Minimalist Party Ideas
Do you dread party planning because it seems super overwhelming or expensive?
Parties and events can be budget- and environmentally-friendly.
If you want to see how it's possible to throw a simple bash, read on and watch the video!
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Minimalist and Zero Waste Party Planning Tips
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- Is it possible to host a minimalist and zero waste event? Oh yeah.
- Hi everyone. I'm Jenn. Hello Brio is a community of conscious creatives. And that sounds like you make sure to hit like on this video and subscribe to the channel for weekly videos about intentional living and minimalism.
- Now this is, and to say that you should go out and have a wild party with a hundred people and invite everyone over. No, keep in mind that the COVID piece is still an issue, but if it isn't go ahead and fast forward to the beginning of the actual content.
- In general, let me just go ahead and preface this by saying that I used to be the person that would never host an event or party, because I hated everything that went along with it, but ever since having kids, and especially since Chris has come into my life, we've just been kind of the host of many parties. Just love having family and friends around as a way to unwind and relax. It's just a really great way to reconnect with people. And remember that we're here on this earth to be with each other and not to be here to work.
- So first for parties, let's talk about food and drinks. And yes, a lot of times the food of choice ends up being pizza, which is obviously very easy, very easy to do, get boxes of pizza. Everyone has pizza, then you're done. But what does that produce that produces a lot of waste in terms of greasy pizza boxes that cannot be recycled because once a piece of grease touches the cardboard, it becomes unrecyclable, which drives me insane, but it's okay.
- So what are some ways that you can introduce some zero or nearo waste food into your parties and events? And I say nearo waste… that is my term for nearly zero waste, because let's face it to be zero waste is a little bit perfectionistic and a little bit impossible.
- So what are some things we can do here?
- Number one, buy produce that is fresh and local. This will reduce the amount of packaging that the produce comes in. Also there's a side benefit of eating produce is a lot healthier than eating bags of chips, for example.
- The other thing you can do is opt for recipes that are going to use ingredients you already have, or will use in the future. I hate hate those recipes that make you buy like this very specific ingredient that you're only ever going to use once. And then it expires because you're never going to make this thing in the next 10 years. So go for recipes that are kind of tried and true to what your palette already is for your family. And that way you won't be wasting a whole lot of packaging on the ingredients that you may only use once.
- This is a little bit of a weird hack, but when you can control it host a party or an event during an off meal time so that you can have less to do in terms of meal prep. And I know that's kind of cheating cause like you go to a party, you want food, but yes, creating hors d'oeuvres and appetizers and things like that are going to be a lot easier than putting out an entire spread for a lunch or dinner or a brunch.
- And I know it can be really easy to go overboard with food and drink, but I'll go way to do this is to aim for about one or two items per entree, or course that way you don't end up with like five appetizers and three main course options, et cetera.
- Drinks can be really tricky because everyone has their own preferences, but there are some ways that you can go a little bit more near zero waste or narrow waste with your drinks. In terms of alcohol, you can offer one type of alcohol, maybe one type of wine, and then ask for people to bring their own alcohol so that they can meet their own tastes. Another thing you can do is gather those big glass growlers and go to your local brewery and have them fill it up with a couple of different types of beers. That way you can still have beer, but you're not producing a whole bunch of aluminum can waste.
- A really good tip for a crowd-pleaser that's not only zero waste, but it's also budget friendly is to create a big batch of ice tea the night before. So that it's just ready to go in a big pitcher. And because tea bags are compostable, it is a very environmentally friendly solution.
- Seltzer water is a very popular option and it's just something that is a staple in our family. And if you have one of those soda streams or a carbonated water maker, that is going to be an even better option than having aluminum cans, recycling waste finally, for the kids, instead of having juice boxes or juice pouches, you can go out and buy a big jug of juice and just put it in cups. And yes, it might be a little messier than juice boxes, but it'll produce a lot less waste and we won't be using those straws.
- In terms of serving those food and drinks, I always recommend using what you already have. Don't rush out and buy paper plates and plastic spoons, et cetera, where you already have will be great. If you don't have enough for a party, go out and get stuff that will already match what you have, but investing in those pieces will serve you better in the long run because he won't be throwing out so many paper plates and packs of paper bowls, et cetera, over and over again. You'll just be reusing the same plates that you use every day in your party situation.
- In terms of drinks, you can just use the glasses that you have. If you don't have enough glasses, what you can do is again, go out and buy some that you might be able to use every day anyway. And if you can't keep them in your main cabinet, maybe you can keep them in storage. But again, this will just save you from having to go out and buy plastic cups every time that you have a party.
- In terms of keeping things safe and sanitary and make sure to use a oil pencil or a chalk marker or something like that, so that you can mark people's cups. So people know whose cup belongs to who.
