Photo by: Studio Veil
Sometimes, planning an event can feel unwieldy due to the sheer number of factors that need to be considered up to the time of year the event is being hosted. When planning an event, every season of the year comes with its own unique benefits and challenges.
From bridal showers to celebrations of meeting sales goals, your event should be enjoyable, manageable, and memorable. Green Acres has the venue and expertise to host your event regardless of its size or time of year.
This post aims to help you plan your next seasonal event by providing tips and considerations unique to each season.
Winter
Photo by: Leah Quinto
Winter events include holiday parties, weddings, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and more. When planning a winter event, especially from mid-November to the first week in January, the trick is to plan for unexpected weather.
Ensure you’re booking a space that can accommodate your group inside comfortably. Event centers will also likely have lower prices during the winter due to a less competitive market. However, considering how the location fits your budget is still essential to its success. Booking in advance may also help with the overall cost.
Before booking, ensure that the event center you’re considering is prepared for Minnesota’s winter weather and is accessible to your guests. Winter in Minnesota can be fickle. While the snow can look beautiful, you’ll want to avoid having guests out in the cold or driving in unsafe conditions. A heated and central location where guests can stay cozy and comfortable while celebrating is crucial to everyone’s enjoyment and safety.
While planning your indoor winter seasonal event, consider having some form of a coat check available. Guests will often wear heavier jackets due to more extreme weather conditions and will not want to wear these jackets when transitioning indoors.
Proper staff for the event is also vital to its success. Catering, bar, and other services ensure that your event runs smoothly. Cold weather can impact your food and beverage in ways that might not seem obvious. A robust and experienced staff can ensure that meals are served hot and fresh for guest enjoyment.
Spring
Spring weddings, Easter egg hunts, and baby and bridal showers top the list of spring events. Most spring events are outdoors and centered around the gentle warmth of the season and the burst of flowers and greenery. However, while the weather in spring is generally beautiful, the season is also known for its unpredictability.
It isn’t always possible to know how the weather will turn out before an event, but you can always look at past year’s weather and use other resources like the Farmer’s Almanac. Even the best planning can be thwarted by inclement weather, though.
Choosing a center that allows you to enjoy the outdoors and has an indoor option is ideal. If that isn’t possible, you can mitigate the weather by having take-home umbrellas or fans available for your guests or by setting up a sturdy event tent that can withstand any potential wind and protect guests from any spring showers or sun.
Depending on where you choose to host your event, you’ll want to consider how guests should dress themselves and include helpful information, such as if the event will have an indoor option and whether guests should expect to be standing for most of the event.
If the event will primarily be outdoors, remind guests to check the weather before they leave their house. Women might want to consider wearing comfortable shoes that won’t get stuck in the grass if the event is going to be hosted somewhere that is primarily unpaved.
Take advantage of in-season floral decor and consider serving light springtime refreshments.
Summer
Photo By: Eric Vest Photography
Summer is perfect for an outdoor wedding, anniversary party, or corporate event. It provides beautiful, natural backdrops under clear, star-lit skies and unlimited space for team building, photography sessions, or group activities.
Budgeting for an event in the summer is highly variable and depends on the size of the event and where it will be hosted. Whether it’s a backyard event or set at a professional event center, summer’s warm temperatures give seasonal event planners the unique option of hosting an outdoor event at night. Romantic and elegant string lights can be used to create a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos or corporate events.
The warm weather tends to lend itself to more casual dress codes and can be fun to plan around if you aim to increase team-building. Setting expectations for dress code can still be important when planning for summer events as some clothing that might feel more comfortable weather-wise may not be appropriate for your event. Picnic-style meals, barbeques, and bonfires can be fun ways to use summer weather to your advantage.
As always, if your event will be hosted primarily outdoors, encourage your guests to consider the weather before they leave their homes. If you are hosting the event, you should prepare to have ways for them to cool down built into your event plan. Alternatively, choosing locations like Green Acres Event Center can help you beat the heat while giving you access to the beautiful outdoors during your summer event.
Fall
Photo by: Sawyer Creek Photography
Fall in Minnesota is a sight to behold. The golds and reds abound, and whether you are planning a Halloween party or a fall wedding, your event can take advantage of the beautiful, natural setting at Green Acres. How about pumpkin carving at your team-building event? Or maybe a masquerade ball is more your style.
If your event falls around Halloween, consider clarifying if costumes are appropriate for your event and how you expect guests to dress. Like spring, fall tends to have milder temperatures, but you should always try to prepare for them to the best of your ability.
Booking Your Event For Any Time of The Year
Whatever event you are planning, it is crucial to think about several factors:
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- When will it be held? Try to nail down an exact date and do it as early as possible. Weekends fill up really quickly, so you might consider an event that is held on a weekday or night.
- What is the purpose of the event? Holiday parties, weddings, corporate events, baby showers, and anniversary celebrations are among some of the types of events. Consider a theme or decor style.
- How many people will attend? This is important when planning for seating, food, and drinks.
- Will it be indoor or outdoor? Formal or informal?
- What is your budget? Having a budget when beginning the planning stage of your event is essential.
Green Acres offers a venue that includes indoor and outdoor spaces, works with various partners to service your event, and provides guidance in the planning stage. Contact us today to schedule a visit and discuss your event plans.
