“Great beverages. Sometimes wine and spirits aren’t in the budget, but you can do a lot with water. Water stations infused with fruits like strawberries, oranges, limes, or mint leaves can make water pretty and exciting to drink. ”
—Ula Francoise Zucker, events and media coordinator, City of Miami Gardens
“I always make sure the attendees know an event is scheduled outdoors so they can plan accordingly. Spiked heels on the grass? Not such a good idea.”
—Karen Grunwald, director of sales, Tech Events, Sacramento
“Covers for food, festive citronella torches, and netting to eliminate the annoyance of insects. I also always have Velcro strips on hand to ensure that tablecloths stay in place when the wind picks up.”
—David Turk, president, Indiana Market & Catering, New York
“Bathroom facilities, water, and power. In order to appreciate the food, camaraderie, and entertainment, guests need to be comfortable.”
—Joan Rothbard, president, Recreation Picnic Services, New Jersey
“Air-conditioned shelter, or at least overhead fans. Sunscreen, well-ventilated potties, caterers who understand what it means to cater outdoors, bug repellent, and handheld battery-operated fans. Also, knowledge of the terrain on which the event is held so you can mark off any areas where tree roots are above ground.”
—Joan Eisenstodt, meetings and hospitality consultant, Eisenstodt Associates LLC, Washington
“Bright colors to complement what Mother Nature has already provided.”
—Linette Young, owner, Beyond Expectations Meetings and Events, San Francisco
“Bug repellent. I usually set up a table with both wipes and sprays—nothing like mosquitoes to ruin the most glamorous events. Other must-haves: cold water and plenty of ice, sunscreen, bandages for scrapes and bruises, and baby wipes for dirty feet.”
—Leila Marie Eid, assistant director of events, Northeastern University, Boston
“A contingency plan. There is no climate control outside, just climate management.”
—Nancy Solero, principal, the Event Refinery, Delaware
“Personalized wetnaps. Especially during summer events, finger foods and desserts can get sticky very quickly. Guests are always pleasantly surprised by a small jar of them on the table, and it’s a place to add a monogram, theme, or thank you for their attendance.”
—Stacey Kallenberg, founder, As You Wish Event Design, New York
