I’m so excited to put the cold days of winter behind us here in Westchester, NY and get back to outdoor entertaining season! Here is a list of ideas for planning an event, including food, drinks, dessert, flowers, decor, where to shop for a dress, and more!
Catering
When bartaco first opened in Port Chester in 2010, it quickly became my go to spot for a fun night out. Their food is so delicious, and I was excited to learn that they now do catering and bring the party to you!
They launched a brand new catering menu with packaging that keeps all of their tacos fresh and easy to build and options for parties of all sizes. Their menu is also kid friendly! As we’re heading into the entertaining season, bartaco is the go-to spot for catering. Here is what we served:
- chicken tacos
- cauliflower tacos
- pork belly tacos
- chips + guac
- plantains
- rice and beans
- chopped salad
Everything was amazing and we will definitely be ordering off of their catering menu again soon! Visit bartaco.com/catering to learn more.
Dessert
Cake cups are the perfect option for a party since they don’t require someone to cut, serve, and hand out cake! Not only do they look super cute on a dessert cart, but they’re also delicious! Everyone was asking where I found these adorable treats- they’re from Feast & Fettle!
Feast & Fettle is a fully-prepared meal service that delivers across the Northeast. Perfect for busy families or anyone looking for an easy solution to a nourishing dinnertime, F&F offers flexible meal plans and weekly-curated menus with options for every kind of eater. Cross grocery shopping and cooking off your to-do list and order entrées and sides, packable lunches, and favorites for kids, including sweet treats (like these decadent cake jars!) and baked goods, straight to your doorstep.
Speciality Cocktails
With the warmer weather, spring is a great time to break out the tequila and mix up some margaritas and palomas! My go to tequila is female founded brand 21 Seeds. There are three delicious flavors of this infused tequila:
Cucumber Jalapeño
Valencia Orange
Grapefruit Hibiscus
We used Ripe Bar Juice as the mixer and made a few pitchers for easy entertaining! Ripe Bar Juice is the freshest, all-natural small batch, cold-pressed bar juice. All I had to do to create amazing cocktails was add the 21 Seeds Tequila! They have tons of recipes on their website, including some for mocktails. You can find Ripe Bar Juice locally at Whole Foods Market in Port Chester or White Plains, and at the DeCicco & Sons in Harrison.
Floral Arrangements
Nancy, the owner of The Flower Bar in Larchmont, has been my go to florist for years now. She is incredibly talented and creates the most stunning designs. I sent a few inspiration photos for the look I was going for, and she came up with something even more gorgeous! Check out her website and Instagram account for more!
The Flower Bar also has fun “Blooms and Booze” monthly events which you can read more about here and book via their website!
Decor
This gorgeous rattan backdrop, flower/cake stand and balloons are from Day Dream Party Rentals- a party supply company owned by local mom, Laura Anderson. She was so amazing at bringing the vision to life! We went back and forth so many times debating the colors of the balloons, and she was so helpful in giving her professional advice. Laura is incredibly talented and I love how it came out! Follow along on Instagram to see everything she offers, including aesthetically pleasing bounce house options, soft play, backdrops, balloons, picnic tables, signage, event styling and more!
Photo Booth
I love pictures, and always feel like I never take enough to capture the memories. Photo booths keep guests entertained and then you have a bunch of photos of everyone at the end of the event! Caicara Photo Booth Company was so easy to use and everyone had a great time taking silly pictures and boomerangs. The photos were texted or emailed directly to each guest and then I received the entire file!
But What to Wear?
Whether hosting or attending an event, finding something to wear is fun for some and difficult for others. Dress shopping usually overwhelms me, and I was so relieved when the amazing staff at Love Bella helped me choose something to wear! I told them what I was looking for and they helped me find options in my size and the style I wanted. They have locations in Rye, Larchmont, and Stamford and all of their stores are filled with beautiful clothing and accessories.