Fabulous Party Planning Tips (Episode #147) with DeLaine Broderick
Do you sometimes get overwhelmed when you are planning a party? You get a great vision in your head and then the execution just doesn’t quite go the way you imagined?? This happens to me all the time. I can usually get the food together, but the decorations are pretty pathetic if even in existence at all. Or maybe I get the decor ready but fail on the food.
I decided it was time to bring in the expert!! Meet DeLaine Broderick: chef, caterer and owner of Dinners by DeLaine. She’s giving us all kinds of great tips for pacing ourselves and making sure we focus on the most important elements to make our gatherings fabulous and fun!
I also need to brag on DeLaine a bit here. During the Texas Freeze, DeLaine didn’t hide away and go into survival mode, she jumped into action and began cooking and delivering food to the elderly and single moms with no power. She also ran food to the local fire station. The fire fighters were so busy helping and serving the community during the disaster, they hardly even had time to make a sandwich. She has the biggest heart. I am so glad you get to meet her today on our podcast.
Listen below or through your favorite podcast app!
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Show Notes:
DeLaine’s Story:
DeLaine has always loved cooking and been interested in business. She went to culinary school and has been catering for 20 years. A little over 3 years ago her family needed to make some extra money. She started preparing dinners and selling them out of her home. She got a menu together and would have a pick up day once a week. It grew so much- just through word of mouth- that about a year ago they moved into a storefront. They do pick up and deliveries for the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They do pick up and deliveries on Tuesdays.
She is now a full time working mom and loves putting together creative, delicious menus every week. Her purpose to it bring families back together at the dinner table. She provides and easy way to have a homecooked, healthy dinner without the prep work. She wants to support moms and give them a break in the kitchen.
DeLaine is also a really good party planner. Here are some of her tips for planning a party:
If she’s doing a birthday party, she’ll start with the theme first, gather the decorations that go with the theme, then you can work on the food part.
But for her fall party, she wanted the experience to be about the food. It was a sit down dinner for her mom friends. She knew she would be using her fall decorations because the party was a “fall dinner”
When you are planning a party, do one part of the party at a time. For example, do the decorating in one chunk and the food in another.
Decorate the day before so you keep it separate from the food prep.
Find a friend to help you. Maybe they are amazing at decorating, or great with the food, or maybe they are just there to be your helper while you get things ready.
Figure out what is the most important and let the rest go. Spend your energy on what matters the most to you. The most important thing is gathering people together
Biggest Tip: Make sure you always have a solid main dish so your guests aren’t hungry. You can have your guests help with the sides, but to ensure you have a substantial meal, handle the main dish yourself.
Use your own home decor as part of the decorations. Grab out one of your vases to display something. When you are shopping for decor, think ahead about how useful it is. Maybe you could use it in the future when you are hosting.
Favorite places to get party supplies: Amazon, Walmart and Hobby Lobby
Where you can find more from DeLaine:
Website: dinnersbydelaine.com
Facebook Group: Dinners by DeLaine
Check out this local news segment about DeLaine’s service during the big Texas Freeze. To learn more about what “Snowmageddon” looked like for Texans around the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, check out this episode: Surviving the Texas Deep Freeze with DFW Blogger Friends (Episode #145).
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How Dinners by DeLaine works:
She posts a weekly menu with a variety of delicious dinner entrees and sides. The menu posts at 5 PM every Saturday. The menu is a week in advance. *PAY ATTENTION TO THE PICK-UP DATE DURING CHECKOUT.
Most items are available in two sizes. Full Size Orders feed up to 5-6 people and Half Size Portions feed 2-3 people.
Pick up location is 1228 E Exchange Pkwy STE 108 Allen TX, 75002. They currently offer delivery to the following cities: Allen, Lucas, Fairview, Parker, Murphy, Sachse, Wylie, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper.
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