Company Holiday Party Planning Checklist

In case you’ve decided to throw a last minute holiday party for your company, or, if you’re halfway through the party planning process and you want to make sure you’ve thought of everything, we have compiled a checklist of universal company holiday party planning guidelines.We’ve made the list, now you can check it twice!  Make sure that all of your bases are covered, and you’ll give your organization one heck of a time—with very little stress on your part.If you like searching Pinterest, we've got even more ideas on our Company Holiday Party Planning Checklist board.

• Decide on the type of party you’ll be throwing.  Will it be company-wide?  Extravagant?  Casual?  Employees, plus-ones and spouses only? Are clients invited, too?
• Create a budget.  This might already be established by the bosses.
• Make a guest list.  This will be based on the first item in the checklist.
• Set a date.  If you’re just getting to this, those red hot party dates are probably tough to solidify with caterers and venues. Work with your venue and/or caterer to choose an available date and timeframe.  If the desirable Fridays and Saturdays are already spoken for, try hosting your company’s holiday party on a Thursday evening instead.
• Select a venue.  This should be done in accordance with the previous step, since available dates will be hard to come by. That is, of course, unless you’re hosting at the boss’ house or at your office.
• Select a caterer.  Again, this should be done ASAP to ensure that the best available caterers have ample ingredients and the appropriate staff to make sure your holiday party is a success.
• Choose hosts and/or speakers.  Look within your company first.  If no one comes to mind, consider asking a recently retired individual to whom everyone looked up or really enjoyed having around the office/building.
• Pick a theme.  Now this is the fun, creative part.  Come up with a theme, such as White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Candy Land or Gothic Holiday.  This theme will provide the foundation for the rest of the creative planning process.

• Plan your entertainment.  What goes with your holiday theme?  If you’re considering a live band or DJ, you might be a little late to capture the top entertainers.  Try asking around the company to see if anyone is in a band outside of work, or has a friend, son, cousin, etc. who would be willing to entertain.  Also consider asking local children’s choirs or community groups to perform.  If you don’t want a big entertainment act, plan several smaller interactive activities, which just happens to be one of our hot company party trends right now.
• Decide on the dress code.  Formal, casual or somewhere in between?  Make this decision based on the theme, venue and budget, and relay this information to guests via the next step of the planning process.

Formal attire is one way to dress up your evening, but make sure your decor and theme matches the level of sophistication if you're asking guests to get all dolled up!

Casual attire is great for holiday parties with tons of activities and games and for events with lower budgets.

• Create and send out your invitations.  The invitations should reflect the holiday party’s theme as well as the dress code.  To remove doubt from guests’ minds, be sure to let them know that if it’s a formal event, you’re expecting bowties and gowns and vice versa.
• Plan a holiday menu.  Work with your caterer to create the best possible menu fitting both your theme and your budget.  Some caterers already have holiday menu themes, which are helpful for those planning well in advance or at the last minute.

• Plan the bar.  Will you offer premium, top-shelf bar service?  Will you need more than one bar?  Will you have a specialty cocktail based on your theme?  Your caterer can help you answer all of these questions and many more.  Or, head to our dr!nk page for some help right now.

• Schedule a site visit.  You’ll want to do this with your venue coordinator and invite your vendors and caterer along.  This will give everyone involved the opportunity to judge what the best event design and set up will be, as well as help your vendors pre-plan for all deliveries, including dock space, number of stairs and back room or kitchen space.
• Decide on awards and recognitions.  Many successful holiday parties incorporate a yearly review or recap, which usually involves recognizing individuals, teams or the entire company for a job well done. Use this annual opportunity to recognize the key contributors to the company’s success handing out any plaques, trophies or awards your higher-ups deem appropriate.
• Create an itinerary.  Writing out a detailed itinerary, being sure to go over it in detail with your caterer and vendors so that each scheduled delivery is double- and triple-confirmed, will help make the event run much smoother.
• Plan décor, tablescapes and lighting.  Some caterers and venues have the ability to take care of all three.  Talk with your vendors about planning this portion of the event as they are experts and should be able to complement your event visions perfectly.

• Plan your prizes and favors.  Especially if you’ve opted to utilize one of this year’s holiday party trends and have schedule a series of smaller, more interactive entertainment activities, plan on giving guests small tokens by which to remember the evening when they participate in any of the activities.  Leave them with party favors, too, when the evening concludes.
• Raffle off gifts that give back.  Incorporating some kind of charity into your party itinerary is a classy, respected and increasingly appreciated move.  This aspect could be as simple as asking guests to bring something to donate, or as elaborate as giving away gifts purchased from companies that give back through a company raffle.
• Hire a photographer.  Documenting your holiday party is a great social media sharing opportunity as well as perfect for email marketing material.  Photographs should go up on your company’s website and circulate around the office to help keep spirits up long after the holidays are over.
• Host the party!  It’s game time.  You’ve planned and planned, and now it’s time to experience!  Enjoy all of your hard work.
• Create a follow-up. Feel free to use the photos from the photographer for this part of the post-party process.  Your follow-up can be in a newsletter you send to clients, in an email to employees, on social media for everyone to see, or otherwise, of course. Use the party’s success to your advantage by creating a final opportunity to deliver some kind of positive message to company employees and/or clients.

For more on corporate holiday parties, check out these 7 Corporate Holiday Party Trends happening right now.  They're sure to spark some creative ideas for you and your event.What's a winter-themed party without a warm winter cocktail?  Six of the seasons finest warm drink recipes can be found right here!You can also take inspiration from old events, holiday or otherwise.  We're happy to share a few corporate events with you to help spark your imagination, such as thisawards and recognition dinner and this 900-person holiday event!

New Year's Resolution-Approved January Catering Specials

This month will be party after party to celebrate the holidays and the New Year.  Come January, though, there will be new things on your mind—and on your co-workers’ minds too: resolutions.New Year’s resolutions frequently revolve around food and eating healthy, and we’re no stranger to that.  This January, we are starting a new initiative of our own in order to help you reach yours by offering monthly specials filled with fresh, new, innovative drop-off catering menu items.  The best part?  With our new specials, eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank.Beginning in January, just in time for those New Year’s resolutions, we will be offering two monthly specials:Breakfast Package

• Egg white veggie scramble
• Fresh fruit
• Yogurt parfait
• Coffee, tea and orange juice

Lunch Package

• Choice of butternut squash soup, tomato basil soup or cream of broccoli soup
• Mixed greens salad with light balsamic vinaigrette
• Fresh fruit salad

Of course, there are still plenty of other menu items available to satisfy all of your drop-off catering needs.

