Drive-Thru Parties
We’re exercising more caution with gatherings right now which has a lot of hosts asking, “How do we do this still make it special? What are the guidelines now? Are grazing tables gone forever?!”
I’ve spent every day this week catering drive-thru parties and I wanted to share some ideas to help you create a fantastic, responsibly hosted bash.
First and foremost, remember that all the elements of a great party still apply, but there are a few details to think through in advance to create a fantastic experience for your guests.
Here are my Covid-19 specific tips for hosting a safer bash:
1) Consider your party format
The Porch Party: a shorter timeline outdoor bash where people park, stop, chat, and catch up on life. Schedule it in a 2 hour window so you get some quality time and yet people socially distance and/or mask up.
The Parade: quick and energetic; keep the timeline consolidated to a 15-30 minute period. Give your guests an “around the corner” meet-up point so they can all drive-by together to hoot and holler and spray silly string on the guest of honor. Give folks a specific street to line up on and tell them which direction they’ll drive by to keep things simple. Chalk arrows, cones or stanchions are great for keeping traffic flowing. You also don’t want kiddos running around with cars pulling in or out of the drive-thru lanes (yep, we’ve witnessed it and it’s every bit as anxiety-inducing as it sounds).
The Parade/Porch Party Hybrid: Essentially a parade where a smaller group will get out and socialize after the parade.
The Double Bubble Approach: if you have a few families that you’re close with and since things are opening up a bit more now, maybe you’re comfortable hosting a more traditional gathering. The double bubble approach is where a few close families hang out based on mutually agreed upon boundaries to prevent widespread contact transmission.
2) Communicate your party format & game plan
Be aware that some folks are going to wear masks, some are not. And some may have strong feelings about it. Feel free to diplomatically include your preference in the invitation and in communications to your vendors in advance to keep on-site awkwardness to a minimum. We’ve seen a lot of people showing up in masks and then just taking them off since others aren’t wearing them. We’ve also seen heated debates between good friends about the subject. Yikes.
Remember that your guests will likely take their cues from you and the last thing you want is to be the host of a super spreader event.
Remember to keep your party format age-appropriate since younger kiddos are far less likely to follow social distancing rules. Tempted to host indoors? It is not recommended right now.
Communicate your game plan in advance. We’re all accustomed to hosting parties in a kid-friendly, safely contained space like a backyard, but drive-thru parties = kiddos near cars in motion with lots of distractions and Mom & Dad want to catch up with their friends too. It’s best to think this through ahead of time based on the age of the kids you’re hosting to create safe boundaries like you would at a pool party.
3) Lean into outdoor hosting & decor
Yard cards are the hip, new Covid-19 friendly party decor. You can find sweet signage at sweet prices here at Great Yard Cards. We love the surprise on the lawn in the morning and how you can rent them vs. buying them (yay for no clutter!)
Balloonzilla is also offering some gorgeous drive-thru arches and fun backdrops. We love working with them! Personalizing balloons with names also creates a fun photo opp.
Create a curbside cabana with a pop-up tent. Not only is it great for shade, but it gives you a centralized outdoor “room” to decorate. We love how some hosts are pulling their lawn furniture into the front yard so there’s a comfy yet distanced lounge area for drinks and some charcuterie while the festivities unfold. You can also use binder clips to hang those big birthday signs your guests give the birthday girl/boy as they drive through to add to the festive decor as the party unfolds.
4) Don’t forget the music sets the festive vibe!
It’s super easy to find, create and share a birthday themed Spotify playlist with your guests so they’re all jammin’ to the same tunes as they drive-thru (clean versions available too:). Even better if it’s on theme or the guest of honor’s favorites. A wireless speaker + Iphone will work wonders to create a fun, party atmosphere.
5) Safer eats & treats
Individually pre-packaged or individual servings is key. I’ve heard about some folks doing snow cones and the risk factor of it becoming a sticky mess all over meant kiddos were getting out of the car when that wasn’t what the host intended. Alas, we’re all figuring this out as we go.
If you want true curbside service for treats, communicate that to your vendors in advance so they can execute seamlessly.
Picture this: a popsicle and charcuterie cones for the drive-by crowd, some fizzy water for the drivers, a grazing box for the family to enjoy in their curbside cabana and a goodie bag for the kiddie guests from Tiddlywinks. Super festive and easy! Did I mention we offer all these things?:) Hit us up if you would like details!
6) Memories matter
One of my clients hired a photographer to come shoot photos of the guest of honor next to each car of guests. Loved this! Just because it isn’t a traditional party doesn’t mean it should still be treasured like the milestone it is.
Lots of kids are making big poster board signs for their friends and they end up kind of all over the lawn which is so sad because they’re ADORABLE. Get some binder clips and attach them to the pop-up tent. You can snap a sweet shot of the birthday girl/boy next to their giant card wall and share it with all the guests with a “thank you for making it special!” note.
Let’s work together to make 2020 milestones memorable for more than just the circumstances we find ourselves in!
More tips to add? Email me! erin@frontporchpops.com
