Food

I had one week to plan an ice cream social for Homemade Brand Ice Cream & a handful of local bloggers/influencers. So here I was down to the minute needing a ton of things in little to no time.
I am one to say, “yes I can!” and take on anything before I actually think logistics, so I’m here to say this isn’t the first time I’ve found myself in a similar situation. However, this is the first time a huge brand has been attached and the pressure to get everything picture perfect was this high.

Homemade Brand is a staple here in Cincinnati. If you have never heard their story definitely click to read. It’s a real great story of boundless energy and drive. Even though Homemade Brand is now available and enjoyed in over 20 states, they still have the same simple approach from the very beginning: use the very best ingredients to make the very best ice cream. So, whether your favorite is a classic like Cookies ‘n Cream, a taste twirler like Cherry Cordial or a Seasonal Recipe Flavor like Peaches & Peaches, you’ll always get ice cream made with their utmost craftsmanship!  

Monday the brand reps called me asking to jump on board planning this event for the following Monday. A few slow blinks, a gulp, and I said, “yes, I got this!” After a quick conversation about Homemade Brand and their mention of their Peaches & Peaches flavor – I knew a peach theme party would be perfect for a summer ice cream social.

TIP: When planning a party or event – having a theme can be so helpful! I find it makes it easier for me to make decisions and keep things cohesive.

So now that I had a theme idea and I was set free to plan. I needed: venue, lite bites, guests, craft ideas for the kids, decor, and a photog. I HAD to move fast on the venue so I could invite the guests and give them enough time to plan to attend.

VENUE:

I had a few ideas for spaces in mind – but once we nailed down the peach theme – I had one venue in mind that would be absolutely perfect: The Red Whale Cottage. We got sooo lucky and The Cottage was available!  I heard about The Red Whale Rentals thanks to an incredible influencer event I had previously attended at their properties. It was a wonderful event that included some of their amazing amenities such as yoga and an in home chef. Their bright & airy rental spaces in Mt. Adams transport you out of Cincinnati and into a dream! The décor and space is beyond words. Everyone who walked in literally dropped their jaws and lifted their eyes saying “woooww” – it was so cool! TIP: If good photos are something you are after – venue is key. Think about how the photos would turn out at the venue beforehand- colors, lighting, décor. Think about the vibe you want to give off. I personally thought The cottage would be perfect for my event because of it’s light, airy color palette. I wanted the peach accents to pop.

FOOD:

Most importantly – we had ice cream. Still extremely important- we needed snacks. One of my favorite places for dinner here in the city, Nada, was so kind to provide lite bites for the party in such short notice. They provided chips, salsa, and guacamole. We had the party right before dinner time – sooo – sorry to everyone who had fed their kids ice cream, cookies, and chips/guac before dinner, it was so worth it though, right?! Cookies were provided by the amazing Hyde Park Bakery. She did an incredible job. She was so willing to help last minute!! The cookies were delish, and sooo cute! I also made a fun peach drink. I just found a peach, white grape juice and added frozen peaches to keep cold. The adorable drink dispensers were also rented by Borrowed Time Events. TIP: Food can be tricky at an event. Not gonna lie, the timing of this one kinda stressed me out because it was ice cream before dinner – – – but it’s totally okay! That was the only time that worked & hey it’s summertime – it’s fun to break the rules a little! Idea: serve breakfast for dinner and make that your theme – it’s okay to break the rules a little with food and think outside the box!

CRAFT/GAME:

I knew I wanted something fun for the kids to do. I created two separate crafts for the kids to create from paint swatches from the hardware store. It was so fun, easy, and affordable! I also printed off fun ice cream coloring pages. I wanted to have a game for the kids too, so I hand painted and made a fun bean bag toss game from an idea I found on Pinterest. The kids really loved these – and I really enjoyed seeing all of their crafty, ice cream creations! We have the bean bag toss on our porch and the boys are loving playing still.

For the adults to have fun too we did a scavenger hunt! It was a blast. It was so fun seeing everyone participate. I just created an image on the canva app and sent it to everyone in attendance before the fun got started. The winners got tickets to the FC Cincinnati game!
TIP: Next time I would have had pamphlets made. I thought digital would be okay – but I’m not positive everyone read what I sent. I just didn’t have enough time for this event.

DECOR:

Okay – This could be an entire blog post in itself. Borrowed Time Events made this event everything that it was down to every tiny detail. Borrowed Time Events specializes in Cincinnati Event Planning and Rentals. They are the most adorable mother and daughter duo who have an eye for detail and style. They really turned this space from already absolutely stunning to everything I envisioned for a “Just Peachy Ice Cream Social” AND MORE!!! They provided the photo backdrop, gold cart, they decorated the kids tables, crates, floral arrangements, jars, trays, and more. If you’re planning a wedding – party – any event – – – – Andrea and her mother just take the stress out of everything. With their eye for detail, you will just be blown away! Highly recommend, absolute must, incredible, I can’t even say enough good things! TIP: Reach out for help! Borrowed Time Events made planning this in less than a week sooooo much less stressful! I was able to relax knowing they were professionals here to help me, I trusted their vision, and their love for what they do really shined through! If you’re in the Cincinnati area I highly suggest you check them out before your next event! 

KIDS SEATING:

I was in a pinch for seating for the little ones. This ice cream social was all about the kiddos, and I wanted them to feel that way with their own place to sit and craft/eat/play. Do you know how hard it is to find kid seating last minute? Not anymore thanks to Sweet Petite Seating – thanks to Andrea @ Borrowed Time Events – when I said I was struggling finding seating to buy – she recommended Lauren at sweet petite seating! They provide seating rentals for children’s parties, weddings, anything!! She was incredibly sweet, a great new friend 😉 She was so accommodating to my last minute request! Highly recommend!! TIP: GET THE KIDS SEATING! It really makes a world of difference for the families. If it’s a party/wedding/event with kids in attendance – having their own seating is a game changer. No kids on laps – they can enjoy their friends – they also feel some independence!

PHOTOGRAPHER: The brand ended up hiring the photog and they nailed it! I found Emma on IG and gave her as one of the suggestions to the brand. I love her light and airy feel that goes with the event. Emma McMahan provided all of the photos in this blog post and they are gorgeous. She did a wonderful job. The event was jam packed, and she did a wonderful job getting beautiful photos! TIP: I highly recommend going with someone who already encompasses the vibe/ascetic you are going for when planning an event. I just knew Emma’s photos would be perfect by seeing her previous work!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME ON THIS EVENT!!

I could not have done this without anyone listed above. The community in Cincinnati is absolutely incredible. Also – shout out to all of the amazing bloggers/influencers who attended the event. I have absolutely loved seeing all of your Homemade Brand Ice cream posts on social 💗

Have you ever planned an event last minute? What tips/tricks have you learned while event planning? Comment below and let’s talk!