Event Spotlight: Fall-Themed

Our Boston financial district client’s open house event featured some of BG’s most creative catering tricks, including the colors of fall, foods of the season and results of great proportions.Take a look at this successful autumn event theme and catering in the brilliant images below.We began with visions of the fall season, using warm browns and reds as inspiration for tablescapes, layouts and food presentations. The floral design was an important element, elegantly tying natural sophistication into the theme and presentation. We created a customized menu for our client that equally suited its preferences and the event theme.  Our resulting menu satisfied both to the extreme!Our stationary and passed hors d’oeuvres menus included:

• An Antipasto Display
• Fiery Pumpkin Dip
• Traditional Hummus
• Grilled Chicken Skewers
• Roasted Tomato Soup Sippers
• Mini Cheeseburger Sliders
• Fingerling Potato Cups
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Warm Pretzel Bites

 Our !ndulge Petite Sweets menu, accompanied by Micro Roasted Coffee Service, included:

• Hand-wrapped Salted Caramels
• Chai Spiced Pumpkin Cookies
• Carrot Cake Pops
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
• Apple Pie in a Jar
• Chocolate Bacon Desserts

The drink service included a special fall-themed Apple Cider, Cranberry and Vodka cocktail that guests loved!At the end of the event, guests left with a token of the client’s appreciation, as well as a sweet take-home treat to enjoy later.  Each of the takeaway gifts were pre-wrapped in cellophane and tied with a company logo-branded ribbon provided by the client.Our takeaway gifts included:

• Caramel Apples
• Pumpkin Whoopee Pies with Cream Cheese Filling
• Chocolate Whoopee Pies with Orange-dyed Vanilla Filling

This fall-themed event was a hit with the guests and a true homerun for the client.  With a little time left this fall season, events like this are great ways to organize your Thanksgiving dinner or party before the snow hits and we’re all singing holiday tunes!

7 Corporate Holiday Party Trends

We love November in Boston. At BG Events & Catering, we know that this time of year is special.Though many companies in our client base are winding down their holiday planning process, there is still plenty of time to put together a really fabulous holiday event for your company or organization.As so many of our holiday parties this year have already been carefully thought out and planned, we have had the opportunity to notice several trends, some of which are a continuation from last year’s holiday party season.We’d like to share with you seven of the corporate holiday party trends we’ve gathered so far this year.

1.  Charity is big, and parties that give back are even bigger.

Many companies have always incorporated charity into their holiday parties.  Some of the most popular include donations to toy drives, food drives and winter clothing drives.  This year, many hosts and hostesses are into doubling their give back efforts, opting to give holiday gifts, holiday party favors and holiday party prizes purchased through gift companies that give back as well.

2.  Main acts are out—smaller entertainment and social activities are in.

Gone are the days of the “main event,” unless, of course, the main event is a speech by the President or CEO of the company (those days are still very much alive).  Instead of a headliner at the event, a lot of organizations are choosing to book multiple smaller, more social activities and games.  Where there used to be one big performance, there are now five smaller, wandering “acts,” or interactive games and events for guests to enjoy.

3.  Food stations are hot...and cold.

Much like interaction is crucially important to the party’s entertainment factor, it is important in the food and catering factor as well.  Participation is really the name of the game, and food stations continue to top the Holiday Parties Most Wanted list.  Hot and cold food stations, chef-carving stations, and design-your-own stations are always a hit.  We live in the age of customization, after all, and this concept really fits that want!

4. Around the world cuisine remains a go-to for many corporate events

Global cuisine is extremely popular, and the holidays are no different.  Of course, many organizations prefer to go the traditional route, serving ham or turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, etc.  Some push to incorporate international twists on the classic holiday foods.  Still, others opt to go as far as their imaginations will let them, utilizing Moroccan, Mediterranean, Brazilian or Japanese-inspired themes and their accompanying dishes.  It’s a fantastic way to make a holiday party stand out from the numerous other holiday parties that folks must attend during this season of merriment.

5. Company-wide or department-wide holiday party?  It’s a split decision.

Some companies are celebrating as a whole while others are letting each department celebrate on its own.  The smaller celebrations open up the ability to host more “tailored” holiday events, such as venues of particular interest to a marketing team or games more suited for the IT department.Larger, company-wide events allow members of each department the opportunity to meet and mingle with other company employees that they would otherwise never get to see. 

6.  Holiday parties get intimate when the boss plays host.

Some organizations’ CEOs or Presidents have been opening up their homes for the annual holiday party.  It’s a more intimate, familiar and friendly experience for employees—which means more bonding opportunity for all departments—plus it saves significant funding that would have been spent on venue expenses.

7.  It’s an employee-client affair.

Some companies are choosing to open their holiday party guest list to more than just employees and spouses; they’re inviting some of their clients to celebrate as well.  This is an opportunity for the sales people and key staff members to network with clients, building an even greater rapport with the included clients.  Additionally, inviting clients make those individuals aware of how important they are to the business, making them feel like a part of the organization’s family by including them in company activities.If it's holiday crunch time, and you're in charge, make sure that in all your hard work and preparation you've though of everything!  Use our Company Holiday Party Checklist to ease your worries and give your co-workers the ultimate holiday party.The holidays might  be the biggest focus, but winter is a long season.  Stay warm until spring with six of the hottest winter-themed cocktails.

20 of Our Favorite Thanksgiving Tablescape and Decorating Ideas

Thanksgiving décor and tablescapes are a big part of many Thanksgiving dinners.  Most families spend the afternoon or evening seated at the table, making it a key focal point.  As a result, much of the autumn décor effort should be directed here, on the feasting place.Tablescapes are one of our most popular event design elements.  With all of the autumn-inspired possibilities, needless to say, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays for which to decorate.Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving tablescape and décor ideas perfect for this holiday season.Personalized Pumpkins.  Mini pumpkins can be used as place setting identifiers.  Paint the initials of each guest on a very small pumpkin and place one by each place setting.

Thankful Tree.  This centerpiece really gets dinner guests into the Thanksgiving spirit.  Have guests write one thing for which they are thankful for on a precut paper leaf.  Attached a ribbon and ask each guest to hang his or her leaf on the tree.  The tree can then be placed in the center of the table or as a part of the buffet table décor.

Hues of Brown and Champagne.  These two colors are very complementary and work especially well when put together to create a tablescape.  Choose one of them to be your dominating color, probably the champagne, and accent the table with a few brown elements, such as the napkins and the candle holders.  Be careful not to go overboard with the accent color, though.

Apples and Pears.  Use these two fall fruits as your place setting name tags.  Choose one or both and place one on top of each butter plate at the table setting.  Write each guest’s name on a leaf cutout and tie it around the stem with a small ribbon.

Gourd Vases.  Carve out a gourd or pumpkin, cutting off the tops to make each one into a vase or bowl.  Then fill with fall flowers, grasses and other decorative elements, placing the filled vases along the center of the table.

Tree Branches.  Tree branches are wonderful accents to any fall tablescape.  Collect several leafless branches and bunch them together in sets of tall, clear or colored vases.  Place the vases in a line along the center of the table.  Also, consider using a single tree branch to grace the tops of each place setting with a name tag tied to each one.

Colored Goblets.  Instead of traditional, clear wine glasses, use colored wine goblets tinted with autumn shades or the hues of your color scheme to add useful color to the table.

Fall Foliage.  Some of the best elements of fall décor can be found just outside your home.  Collect brightly colored dried leaves to surround your centerpieces.  The more vibrant the colors, the more vibrant the tablescape.

At the Lodge.  Incorporate an outdoorsy-feeling to the tablescape with a lodge theme.  Use plaid tablecloths, lots of reds and browns and faux deer antlers as décor when creating the centerpiece.  Wooden candle holders would also go well with this design.Bold Chargers.  Use boldly-colored chargers to give your table an upscale and elegant look.  Just be sure to stick with the tablescape color scheme when doing so.

Pinecone Trays.  A pinecone is another elegant element of nature that makes for perfect décor and centerpiece elements.  Fill vases or bowls or varying sizes with pinecones.  These are especially versatile elements because they go with light or dark color schemes and can be used as a centerpiece or as accents to other bolder centerpieces.

