I love to host. This was discussed in this post about my cousin’s baby shower. A week ago – hence the quiet front – I hosted an engagement party for one of my best girlfriends. Natalie is a sassy little Italian who has the biggest heart. We met in our British Literature course in college during our sophomore year. She sat in front of me and started creating a to-do list. I was glancing over her shoulder in awe at the detailed list she was putting together – she had her night mapped out in fifteen – thirty minute increments; shower, fold laundry, eat, etc…
My planner had the exact same to-do list.
I knew we had to become friends.
The next class period, someone had sat in her spot, so she moved up a row and sat next to me. We had met before at a party, (we had some of the same circles of friends), and talked about how much we hated the professor – a skinny, bearded man, who had a very pungent BO smell, and the rest.. you can say.. was history.
Fast forward almost ten years.
She got engaged to the man of her dreams on the fourth of July and is getting married next October 17th. She asked me to be her Maid of Honor, (and only bridesmaid standing up with her at her wedding), and I planned an engagement party for her for on October 4th.
Tony and I wanted to host everything outside on our patio. I bought really cute string lights and Shepard hooks to drape around our patio fire and furniture. I put together the best floral arrangements. BUT the weather in Minnesota, truly is unpredictable, and the forecast on the Friday before the party predicted that the temperature was going to be a sizzling high of 41 degrees – WAY too cold, even for Minnesotans to be outside for this type of event. Now, the beer dabbler on the other hand- bundle up and head on out – but not for an engagement party.
We had most of everything planned for the main floor of our house, but we needed more space since we weren’t going to be using the patio. The back up plan was the basement. We vacuumed, dusted, cleaned, vacuumed, moved in outdoor furniture, vacuumed – do you see the pattern here? A lot of work!
We ended up having around 45 people – the MOST I’ve ever had at my house – and it was a beautiful night! My heart was warmed by compliments on my decor, clean house, and good food, (see where I catered from below). I have learned to savor these moments & it has definitely been worth it!
Food: Catered from Lunds and Broaders in Minneapolis, it was an amazing selection of spreads, caprese skewers, roast beef finger sammies, turkey wrapped asparagus, and an amazing cheese plate.