Planning a holiday event can be stressful, especially if you're not used to doing it.
However, there are plenty of steps that New York Event Planners would recommend that you take that will make the process easier.
This article will give you some tips on making your next Jewish holiday celebration a success. Remember: small details matter, even when they seem insignificant!
Don't neglect the home.
The first step to planning a holiday event is making sure your home is ready for guests.
Cleaning and decorating are the obvious things to do, but there are other ways you can make your home feel festive:
Have some candles ready for when guests arrive so that they can light them as soon as they step inside.
If there’s a place in your home that can be decorated, do so. For example, if you have a bookshelf or mantelpiece that is visible from the front door, it would be nice to put some holiday decorations on it.
Add meaningful décor.
To really make your event feel like a Jewish holiday celebration, you'll want to add some meaningful décor just like New York Event Planners would.
You can use a mixture of symbols and items that represent the holiday like a menorah, a dreidel, or even a set of candles. The important thing is that these things have meaning to you and those you're serving.
On Hanukkah, it's especially important to have an edible centerpiece on your table (or around the house) because it helps remind all of us what we're celebrating as well as what foods are appropriate during this time of year. We recommend fruit or nuts at each place setting, so people don't forget!
Remember to have traditional foods.
If you’re hosting a Jewish holiday party, the food should be traditional. What we mean by “traditional” is that the food must be eaten during that time of year.
For example, if you have a Passover seder dinner or Shavuot lunch, make sure there is matzo ball soup and potato kugel on your menu (and no ham).
If it’s Hanukkah, you can get more creative with your menu. Include potato pancakes (latkes) because they are always welcome and don't forget about brisket!
Encourage guests to bring traditional food.
Make sure your guests know that you want them to bring traditional food to the event. You can ask them in person or put a note on the invitation.
If you go with the latter, be sure that it's clear that this is a request, not an expectation. Your guests will be more likely to comply if they understand what types of dishes are welcome and why they're important.
Once you've got your list of acceptable dishes and sources for kosher ingredients (or if you're using store-bought stuff), think about how much space is available at your venue. Will there be enough room for people who want to cook?
If not, consider offering small appliances like slow cookers and microwaves as alternatives so that no one goes home hungry!
Provide a Kosher meal for guests who prefer it.
When hosting a Jewish holiday event, New York Event Planners always consider providing Kosher meals for guests who prefer it.
Kosher meals are prepared according to Jewish dietary laws and can be more expensive than non-Kosher food.
Most foods fit into at least one category of kosher food (meat and dairy, eggs, fish, or vegetables), but some things like mushrooms or corn may not be considered kosher by all Jews.
Prepare to be hospitable.
This is the most important thing you can do to make your event a success. You need to be prepared to provide hospitality for everyone who comes through your doors.
Here’s a guideline/checklist to go by:
- Have enough food and drinks on hand for every guest.
- Make sure there are enough chairs for all the guests, especially those who will be sitting down for long periods of time (like during meals). If you’re serving food from meal service carts, make sure there are enough tables available so that guests don’t have to fight over where they sit or worry about bumping into others at their table if it gets crowded!
- Have plenty of bathroom facilities ready and available throughout your venue so guests don't have to wait or go far offsite during peak times when lines form in front of facilities that aren't well-maintained (yikes!).
- Ensure there's ample parking nearby so people won't have trouble finding spaces near your building/venue location(s).
Taking time on the details helps you create a wonderful celebration for your friends and family
The best way to ensure your event goes smoothly is to take the time needed to plan in advance. That way, you can ensure that everything will be ready when it needs to be and there won’t be any last-minute scrambling.
If it helps, make a list of things that need to be done so that everything can get done at once.
If you aren't sure where or who to start with, don't hesitate to ask for help from friends or family members who have had similar experiences themselves! It will likely save loads of stress later on down the line when everyone expects something different from your party than what was intended.
In addition to having everything ready beforehand, it is also important that sufficient supplies (such as food and drinks) are prepared beforehand so that guests aren't disappointed when they run out halfway through their meal or if they have nothing left at night when everyone is hungry after a long day of working.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways that New York Event Planners make a Jewish holiday celebration special. By following these tips, it’s easy to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your guests.
You don't have to go all out on décor or food if you don't want to but at least be sure that all the basics are covered.
Event vendors in New York who remember that hospitality is an important part of celebrating any holiday will be in attendance at this year's Event Planner Expo. Click here to come meet them to scout for vendors that will ensure your holiday events go smoothly for everyone!