Napkin Placements.  There are so many creative ways to place napkins at each table setting.  Roll the napkin up and place in a napkin ring; fold it lengthwise into a long rectangle and let it hang off the table underneath the plate; fold it into a long, skinny stripe and wrap it horizontally around the top plate in the place setting; fold into a 3-D triangle and prop it on top of the place setting…the list goes on and on!

Cranberries and Cinnamon.  These elements go hand-in-hand—both the colors and the items themselves.  Fill vases or centerpieces with cranberries and add tied cinnamon sticks for accents.  These two things also make great toppers for place settings, used separately and together.

Acorn Décor.  Fill vases and small glass jars in varying heights with acorns.  Top with mums or other fall-colored flowers and place throughout the table.

White Thanksgiving.  Create an all-white tablescape, utilizing white in every element from the tablecloth to the plates to the napkins and the candles.  If the influx of white is too much, add a pinecone to each place setting with a nametag on it for a single pop of fall color.

Picture Frames.  Small picture frames can be used as place setting identifiers.  Create simple nametags—using your party’s color scheme, of course—to be framed and set in front of each place setting. Use these creative markers to identify where each guest is to sit at dinner.Personalized Cookies.  Make or purchase elegant cookies in a variety of fall designs—utilizing shapes such as leaves, acorns, pumpkins, etc.—and stencil the name of each guest onto the cookie in frosting.  Put one cookie on each place setting as place markers, and also give them to guests to take home as a Thanksgiving party favor.

 

Caramel Apples.  Much like the personalized cookies, individually-wrapped caramel apples can serve as both party favors and place setting tags.  Tie a nametag around each elegantly-wrapped caramel apple with a theme-following, color-coordinated ribbon.

 

Pheasant Feathers.  Pheasant feathers can offer a fun, elegant twist to traditional Thanksgiving tablescapes and centerpieces.  Add the feathers—fake ones are available at many craft stores—to your bouquets of flowers and vases.

 

Mini Menus.  One thing that is common throughout many holidays and celebrations is printing out small menus and placing them on each place setting to make guests aware of what’s to come in each course.  The mini menus can be designed to fit every theme and centerpiece idea, tying all elements of your Thanksgiving celebration together flawlessly. 

Event Spotlight: An Awards Night to Remember

We at BG pulled out all of the stops during one of our most recent events, the MIT ALC Awards Dinner.This event was a huge hit, and with such a large crew geared up, we couldn’t have been more excited to give this wonderful client a really super evening.The evening began with the set-up.  Our crew arrived on scene and quickly got to work with a briefing of the timeline of events to come.Not long after, the entire team worked together turning this great venue……into the beautifully arranged landscape below.The scene was set, the crew prepped and we were more than ready to produce a night to remember.As the evening began, all 350 guests were invited to mingle in the reception areas.The kitchen was hard at work behind the scenes preparing the delicious cuisine that guests would enjoy later in the evening.We passed and set up stations of hors d’oeuvres throughout the beautiful venue.  Our tray-passed hors d’oeuvres menu included Butternut Squash Soup Shooters, Roasted Pumpkin Tartlets with Duck Confit, Garam Masala Chicken on Petite Papadom, and a Manchego, Sliced Fig and Almond Crostini.Our stationary hors d’oeuvres included  a Mediterranean display and an Imported and Domestic Cheese display.As the dinner began, we invited guests to take a seat to enjoy a first course of Mixed Greens in a Ficelle Cuff Crouton.  Following the salads, guests dined on a duo plate of New England Crab Cakes and Slow Braised Beef Short Rib, Sautéed Haricot Vert, Roasted Root Vegetables with Heirloom Carrots, and Assorted Artisan Rolls.Immediately following the dinner service, guests dined on a delicious Flourless Chocolate Cherry Cake dessert.As the dinner segment of the event wound down, guests tuned in for the presentation portion of the evening honoring those receiving awards.It was a beautiful evening, and one that we hope the MIT ALC Awards guests won’t soon forget.  We know our BG team sure won’t!

25 Halloween Party Tips

Halloween is a time to be crafty, and when you’re hosting your own Halloween party, it’s all about the creativity.We’ve scoured the web, our networks and our own planning teams’ experiences to bring you 25 Halloween party suggestions.  So here they are, our best Halloween party tips and ideas.  And of course, more great Halloween tips can be found on our Pinterest board, Halloween Party Ideas!1.  Crafty cakes.  Two bundt cake pans are the perfect shape to create a pumpkin cake.  After baking them, just flip one upside down and connect the flat parts of each cake with orange frosting.  Then, cover the entire pumpkin-shaped cake with orange frosting.  Add a little green at the top and a stem (an upside down green colored or frosted ice cream cone works great for this) and you have the perfect pumpkin cake.2.  Save a step.  Instead of painting a pumpkin white before decorating it with Halloween words and designs, just buy a white pumpkin—which are a real thing and much more popular than you might think!

White pumpkins are classic, chic decoration for any Halloween party.

3.  Eyeballs.  String plastic googly eyes on fishing wire and hang them from the ceiling or wall to make both look like they have spooky eyes.4.  Brain cakes.  Use a pastry bag with a number 10 round tip to decorate cupcakes or cakes.  In a big zigzag, crisscross pattern, stripe the cupcakes from one side of the other to look like brains.5.  Edible eyeballs.  Doughnut holes dunked in white chocolate and decorated with skinny red lines and an M&M make the perfect edible eyeball.6.  Christmas in October.  Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to shape your cookies.  When the cookies are done cooking, add white frosting skeletons over each one to create skeleton cookies.

Get creative with cookie cutters and frosting.

7.  The double costume.  Make your Halloween costume a double.  Consider a two part costume or costume party, such as Scary Super Heroes.8.  Pumpkin beer.  Turn a pumpkin into a keg by gutting it from the top and putting a small tap on the bottom.  Pour in the beer and enjoy.9.  Ghost candies.  Paint two eyes and a mouth on individual pieces of meringue, adding a bunch of mini ghosts to your edible sweets table.

Turn plain candies into edible decorations!

10. Safety first.  Use glow sticks instead of candles for easy, safe and colorful glowing pumpkins.11. Simple and Spooky.  Use glow-in-the-dark paint to paint your pumpkin so that it glows in the dark, creating an easy pumpkin decoration.12. Chinese Halloween.  Black, white, orange and purple Chinese lanterns make great Halloween party decorations.  Hang them over the food table for some fun.

Chinese lanterns set the Halloween party mood.

13. Pumpkin punch.  Carve out a pumpkin and cut the top off so the bottom looks like the shape of a large bowl.  Put a glass bowl inside to make a perfect pumpkin punch bowl.14. Pumpkin cooler.  Using the same process as in 17, turn a bowl-shaped pumpkin into a cooler, and place beer into the pumpkin cooler.  Set it out at your party.15. Floating hand.  Fill a plastic glove with water, tie it shut, and then put it into the freezer.  Use the hand-shaped ice cube to keep your punch cool…and to spook your guests.16. Pumpkin dip.  Carve out a small pumpkin to fit around a small dip bowl.  Set your bowl (with dip) inside the carved pumpkin for presentation.

Pumpkins make perfect bowls for dips, punches and soups.

17. Shots.  Serve shots in plastic syringes.   The more colorful the shots, the more festive they are!

Go "mad scientist" with plastic syringe shots.

