Here are tips for throwing a party after quarantine is over.
Just as soon as we were getting used to the new normal of staying in, new guidelines have been set in place to start socializing again. Small get-togethers and gatherings will start up again after quarantine is over, which means you will want to familiarize yourself with safety practices and procedures to ensure you gather with everyone’s health in mind. Take a look at these helpful tips on how to throw a party after quarantine is over, so you can enjoy the company of family and friends while keeping safety at the forefront.
How to Throw a Party AFTER Quarantine is Over
Here are some helpful post quarantine party planning tips to keep in mind when you begin entertaining again.
1. Keep your guest list small.
The number of people you can have in attendance at your gathering will depend on ordinances in your area, so be sure to check the guideline for your county and state. The overall idea should be to keep it small and manageable. Consider the amount of space you have to entertain and how many can fit in the space while still allowing for plenty of distancing.
2. Kindly ask that guests stay home if they are not well.
Let your guests know that you take no offense if they can’t attend due to cold or flu symptoms. In fact, ask that any guest who is feeling ill, how ever minor their symptoms, to please stay home. Let’s make staying home when you are sick the new normal!
Even if everyone thinks they are healthy, they could still be asymptomatic, so discourage handshaking, fist bumps, and hugs. Perhaps you can come up with a fun substitute for your party such as the Vulcan greeting, bowing and curtsying, or elbow bumps.
3. Opt for an outdoor party.
Since the weather is warming up, consider having the party outdoors. This allows for plenty of space, sunshine, and fresh air. You can always rent an awning or outdoor tent to provide shade or use a pop-up canopy. There is no need to spend a lot of money, in fact, you can even make shade awnings with flat sheets.
If you do have an indoor party, choose a room that is spacious. You can always relocate large items to a closed-off room to make for more space. Ask guests to remove shoes to prevent additional germs from entering the house. Use folding chairs and other seating options with hard surfaces instead of upholstered surfaces, since those are easier to clean.
If you do hold your party indoors, consider having guests wear masks when not eating or drinking.
4. Space out your seating.
Now is not the time to squeeze as many people as possible at a single table. Space out tables and chairs so fewer guests can sit in a particular area. This will allow for more space between bodies and lessen the chances of passing along germs.
5. Opt for disposable dishware and linens.
Don’t worry about pulling out the china and flatware. Now is the time to take advantage of disposable dishes and linens. Use plastic or paper plates, cutlery, tablecloths, and napkins. This way you don’t need to worry about cleaning these items when done. You can simply toss them in the trash or recycling.
Speaking of the trash, make sure there are plenty of trash bags out for guests to dispose of their items. This way no one has to go around when the party's over and handle the trash.
6. Opt for canned beverages.
Drink stations with cups, ice buckets, and bottled beverage options might look nice, but the area can easily get manhandled and crowded around. Instead, offer canned beverages so people can easily grab and go without touching a lot or congregating. Place cleaning wipes near the drink station so people can wipe down the cans prior to opening them and consuming their beverage if they wish.
7. Skip buffet style and plan for individual servings of food.
This may take a little planning, but it is well worth it! Keep food handlers to 1 or 2 people so the servings aren’t exchanging hands during the pass out process.
If possible, time your party so it is between meals or after dinner, so you can keep the foods you serve to a minimum.
Instead of placing out large bowls of chips, dip, and other items that people would typically reach into buffet-style, consider making up individual plates. You can easily plate appetizers in the kitchen and bring them out on trays.
Individual Food Portion Ideas:
Small individual bags of chips and mini containers of salsa and dips
Individual servings of fruit or fruit salad. Put fruit in a plastic cup or bowl and add a fork.
Pre-plated salads with individual containers of salad dressing.
Cupcakes, Mason Jar Desserts, and individually plated desserts instead of cake or pan desserts
Pre-plated bread and butter
Pre-bagged cut vegetables, apple slices, grapes, nuts, or snack mixes
Individual condiment packets (ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, mayo, relish, salad dressings)
8. Keep sanitizing products on hand for all to use.
Make sure your home is well stocked with sanitizers so your guests can keep their hands and spaces clean. Have hand sanitizer available in various places throughout your home including the kitchen, bathrooms, seating areas, and common areas.
Have Lysol wipes available in several places for your guests to use if needed. Make sure all of these items are clearly labeled so guests know what they are using.
9. Prepare the bathroom for guests.
Since the bathroom will most likely get used by all of your guests, be prepared with paper towels instead of cloth towels. This way towels are only being used once. If possible, use a touchless soap dispenser. If you don’t have a touchless dispenser, only use liquid soap, not bar soap that everyone will be touching. Sanitizing spray can also be kept on the counter so surfaces such as faucet handles and toilet handles can be cleaned in between uses.
10. Pay attention to high traffic areas.
Every 30 minutes give high traffic areas some care. This includes wiping down surfaces such as counters, doorknobs, drawer handles, chair backs, and any other surfaces that get touched often in a short time span.
Have someone go through every 20 – 30 minutes and wipe down high touch surfaces like counters and doorknobs.
11. Protect yourself during clean up.
When the party is over, you want to be sure you are well prepared for clean up. Have disposable cleaning gloves on hand, paper towels, sanitizing products, and trash bags.
Throwing a nice get-together post quarantine is possible, you just need to keep these tips in mind to make sure all of your guests stay safe. Give these tips your consideration, make up your guest list, then get the party started! It will be nice to see everyone after a long time in lockdown!
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