- Okay, let's talk about decor and party themes. This may take the wind out of your sails and I apologize, but as a minimalist and as someone who doesn't like the one-time use things, I generally don't decorate for parties. This of course is an extreme point of view. And you can use these tips as you wish, but in general, I do not decorate. However, there are a couple of things that I've done in the past. A photo booth, people love photo booths. As long as you have a tripod and you have decent lighting and you have a remote for the camera, you can set people up in a specific room with a nice backdrop and give them props. And you can just reuse these over and over again at various parties and it'll be a huge hit. And then you'll also really get good pictures from the people that you love.
- I hesitate and sharing this a little bit because it seems a little bit preachy, but I want to assure you that people are not there for the decorations. They are there at your party for the social interactions and those social interactions are what's going to stay with them for the longest. Yes, your party may not look amazing in photos, but let me tell you again, it's about the social interaction and it's about the connection that you bring during the party.
- I would love to know what your tips are for low key and low waste parties. Leave a comment below and I'll talk to you next week.
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly videos about intentional living and minimalism.
On The Gatherings podcast, you can hear me, Jessica of Sweet Love and Ginger, and my good friend Chrystina of Chrystina Noel discuss the logistics and planning of minimalist and nearo waste parties. Enjoy these tips on how to host minimal and near zero waste party, and make sure to listen to the podcast for the full story!
Lately, I'm hosting way more parties and get togethers than I ever would've imagined. While parties used to happen to me, I'm now making the conscious decision to host people (when it’s safe from Covid), especially now that we're in the new house. Having loved ones around is the perfect way for our family to unwind.
Food and Drink for a Minimalist Party
Admittedly, most of the events we host are pizza parties for the family. This is far from nearo waste since pizza boxes are shunned from recycling bins in some areas (because of the grease-stained cardboard). This pisses me off, but what can you do? Pizza parties are minimalist by nature though, since they are quick and easy.
Onto more complicated events....
Nearo Waste Food for Events
When you plan a party or a get together, you can err on the side of buying foods that will create the least amount of waste. This can be done in a few ways:
Buy produce with the least amount of packaging.
Buy fresh and local.
Opt for non-complicated recipes that won't involve buying a ton of ingredients you need to buy for just this one event.
When you can control it, have an event during an off-meal time so you don't have to worry about an entree.
For each course, aim for about one or two options (appetizer, dessert, entree).
Minimalist Drinks
It's not just beer, wine, and liquor anymore! With kids and folks who don't drink alcohol, you can have juice and other options on hand.
Here's what I recommend for a minimalist party in terms of beverages:
Offer one bottle of / type of wine. Folks may BYOB anyway, and wine tends to be a popular choice when guests bring something.
Gather those growlers and get them filled up at a local brewery. Nearo waste win!
Create a big batch of unsweetened iced tea the night before, and have it ready in a pitcher.
Have seltzer water on hand; these are wildly popular for our frequent guests! Even better... invest in a seltzer machine and save on aluminum can waste.
Buy juice for kids in a jug instead of individual juice boxes or pouches. This creates a lot less waste by using less straws and packaging.
Serving Food and Drinks
When serving, use the real plates, glasses, and flatware you already own. Simple as that!
If you don't have enough place settings for a larger party, consider investing in supplies to match what you already have. (As I write this, I feel like a huge hypocrite because at our most recent party, I threw my tail between my legs and asked Chris to go out and buy paper plates and plastic utensils, because it was cheaper than buying a few more boxes of flatware and plates… however for the next big event we have I'll make sure to save up for those items and buy them ahead of time.)
Keep a chalk marker or a china marker (wax pencil) on hand so guests can mark their glass. It will wash off in the dishwasher or sink.
Decor and Party Themes for Minimalists
Okay, this may take the wind out of your sails here: I generally avoid all themed parties and decor. Buying items that will only be used once or that will take up room in a closet for years afterwards weighs heavily on the soul (and the wallet, and the garbage bin).
In the end, people will remember the social interactions and the kids' antics more than the streamers you had.
Themed parties can be fun, but you might want to stay away from them to avoid putting pressure on guests to match the theme or outdo other guests.
If you want to provide something fun that will provide a lot of value but won't be wasteful, you can offer a fun photo booth with reusable props in lieu of a themed party.
Minimalist Events: No Gift Policy
Minimalists are nearly impossible to buy gifts for. So, make it easy on your guests and create and enforce a no-gift policy! If you're planning something big like a wedding, opt for a honeymoon or house down pament fund instead. Or, if you're all set up financially, ask guests to donate to a charity in your name.
If your guests insist on bringing something, ask them to bring an easy dish so it can help lighten your load. Minimalists generally love consumables too, so feel free to get them a jar of local honey, a box of exotic tea, etc. Also, most people love a beautiful plant or succulent.
How do you execute low-key and low-waste parties?
Cover photo by Liana Mikah