18. Hanging webs.  Wrap black string around a blown up balloon in a crisscross and zigzag pattern to look like a spider web.  Spray with hairspray or spray glue, then pop the balloon.  Add plastic spiders to make it look like a ball of spider webs and spiders.  Hang from the ceiling for decoration.19. Arachnophobia.  Tape black plastic spiders all along a light colored wall to make it look like a bug infestation.20. Bloody candles.  Wax from a red candle looks like blood when you drip it over a light colored surface, such as a bigger white candle.

Candles are some of the most versatile Halloween decorations.

21. Mad scientist.  Put the heads of old dolls in jars and line them up for a creepy table decoration.22. Baby pumpkins.  Color Jack-o-lantern faces on Clementines, tangerines, oranges or other small orange fruits you have sitting in your kitchen for edible everyday snacks.

Even your every day fruits and veggies can wear a costume.

23. Wine bottle décor.  Dress up your collection of old, empty wine bottles in classic Halloween characters, like a Jack-o-lantern, witch and vampire.24. Pick your Poison.  Stock your bar with bottles of premixed drinks made in a collection of old fashioned bottles.  Label each with a creative—and spooky—drink name.

Dusty, spiderweb-ridden decor can double as part of your bar.

25. Pumpkin wrap.  Wrap small or medium sized pumpkins in dark mesh netting, tying the gathered ends at the tip with ribbon for classy, no mess décor.More decor and lighting ideas and photos for all occasions can be found here!

Event Spotlight: Photo Nights Boston—at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama

On October 3^rd, Photo Nights Boston held its public photo festival at the Cyclorama in Boston, an event venue operated by the Boston Center for the Arts.Photo Nights Boston, a non-profit organization founded in 2010, promotes photography as a chance to “Project Yourself.”  The group supports local photographers and artists throughout the year, culminating in a public photo festival catered by BG Events and Catering.The Cyclorama is a classically beautiful Boston event venue featuring a wide open space that can be dressed to fit any kind of event theme and fit a very large number of guests.  Since the benefit was for Photo Nights Boston, we turned the Cyclorama event space into a sleek, industrial city atmosphere using the different regions of Boston as our inspiration.The photos themselves were captured all over the city of Boston, so we decided our menu should reflect the same love for our city.  We featured cuisine made famous by geographic location, with examples including North End Italian, Chinatown and Fenway Park.Guests were able to experience Boston’s unique culinary scene through an array of appetizers, hors d’oeuvres and other casual foods.We displayed the food on towering steel shelving throughout the Cyclorama, giving guests ample space to congregate and dine while also supporting our industrial city theme.The lighting crew designed wonderful effects on each food display, creatively mimicking a Boston city night inside our venue.Our signature dr!nk service provided plenty of delicious beverage options and prompt service from bars strategically located throughout the venue.Across the Boston venue, we scattered groups of sleek, white lounge furniture to give guests a place to sit and eat while enjoying the photos and mingling with other photography supporters. Overall, the festival was a huge success, and we can’t wait to work with Boston’s Cyclorama and Photo Nights Boston again!

Newest Trend for Boston Weddings and Wedding Registries

BG Events and Catering has created a one-of-a-kind wedding opportunity for Boston couples.  It’s a completely unique take on a wedding registry, and we’re so excited to announce its launch!BG’s Brand New Wedding Registry:  http://static1.squarespace.com/static/6140b4dd4dbc473a0148e51c/61450ce345cef54e6a7e23ce/61450e5145cef54e6a7ee548/1631915601667/?format=original">What Is It?Planning the perfect wedding can be overwhelming and costly, and sometimes, couples are forced to choose between items they originally envisioned in their dream wedding.Other times, couples feel it unnecessary to register for items that they already have, leaving their store registries bare and boring.We saw an opportunity to give Boston couples their dream weddings while addressing both of those concerns.After months of planning and preparation, we’re excited to announce a brand new opportunity for BG wedding clients.  We now offer couples the chance to register for elements of their actual wedding celebration!This concept is very unique to the Boston market, and it’s one that we can’t wait for clients to experience.

The perfect wedding cake is just one of many BG wedding registry items.

Our wedding registry is comprised of 18 beautiful wedding elements, such as exclusive wedding cakes, chic lounge furniture, specialty cocktails, premium bar service and much more.  Couples can register for wedding elements that they wish to bring to their own wedding ceremonies and celebrations, and guests can choose to make contributions to those special items.Our registry is similar to a standard registry.  The only difference is that guests are contributing to the wedding experience in lieu of a traditional wedding gift, helping the couple realize the perfect wedding.

Choose a special signature cocktail to represent your reception!

Guests can enjoy delicious gazpacho before dinner.

Delicious desserts are the perfect ending to your catered reception.

New Wedding Registry:  How Does It Work?When each couple pieces together the special components that make up their dream wedding, our team creates a website specifically designed for each couple.  Wedding guests can sign in to the website and view the items that the bride and groom wish to be included in their wedding celebration.  Such items include personal flowers, chic white bars, upgraded china service, top shelf bar, champagne toast and much, much more.

Personal flowers for a truly personalized wedding.

Each item is displayed with a contribution number, or the amount needed for the couple and their guests to enjoy that particular feature at the wedding.Guests can choose which item they’d like to contribute to as well as the dollar amount.The couple is notified of each contribution and can track the progress of their dream wedding while guests can also see which items have already been accounted for and which items are still available on the registry.Your Unique Wedding RegistryCouples, now you have a way of giving your guests an evening to remember, and an experience you all will never forget.  Your perfect wedding awaits you!Guests, the chance to give your betrothed friends or family members one of the happiest, most perfect memories is right here.Our job is to make your dreams a reality.  With this new registry, we can’t wait to help give brides and grooms a way to experience the wedding of a lifetime.

Upgraded lighting sets the mood.

Premium bar service enhances any reception!

Incorporate chic lounge furniture into your wedding atmosphere.

Wine and Cheese Pairings for the Fall Season

Barbie and Ken, Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly…sometimes two things are just meant to be.Wine and cheese are a dynamic twosome that falls toward the top on the list of perfect duos.  They’re the kind of couple that harmonize the palate’s experience when paired just right, which is why we’re going to give you a list of the best wine and cheese pairings to bring to your next autumn gathering.If you're interested in pairing the right foods with the right drinks, you're in luck!  For more ideas on beverage pairings, view our Tapas and Sangria pairings.For more information on the type of beverage services we can help bring to your next Boston event, take a look at our Dr!nk page.

‘Tis the season! Well, almost.

