab their portion directly. If you want to skip the dishes (who doesn’t?), use disposable plates & utensils.
We’ve really taken a new appreciation for being able to spend time with our friends and fam and no longer take our get-togethers for granted. So go ahead- end the summer with the ultimate celebration. Take this opportunity to be in each other’s company, get together, and toast the summer season goodbye. Now that you have sick party ideas and all the safety tips you need, start planning, and send out those invites!
