She added: “We are all re-entering at different phases. I find it’s really helpful to really lay out what you’re going to get.”
If the party is indoors, will the windows be open? If so, remind guests to bring a sweater. If the event will be maskless, let guests know before they arrive. Lay out your vaccination rules, too. If you plan to restrict the invite list to the fully vaccinated, tell guests, and explain how you will enforce the policy. Will it be an honor system or will you be checking vaccine cards at the door?
Many hosts of larger events have required guests to take a PCR or rapid Covid test before the party, and to bring their results with them. You could set the same rules for a smaller gathering, or simply suggest pre-party testing, particularly if some of your guests are at higher risk for serious illness. “You can just say to people, ‘Right before, let’s all get tested so we can feel at ease, comfortable and able to just hang out with each other,’” said Amanda Hudes, an event and wedding planner in New Jersey.
You could even hire a private company to test guests at the door. The cost will depend on the company you hire and the type of testing you choose. A company like A2Z Diagnostics in Eatontown, N.J., which provides rapid on-site testing and bills insurance companies, charges $75 per hour per staff member. According to its director of business development, Jason Gross, a typical at-home party would require one or two staff members for about one or two hours.
For people seeking more comprehensive options, companies like Concierge Covid Testing, based in Boston, offer on-site PCR tests and rapid tests throughout the Northeast and other parts of the country. Concierge bills customers directly: $55 to $125 for rapid tests, which are ready in 10 to 15 minutes; and $125 to $225 per PCR tests, with results in less than an hour.
Room to Mingle
Create an environment that feels spacious so guests can spread out. If you have outdoor space, make it accessible, even if the party is largely indoors. Set up a fire pit outside or outdoor heaters, and make seating available so people can get fresh air. If you’re planning a seated dinner indoors, don’t overcrowd the tables; and group people based on their households or with their closest friends, rather than mixing them up.
Create nooks in the space where people could comfortably stand off by themselves or with one other person without feeling like they’re hiding.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nytimes.com