Some think it’s taboo to start talking “holidays” before we’ve even celebrated Halloween, but event planners have to live in a completely different world when it comes to the holiday season.We live by the “it’s never too soon to plan your holiday party” motto.  And you know what?  With all of the added responsibilities the fall and winter bring each year, our clients agree!We are now entering primetime holiday event planning mode, with new corporate events, private holiday parties and winter wedding inquiries coming in every day.  This year, the holiday event trends are theme-based, and not just your typical “Winter Wonderland” theme done over and over again.With the growth in popular social media sites such as Pinterest, the craving for creative party themes and ideas is everywhere.  And it’s super contagious!  Having caught the need ourselves, BG Events and Catering crafted three new and unique holiday party theme ideas, and then we formed exclusive themed menus for each one!Three themes for the Holiday Season 2013:Ski Lodge.  Think cozy, think warm, think comforting…this holiday party theme centers around comfort foods with creative twists.  We’ve reworked the classics into an extravaganza-worthy cuisine and paired our menus with an exquisite, welcoming and snuggly event design.  Warm chocolate browns mix with whites and coppers to turn the cold winter night into an intimate and tranquil scene.  Finding inspiration in classic Scandinavian design, your event details—from the wood and winter florals right down to the smallest berries—will captivate guests in the moment.Art Deco.  This theme is truly alive with the striking characteristics of the Art Deco era.  Indulge in your choice of small, elegant platters or a luxurious buffet of decadence.  Treat your eyes to the distinctive patterns and emblematic designs of this iconic era, and give your palate a reason to go back for seconds.  The Art Deco period is infamous for luxury and extravagance, so give your guests a celebration of which Gatsby himself would be proud (without breaking the bank!).Winter Solstice.  Blue, white and silver hues brighten the chill of winter darkness with this holiday party event idea.  This vibrant theme honors the winter season and the symbolic occasion marking the longest night of the year, which, in many cultures, is reason enough to host a celebration.  We’re bringing that feeling to Boston with creative winter menus and lively holiday décor maximizing the merriment of your event.Bonus:  BG Events and Catering is offering a freebie this holiday season.  When our clients send in their signed contract within 10 to 15 days of receiving the proposal, they can choose one of the following freebies:  cordials with coffee, a specialty cocktail, high tops with linens, LED uplighting or upgraded white Lucite bars.  Consider it our holiday gift to you!

How to Host an Oktoberfest Party

Traditional German food, beer, music and general merriment: that’s what Oktoberfest is all about.  An Oktoberfest party, to many, is an autumn celebration staple, and we say give the people what they want!Here is how you can host your own Oktoberfest party.Setting the Scene:  An Oktoberfest BiergartenOktoberfest is meant to be outside, usually in a biergarten or under a big tent.  Setting up a biergarten is much easier than it sounds…a real “garden” isn’t even necessary.  Rather, assemble a collection of picnic-like tables in a small outdoor area, cover the area with lights and you’ve set the scene!  As for the beer tent, consider renting or borrowing a large tent, fill it with tables and chairs and cover it with lights.

• PARTY TIP:  Use strings of white Christmas lights to decorate the biergarten and/or beer tent.

Seating and FurnitureRepeat after us:  “I will not use my nicest furniture and seating at an Oktoberfest party.”In other words, do not borrow Grandma’s antique Bavarian dining table if you plan on channeling your inner Oktoberfest at this celebration.  Your goal is not to impress guests with intricacies of finely-crafted, vintage wooden tables and chairs.  Your number one goal is to make sure you provide seating and tables that are as sturdy as possible.  The big Oktoberfest festival in Munich, Germany, is famous for dancing, singing and bustling about, around, over and on top of all surfaces.  In the event that your party gets a fraction as rowdy as the real festival, you’re definitely going to need stability over aesthetics.

• PARTY TIP:  This one is worth repeating.  The sturdier the table and chairs, the better (and safer) your party will be!

DécorYou can still have a nice-looking setup at your Oktoberfest party, despite the “sturdy” table and chair situation.  One of the easiest ways to make your tables look pristine is to cover them with tablecloths.  A white and blue checkered pattern is quite common throughout the festival, so consider using that pattern on your tablecloths, party napkins, streamers and other décor.  The blue and yellow combination is also in abundance during the two-week-long celebration in Munich, so that particular color scheme is also a fine choice.

• PARTY TIP:  Your tablecloths and décor will be spilled on, especially since most of the food is eaten with your fingers.  Try not to use any cloth favorites when covering the main eating tables.

FoodAny traditional German food is applicable at an Oktoberfest party.  The most traditional foods, however, are roasted duck, chicken, sausage and bratwurst.  Be sure to serve up whatever dish you choose with plenty of vegetables.  The celebration isn’t all about the main course, though.  Other typical Bavarian treats include German pastries, like Mohrenkopf, and, of course, fresh pretzels.  Big cookie necklaces adorned with red-frosted names and affections are another German favorite, though these are as much for show as they are for nourishment.  If your Oktoberfest party guest list is reasonable, consider giving each participant a cookie necklace with his or her name (or, for more fun, nickname!) written in icing.

• PARTY TIP:  If you don’t think you can handle all those cookies, then consider giving pretzel necklaces.  Simply string small pretzels around a piece of yarn, long enough to dangle loosely from each recipient’s neck.  Guests can take a bite whenever they please.

BeerAt last, the good part!  What’s an Oktoberfest celebration without Germany’s finest ales?  In order to be considered a true Oktoberfest beer, the beer must have been produced in Munich, Germany.  There are six different breweries in Munich that produce beer for the festival, and there are usually upwards of 30 different types of brews from which to choose.  Since your party won’t be within the German city’s limits, we suggest incorporating plenty of leeway on the Munich-brewed rule.  As long as there is beer at your party, guests will be happy.

• PARTY TIP:  If you want to be as true to the Oktoberfest experience as possible, make a few German beers available, such as Hofbräuhaus, Augustiner and Hacker, all of which should be available at your nearest beverage depot store (and all of which you can sample at your own beer tasting party beforehand!).

MusicWhile most Oktoberfest parties have some variation of the traditional polka-like music, chances are you guests would appreciate a nice mix of popular music with the occasional traditional song.  As the party is getting started, ease guests into the spirit of the festival with Ein Prost, inviting guests to (attempt to) sing along.  From there, mix and match German songs with whatever you and your crowd like best.

• PARTY TIP:  Provide printed out or displayed lyrics to the most popular German drinking songs so guests can try to participate in the fun.

For more tips and tricks on how to host an Oktoberfest party, visit our Oktoberfest Pinterest board.  

Event Spotlight: An Asian-Italian Wedding Fusion

She’s from Hong Kong, and he’s a New Yorker with Italian heritage.  The two met, fell in love and decided to get married…in Boston!  This summer, we helped this wonderful couple plan their perfect wedding—a celebration with a special nod to both heritages—then helped make their dream wedding come true.Celebration:  WeddingVenue:  deCordova Sculpture Park and MuseumGuest count:  150Vision:  Asian and Italian fusion utilizing only traditional red and yellow colorsUsing the couple’s wishes and ideas, we accomplished the Asian and Italian fusion via two food stations:  one Italian station with an interactive chef polenta board and one Asian station with traditional suckling pig and noodle boxes. Our team continued the fusion by designing a fire and ice display.  It featured a classic New England raw bar enhanced with Asian elements such as tuna tartar with wonton crisps.The flower displays and bouquets featured the traditional red and yellow colors in beautiful, appropriate centerpieces and table accents.Entertainment began with a captivating lion dance as guests dined on a starter course and watched, all of them fascinated with the show.The celebration’s cake was a classic wedding cake in a beautiful, decorated in yellow frosting to match the floral design.  Surrounding the traditional wedding treat were several more delectable delights:  assorted mini desserts like brownie sundae bombs with chocolate pipette, cake pops and a cannoli station.In addition to the reception, BG Events and Catering also coordinated the ceremony at the Harvard Business School Chapel, treating the couple to a true full-service experience.The Reception Menu included:First courseRoasted Tomato Tart served with Goat Cheese & Balsamic, topped with Fresh Herbs & Champagne VinAsian StationSuckling Pig with Hoisin Sauce and Flat BunsWok Street Noodles with Scallions and Bok ChoyVegetable DumplingsItalian StationItalian Polenta BoardBraised VealProsciuttoMushroom, Tomato Sauce, ParmesanCheese-Stuffed Tortellini with Fresh Pesto Sauce

Our Favorite Fresh Summer Recipe Ideas

The summer months are winding down.  You’ve probably hosted and attended your fair share of barbecues and other backyard party events by now, but that doesn’t mean you’ve gotten your fill of delicious summer recipes.  Instead of the typical hot dog and potato salad combination, spruce up your end-of-summer menu with one of these fresh summer recipes.You don’t need a reason to try one of our 12 favorite summer recipes, but if you’re looking to host a gathering of a few friends and make the evening memorable, try combining these menu items as a prelude to an outdoor movie theater night!

