Post guest written by LUX Event Producer, Tracy Barlow. When planning events it’s easy to get lost in the end result. Something you must remember to take into consideration is – what is it like when your guest comes through the front door of your event? Work on planning your event with your guests in mind from the moment they arrive, to when they leave. 

We love thinking about all the social media posts we’ll see the next day, sometimes even the evening of a great event. We all want those fabulous photos circulating and telling the story of your event! In order to promote those happy guests and social posts we need to make sure every detail is planned and thought out.

Here are some tips and details we recommend working through with your event planner!

Through the front door: When guests arrive will they know where to park? Include on your website or invitation where guests are supposed to park, and any fees that may apply. If there is a distance they will need to walk, give them a heads up about that too. You may also want to have a sign in front of the venue directing them to where they’re supposed to park.

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Venue: When guests walk up to your amazing venue is it clear where they should enter? Don’t make your guests hunt for you, they’ve waited long enough to celebrate, clearly get them in, and get the celebration started! Directional and welcome signs directing guests where to go and what to do are the perfect way to immediately make guests feel at ease. 

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Engage guests: Many people love being able to offer their guests a drink immediately. Whether it’s water, mocktail, or a cocktail, offering them a beverage right away makes people feel welcomed.

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Seating: Is your event a reception flow or a seated and plated dinner? Adding lounges and eclectic seating to your event can promote interaction and mingling between your guests!

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Downtime: Every event has slow times, so don’t ignore them. Some events have a slight lag in the beginning when people are making their way to the event, others have downtime between food service and the entertainment, etc. Keep the story going during the down time with great hors d’oeuvres, an activity, or perhaps music! Exciting food stations where guests interact with the chefs is also a great way to fill the time.

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Now let the party begin and flourish! When it comes time to end the event, don’t leave your guests wondering if they should leave.. tell them! Have your last call be loud and clear, and typically 30 minutes before the set event end time. When your event is over thank your guests for coming and wish them all a safe trip home. Invite them to share photos and stories on their social media about your event, you can even create a hashtag to make them easy to find and navigate!

We hope these tips have sparked some new inspiration in your event planning process and we can’t wait to be your partner in creating a wonderful event!

If you have any questions about this post or would like to reach out to Tracy Barlow with event questions feel free to email him at [email protected]

We want to assure all of our clients that LUX always takes the utmost care and precaution when it comes to every event we produce. We are going to continue to do our part to help stop the spread of this virus. You have always trusted us to keep the highest levels of cleanliness, sanitation, and food safety. We want you to know our process will only become stronger with the recent information about COVID-19. 

Like many, we have spent the last few days learning about this virus and how to protect you, our team members, and our community. As a small business, we are being hit hard by cancellations. During this difficult time we still need to function, but this means adjusting our processes. We are now meeting via conference calls for our teams, having staff work from home when possible, and limiting in-person interactions. We are an off-premise caterer with menus created from scratch. Because all of our events are produced in our own facility and by our own teams we have much more control over our environment and its cleanliness. 

Beginning immediately, upon request, we will offer any of our corporate drop-off menu items in single-serve, individually packaged containers. ($1.00 per person) This will help reduce the communal handling of serveware in buffet style service. 

In addition to adjusting how our events are served we want to assure you we are continuing to take measures we always have as a food service veteran. In addition to our typical routines, here are some of the extra measures we are introducing to everyone safe: 

• We are closely following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),  U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) guidelines and recommendations on the steps we can take to proactively adapt our current policies and procedures to help prevent the spread of the virus. These are valuable and correct resources for us all.
• All of our teams, including culinary, bakery, and operations are pausing production every 20 minutes to wash their hands and re-glove. 
• Workstations are being washed and disinfected every hour, at minimum.
• Hand washing stations are maintained and accessible to all employees.
• In addition to our current daily cleaning procedures in our facilities, we’re dedicating resources to make our routines even more rigorous. All surfaces and handles within our building are being wiped down and sanitized multiple times throughout the day. 
• We encourage all guests in attendance of an event to wash their hands frequently, especially before hitting the buffet or dining. 
• Gloves are worn by all event staff, and strict hand-washing guidelines have been put in place for every 20 minutes.
• We encourage avoiding family-style events, grazing tables, and buffets. Opt for a plated event or individually packaged meals.
• Limiting personal contact such as hugs, shaking hands, close proximity etc. 
• Any employee who is showing symptoms or feeling even slightly ill have been instructed to stay home. 
• While hand sanitizer is not a substitute for washing your hands, it can be a great in-between measure. 

While this situation is, at times, changing hourly, please know that we are dedicated to remaining proactive, community-focused, and above all, loving toward our clients and teams. We appreciate your support through this time and look forward to serving you in the best way possible.

Remember to wash your hands, friends! 

When planning a wedding we understand there are tons of moving pieces! We want to help give you a guide of some of the little details that may slip your mind when planning. Below you’ll find a list of decor items to consider for your ceremony, tablescapes, and receptions! Did you know that we have an in-house floral and design team that can help you with all of these things?! Let us help take one thing off of your list!

Ceremony Decor

• Welcome Sign
• Seating or Ceremony Instructions Sign
• Program Display
• Aisle Runner
• Ceremony Arch
• Ceremony Florals

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Tablescape Decor

• Centerpieces
• Head Table Decor
• Table Garland
• Table Runner
• Table Linens
• Table Numbers
• Menus
• Chargers
• Salad Plate
• Dinner Plate
• Flatware
• Napkins
• Glassware
• His & Hers Chair Back Decor
• Votives

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Reception Decor

• Guest Book Table + Decor
• Gift Table + Decor
• Table Assignment Signage
• Table Cards
• Menu Signs
• Buffet Decor
• Station Decor
• Station Signage
• Cake Table + Topper
• Donut Wall
• Bar Menu or Signature Cocktail List
• Reception Lighting and Gobo
• Wedding Favor Display
• Photo Booth Setup
• Lounge Area

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We hope these decor suggestions helped to spark some ideas for your planning! Looking for more? As always, give us a call and one of our fabulous wedding planners can help with more inspiration!