Fresh Summer Salad Recipes

Thai and Watermelon SaladThis salad is a zesty combination of some of our favorite summer flavors, like mint, cilantro and lime, combined with the kick of Thai chilies and garlic and mixed with the amazing textures of fresh watermelon and grilled chicken breast.  It’s summer on a plate.Grilled Caesar SaladWe weren’t sure Caesar salads could get much tastier, but then we tried this recipe.  This grilled salad uses the classic Caesar dressing plus a tangy vinaigrette on top of lightly grilled Romaine lettuce heads.Green and Yellow Bean SaladOur first non-lettuce salad, but that doesn’t mean this one isn’t as fresh and delicious as our other choices.  The wax and green beans in this creation get the oil and vinegar treatment before being topped with Greek salad favorites like tomatoes, basil and feta cheese.Linguine with Tomato and Basil Pasta SaladRipe tomatoes, basil leaves and a few spices and dressings combine over cooked linguine for this simple take on the typical pasta salad.

Summer Veggie Recipes

Grilled Corn with Honey-Ginger BBQ SauceSweet meets tangy when you combine honey and ginger into the perfect barbecue sauce.  And delicious meets delicious when you slather that sauce over your next ear of roasted corn on the cob.Spanish-style Grilled VegetablesThese bell peppers, egg plants and zucchinis come sliced, grilled and covered in a breadcrumb picada.  They’ll disappear from your backyard BBQ fast, so make sure you put some on your plate before they’re all gone.Grilled Pancetta-wrapped AsparagusWhat’s a summer recipes list without an asparagus dish?  Fresh asparagus wrapped in thinly-sliced salty pancetta makes for the ultimate BBQ accompaniment.

Summer Protein Recipes

Grilled Chicken WingsNow that the NFL preseason has started, it’s safe to combine our love of summer with our love of chicken wings.  These summer chicken wings are dressed in just two ingredients—soy sauce and Italian dressing—and for dipping, you’ll need an easy combination of more soy sauce, butter and hot pepper sauce.Tequila Lime ChickenThis is one of the most savory summer chicken recipes out there.  Tequila lime chicken.  Orange juice, lime juice and tequila (of course) lead the marinating process.  There are a few kicks in the recipes, too, like garlic, chili powder, black pepper and jalapeno peppers.Grilled Filet Steak and ArugulaLemon juice, mustard, baby arugula and Parmesan cheese turn the typical filet mignon steak into a fresh, flavorful summer entrée that you and your guests will eat right up.Double Cheeseburgers—L.A.-styleDouble cheeseburgers are normally delicious all on their own, but when you add some Asian influence, the two-patties, onions, lettuce and mayo are joined by ingredients like toasted sesame seeds and shiso leaves for a delicious twist.

Summer Dessert

Peach Lattice Top PieThis lattice-top pie isn’t just any summer recipe; it’s the summer recipe!  It takes one of the season’s most delicious fruits and turns it into an iconic dessert fit for any occasion.Want to learn about a few more creative menu ideas?  We’ve got plenty to share.  Like these delicious !ndulgent treats and this delightful cocktail reception menu.  

How to Host a Beer Tasting Party at Home

We love beer!  And we especially love craft beer.  There are thousands of craft breweries across the country, ranging from light to dark, and all waiting for your discovery.  There’s nothing quite like finding a fabulous new beer, except maybe helping a few friends discover their new favorite brew at your own beer tasting party.For those reasons and more, we’re going to share with you some great tips on how to host a beer tasting at your place.

1. Pick a theme.  Every good party has a theme—even wine tastings are built around themes—and beer tastings should be no different.  Some example themes include:  Summer Beers, Light vs. Dark, Oktoberfest or simply a type of beer, like Stout.
2. Prepare your beers!  It’s best if you’ve had a chance to sample the beers yourself before introducing them to your beer tasting guests. That way you can make suggestions and share some of your notes before they give each one a try.  Once you have your theme, pick up plenty of your chosen selections at the nearest beer superstore.  TIP:  This is where a guest count comes in handy.  You’ll want to budget about three tasting servings for every bottle, with a couple of extra bottles in case you have some extra thirsty participants or unexpected guests.
3. Good beer glasses are just as important as good beer.  Ok, maybe not just as important, but they’re number two on the list.  You’ll want to sample each beer in a stem glass, not a pint glass.  In the event that you don’t have enough of the proper beer glasses, you can certainly use wine glasses instead.  Most households have more wine glasses on hand anyway.
4. Create the proper atmosphere.  If you ask the experts, they’ll say to create a quiet, calm and focused atmosphere for your beer tasting, but what kind of party would it be if there was no music or liveliness?  Here’s how you can compromise: have a separate room or section of the house dedicated to the “tasting” portion of the evening.  Switch rooms when it’s time to take that first sip of a new beer, then go back around the food table or into the social area of the house when the tasting is finished.
5. The actual tasting.  You should use all five senses when tasting a beer.  First look, smell, taste and feel.  The hearing part comes after the first sip, when you begin to discuss with, and listen to, the other guests’ opinions of their samples!
6. Pairing each beer with food.  Pairing each beer with a specific food is a classy and fun way to feed guests at your beer tasting party.  Cheeses and chocolates are the two most typical beer tasting pairings, but you can’t very well survive a night of beer tasting with just those two edible items.  Incorporate a meal, perhaps around those two ingredients—cheese goes on pretty much anything, and chocolate makes for a great ingredient in marinades—somewhere into the evening.  Serving the meal after the official beer tasting is usually best.
7. Cleanse the palate.  This one is big!  Cleanse the palate with either water or some kind of bread (crackers will also work) in between each beer for the full tasting experience.

Now that you know the steps to hosting a great beer tasting party at home, here are a few more things to think about:

• If hosting a beer tasting is too expensive for your budget, help cut down the cost by asking guests to bring their favorite six-pack to the event and make it a collaborative beer tasting experience.  You’ll be challenged with organizing the beers on-the-fly, but it will certainly give you a chance to test out your beer knowledge and hosting skills.
• Organize your beers from light to dark.  Start with the light, refreshing beers and move toward those dark, intimidating beers.  Even with a light-to-dark line-up, though, you should cleanse the palate in between beers with some crackers or at least a sip of water.
• Sparkling water cleanses the palate even better than still water.  It may not be as refreshing to drink, but those bubbles sure do rejuvenate that palate.
• If the budget allows it, send everyone home with a party favor, such as a six-pack, or purchase an extra bottle of beer per each guest (in assorted flavors based on the beers you offered at the tasting) and let people choose which ones they’d like to take home.
• Save the bottle caps.  Beer tasting is meant to teach you and your guests which new beers you love (and want to try again).  Save the beer caps and give them as souvenirs to those who fell in love with a new beer—and as a reminder of which beer to put in their carts the next time they go to the store.
• Give everyone a pen and paper—or have people pull out their smartphones—to take notes about each beer, ranking its flavor, aroma, appearance and feel.  Sometimes saving the bottle caps isn’t enough.  You’ll want more detailed notes on what each beer tasted like so you know what to ask for at the bar the next time you feel like having an amber ale.

For even more great beer tasting ideas, visit our Beer Tasting Party Ideas board on Pinterest.

Beach Housewarming Party: A Branded Experience for Sperry Top-Sider Boston Store Opening

The opening of the new Sperry store here in Boston called for a huge celebration, and not just any celebration would do.  Our client wanted the whole event, catering and all, to align with its famous Sperry brand’s reputation.But just what did that mean?  It meant we got to brand the entire housewarming party experience!  Our BG team had a ton of fun partnering with Sperry and brainstorming to create the perfect branded party.First, we nailed down the theme, which was an easy one since Sperry is well-known for their comfortable, stylish and beachy shoes.  The theme was “beach” from the start. Our BG team dressed in the Sperry beachside look, complete with khaki pants, classic brown Sperry shoes and white and blue polo t-shirts.  We certainly looked the part! Our culinary team put together a seaside spread full of Cape Cod and New England-style cuisine and finger foods.  The food’s presentation was just as stylish and sophisticated as its taste. The menu included summer gazpacho shooters alongside mini grilled cheese sandwiches and mini lobster rolls served with mayo and celery. We also served mini grilled chicken sliders with pickles, crispy onions and a buttermilk ranch sauce, as well as bacon-wrapped scallops with horseradish aioli.Desserts were custom-made mini desserts, including blueberry panna cotta shooters and anchor cupcakes. Each passing tray—and several other elements of the event—were branded with the Sperry logo to reinforce the client’s brand—after all, that brand was the entire reason all were gathered together!All guests went home with a swag bag full of Sperry merchandise.  How generous!A photo booth gave guests ample entertainment on the “beach boardwalk” as they roamed around the store floor, ate great beach-inspired food and admired the wonderful merchandise.The final element of the seaside soiree was the drink menu.  We served New England craft beers, of course, and the specialty cocktail of the evening was a Cape Cod Fizz (recipe included:  vodka, cranberry juice and lime club soda).  Yum!

NEW BG Kosher Catering and Event Planning—At a Value

It’s another first for Boston!As you know, we’re constantly looking for ways to better serve our clients.  When we discovered that the Boston Jewish community didn’t have any viable options for a caterer and event planner that provided both services at a value, our brains started churning.“Let our unrivaled experience, strong team framework and passion for creating successful events invigorate yours—at a value.”  That’s what we promise on our homepage, and that’s what we now bring to the Boston Jewish community!Recently, we’ve partnered with Edna Bension of Ora Catering.  This partnership offers the city of Boston access to Ora Catering’s delicious kosher food while simultaneously bringing you BG’s legendary innovative event design and award-winning team at an unmatched value.  All it takes is one simple phone call.  It’s a true first for Boston.As our new kosher page will tell you, “It all starts with a ritual.”  We’re excited to begin producing the celebrations surrounding these rituals, such as Kosher weddings, private house parties and bar/bat mitzvahs.For those searching for the perfect kosher event partner, we encourage you to give us a call.  Clients will quickly find out just how much event planning creativity and expertise—as well as knowledge of and experience with the Jewish tradition—that our simcha specialist, Devora Millman, truly has.From everyone at BG, we can’t wait to help plan your family’s special day.  We’re ready to bring BG’s stylish, trendy and exclusive planning, Ora Catering’s unbelievable kosher food and our entire team’s elegance and imagination to your special occasion.  For a peek at our new kosher brand, take a look at our specially dedicated kosher page!

Outdoor Movie Party Ideas

The nights are warm and inviting, which means it’s the perfect time of year to throw an outdoor movie party!  Take a look as we share some tips and ideas for your next (or first!) outdoor movie night.What you’ll need for an outdoor movie party:

• The essentials:  projector, screen, movie(s)
• The comforts:  seating, blankets, pillows
• The sustenance:  refreshments, concessions
• The little things:  details to make your night a hit

The EssentialsYou’re going to need a big white screen on which to show the movie.This could mean using the old fashioned projection screens that many of our science teachers used to pull down from the top of the blackboard when showing us the periodic table, or, more likely, it could mean that you need a large white (preferably clean) bed sheet.Hang either one from the side of your house, or find a way to prop it up against a temporary structure.You’ll also definitely need a projector to pair with your big white screen.  If you don’t own a projector, don’t run to the store and buy one (they’re not cheap!).Chances are you know someone who owns one.  Don’t know where to look?  Start with your electronic-savvy friends.  They’ll know who you can talk to.  If all else fails, you can rent a projector for a small fee.Once you’ve solidified the equipment, you’ll need to pick out the entertainment.  When choosing a movie, consider the following questions:

1. Is your party a neighborhood gathering?  Then you’ll want to choose a family-friendly movie.
2. Is your party a birthday party for kids, or is its purposed to entertain small children?  Then you’ll have to go with a rated-G or PG film.
3. Is your party for adults-only?  Then you’ll have a much broader range of movies from which to choose.  You’ll also have a larger number of picky movie critics to please, most likely.  For adults-only parties, consider your guest list, and then consult these themes to find out which might best fit the audience:
   1. Black & White, with movies like A Streetcar Named Desire, On The Waterfront, Rebel Without a Cause
   2. The Classics, with movies like Cool Hand Luke, The Usual Suspects, The Godfather
   3. 80s, with movies like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghostbusters
   4. Sports-themed, with movies like Remember the Titans, The Natural, Raging Bull
   5. Feel like a Kid Again, with movies like Harry Potter, Toy Story (or anything by Disney and Pixar), Shrek
   6. Academy Award Winners, with movies like Gone with the Wind, Schindler’s List, Gladiator
   7. Epic Movies, with movies like Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars
   8. Documentaries, like The Thin Blue Line, When We Were Kings, Bowling for Columbine
   9. Thrillers and Horror Films, with movies like Psycho, The Shining, Jaws
   10. Action-packed, with movies like Die Hard, The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction
   11. Comedy, with movies like Some Like it Hot, Airplane, There’s Something About Mary
   12. Ladies Night, with movies like Titanic, Terms of Endearment, The Notebook
   13. Guys Night, with movies like The Sting, Dances with Wolves, The Shawshank Redemption

Make sure that you divulge the theme of the night when you invite your guests.Or, to rid yourself of the element of surprise, let them know which movie or movies you plan on showing that night.TIP:  if you want to give your audience some say in the flick, have five or six movies on hand.  As guests arrive, let them vote on their movie of choice while they sip on a beverage and enjoy some pre-movie snacks.The ComfortsYou and your guests are going to want to be as comfortable as possible while watching the movie.This means you’ll need plenty of seating in an array of preferences.  Offer guests chairs, reclining chairs, pads on the ground, bean bag chairs and anything else you think your guests might want to use.  Whatever you do, make sure you have plenty of blankets and pillows with you, because most guests will want to get cozy during the movie.TIP:  if you don’t have enough to go around, put on the invitation that guests should bring a chair, pillow and blanket for themselves.The SustenanceWhat’s a movie night without a few snacks?You’ll want to offer a variety of drinks for your guests, including cola, flavored cola, punch, juice boxes, water, iced tea and Slushies (if you have a Slushie machine).For the adult-friendly parties, also offer wine, beer, coffee and tea.TIP:  if you want to get creative with your evening, make a specialty cocktail that goes with the movie theme you’ve chosen.As for the snacks, candy and popcorn are must-haves.  Consider the typical movie theater candies such as Snow Caps, Junior Mints, Twizzlers, M&Ms and Sour Patch Kids.  Also, consider some other traditional movie theater treats—like nachos and soft pretzels.For the creative host, pre-make a special treat that includes a mix of popcorn and candy in individual baggies or on individual trays for each guest.If you’ve got a bonfire going, hot dogs and s’mores are fun to cook and enjoy before or during a movie.The DetailsThese movie nights are outdoors, so you’ll have to prepare for some additional “guests” when hosting.  Make sure there is plenty of bug spray and mosquito spray to keep those unwanted pests away.Tiki torches and strings of lights—provided they are away from the movie screen and projector—are great decoration ideas.Additionally, providing some kind of light near the “concessions” and around the entrances to your house is necessary for safely walking around at night.TIP:  in case of rain, ask that your guests bring an umbrella or have a covered tent close by to allow guests some shelter.  Set up a second tent to cover the projector and screen.  Movie night doesn’t have to end just because of a little drizzle!See some more Outdoor Movie Night event inspiration on our Outdoor Movie Pinterest board!

Event Spotlight: When to go Full-Service

Select a delicious caterer, choose a rocking venue, pick out the best florist, brainstorm an awesome theme, find a killer bartender, hire the perfect lighting provider, rent the best furniture…  What a list of responsibilities!When throwing a party, there are times when finding and selecting the right vendors for all of your party needs can work.  But friends, those times are far and few between.   It takes an expert among experts to know exactly who to call, when to call, how much to pay, when to meet and how to coordinate every detail of an event.More often, people prefer putting their event visions and ideas into the hands of the professionals, and this event spotlight is one of those times exactly.  Our client asked BG to coordinate the entirety of the evening’s affairs, and we’re going to share with you our seamless planning process and the fabulous outcome.Complete Event Planning Solutions Meets an Easy Experience for the Client!Client:  MIT Alumni Association, an annual event for over 900 MIT AlumEvent theme:  Miami NightsBG transformed the MIT Ice Rink into a Miami-themed White Party for the annual MIT Alumni Association event.  The venue was a great space, but the atmosphere was cold and bleak.  We needed to add a whole lot of heat to turn it into a spicy Miami soiree.Here’s what we did for the client:

• Catering
• Event marketing
• Equipment and furniture rentals
• Lighting
• Music and entertainment
• Florals
• Event staff
• Bar services
• Event design
• Linens

Here’s how we did it:We brought in contemporary white leather and Lucite furniture to create VIP nooks, just like you’d find at a swanky beach club in Miami.  Amplifying the Miami experience, our designers used sheer white drapes, LED lighting and palm plants to make those areas more special.  Each seating area was washed with cool blue and purple lighting, and white spandex linen covered the bar tables.Our expert BG Lighting Division created dramatic lighting throughout the venue.  The team incorporated different levels of lighting, including LED candles; crystal sparkle chandeliers over the white seated areas; purple, blue and amber pin spots; palm leaf gobo projections and towering white café lights. Our florist brought even more drama to the atmosphere by sourcing dramatic tropical florals to incorporate into the event’s arrangements.  We used birds of paradise, white orchids and palm leaves to complete the arrangements, bringing over 30 tropical palms and floor plants to soften the hard linens of the ice rink. The catering was a crowd favorite, but one of the most talked about features of the culinary side of the evening was our food Velcro wall.  We first brought this concept to Boston over a year ago, but the chic Miami glamour of this event required us to redesign our original model.  We ended up using modern white walls and white Asian take out boxes lined in perfect rows to display the food.  Each of the towering walls had its own posh Miami culinary attendant as well. What Miami beach party would be complete without a live band?  The music and entertainment had guests dancing and enjoying the evening for hours to come.

Tapas and Sangria Food Pairings

 The little appetizers that go oh-so-well with sangria recipesAll happy summers should include happy summer drink pairings.This year, we’re recommending food pairings with sangria to help keep you filled up and cooled down during those hot Boston summers.Why we like sangria food pairing:  It’s always trendy.  Plus, it’s a bit more unique than the typical beer-and-BBQ on which many of us overdose throughout the summer.Tapas and sangria are a large and delicious part of the Spanish culture.  Sangria, named after the Spanish word “sangre,” meaning blood (in reference to the typical dark red color), is frequently and famously paired with tapas, or “caps.” Tapas are similar to small appetizers and meant to accompany drinking—and thus minimize the amount of people stumbling home from Spanish restaurants and bars at the end of the night!Spice up your summer with these four outstanding Sangria and Tapas Food Pairings:Red Wine Sangria served with ChorizoThis spicy sausage tapa pairs well with this cherry and Tempranillo sangria recipe.

Cherry Sangria Recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 bottle Tempranillo
• 3 tbsp sugar
• ¾ cup brandy
• ¾ cup triple sec
• ¾ cup peach schnapps
• 2 ½ cups orange juice
• 1 ¾ cup no sugar added cherry juice
• 1 whole star anise
• 2 vanilla beans (each split in half)
• Sliced apples, oranges, cherries
• Soda water

Directions:Pour the wine into a large pitcher.  Add sugar and stir until it dissolves.Mix in brandy, triple sec, peach schnapps, orange juice and cherry juice.Add the star anise and vanilla bean.Add sliced fruits to taste.Cover and put in the refrigerator overnight.Remove the star anise and vanilla bean.Add a splash of soda water.

Red Wine Sangria served with AlbondigasAlbondigas, or spicy meatballs, pair with the fruitiness of this most common red wine sangria recipe.

Traditional Red Wine Sangria Recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 bottle Cabernet or Merlot
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 1 orange, cut into wedges
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• One 8 oz can pineapples
• 2 tbsp sugar
• ½ cup orange juice
• 2 shots triple sec
• 1 cup raspberries
• 4 cups ginger ale

Directions:Pour the wine into a large pitcher.  Squeeze in the juice from the lemon, orange and lime wedges before adding the squeezed wedges to the pitcher.Mix in pineapple (with juice from can), sugar, orange juice and triple sec.Put in refrigerator overnight.Before serving, add raspberries and ginger ale.

White Wine Sangria served with CalamariFried squid, like most seafood, couples well with white wine, and thus is a perfect match for this Albarino sangria recipe.

White Wine Sangria Recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 bottle Albarino (or other white wine)
• 3 oranges, cut into wedges
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 1 green apple, sliced
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 oz brandy
• 2 oz cointreau
• ½ liter ginger ale

Directions:Pour the wine into a large pitcher.  Squeeze in the juice from the orange, lemon and lime wedges before adding the squeezed wedges and sliced apples into the pitcher.Stir in sugar, cointreau and brandy.Put in refrigerator overnight.Before serving, add the ginger ale.

Apple Cider Sangria served with Jamon IbericoJamon Iberico is often referred to as the world’s best ham, and like other ham recipes, it goes great with this apple cider sangria recipe.

Apple Cider Sangria Recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 bottle Pinot Grigio
• 2 ½ cups apple cider
• 3 apples, sliced
• 3 pears, sliced
• ½ cup ginger brandy
• 1 cup club soda

Directions:Pour wine and apple cider into a pitcher.Add apples, pears and brandy.Put in refrigerator overnight.Before serving, add club soda.

 *Mixing tip!  Less is more when it comes to the already sweet drink, sangria.  Sugar, in all of these recipes, is optional and should always be mixed to taste.For more great summer beverage pairings, visit our Summer Beverage Pairings Pinterest board!