Planning Guide for Seasonal Gatherings

Holiday Banner

Whether it’s the U-M event of the year or an intimate gathering in your home, you can wrap it up with ease when
you use our expert tips and tricks to make it festive and fun.

Mix and Mingle – When you’re hosting guests who don’t know one another, use this tip to encourage mingling: Send out questions in advance (topics might include movies, foods, sports, pets, trivia, etc.). When guests arrive, have them try to learn which guests go with which answers. Find more ideas here.
Fun for Everyone – Set up a jigsaw puzzle as a low-key mixer for the quieter guests. It’s an easy conversation starter.
Make Ahead – Cookies freeze well, so don’t wait until the last minute. Bake ahead! You can do the same with many hors d’oeuvres. Here’s a great site for make-ahead ideas. Martha Stewart: Make-Ahead Appetizers
Get Together – White elephant gift exchanges, Name That Tune, and charades are great ways to get all your guests together. Or consider making a craft or charitable activity the center of your event. For example, you might want to have guests wrap gifts for a local charity.
Food & Beverage Organization – Before the party, set out all the serving dishes and mark their locations so it’s easy to set up your buffet at the last minute. Help guests keep track of their beverages with a selection of stickers for plastic cups or wine charms. Set up a self-serve beverage area with a variety of refreshment options so you can spend your time hosting instead of refreshing drinks. Don’t forget the non-alcoholic options.
Happy New Year – Decorate a birch branch for your New Year’s bash using streamers, party horns, hats and other
New Year décor from the dollar store. (Or choose a bare branch from your lawn and spray paint it silver.) Gather all your
alarm clocks and use them to decorate a table. Set them all to go off at midnight!

Make your big event smooth and seamless from menu design to vendor coordination to onsite management by starting with a plan. We’ve gathered ten easy-to-follow tips from our special event pros to help you get started. If you need help along the way, let us know.

Set a date. Consult all the key individuals and check itineraries to zero in on a date that will work for everyone. DO consider weekends and evenings.
Set a budget. Perhaps you have a department budget already set aside. If not, or if this is not an official U-M event, decide how much you can spend before you commit any dollars. The number of attendees will be an important factor in setting your budget. If you are planning what may become an annual event, keep detailed notes for future planning purposes.
Delegate! There’s no need to make this a do-it-yourself project. Why not share the load with colleagues? It will mean less stress for you and allow others to participate in the event’s success.
Choose a venue. Once you have your date and budget and you have a reasonable idea of how many people will attend, you can start shopping for the ideal location. Think about what type of room set-up you’ll need as well as any enhancements such as AV, podiums, etc.
Develop a theme and entertainment. The purpose of the event will help dictate a theme, décor, entertainment needs (DJ, live music, or automatic playlist, for example) and even the menu.
Engage vendors as needed. Now is a good time to engage the vendors you’ll need. Your venue can provide a list of preferred vendors for everything from special linens and flowers to live entertainment and photographers. These vendors are credible and reliable so you can save time searching for options.
Select a caterer. Once again, your budget and type of event will drive your menu but the menu options are plentiful. We highly recommend the services of M|Catering.
Define your alcohol policy. Providing a complimentary event is key to a successful celebration, but you should not feel obligated to provide unlimited bar service. For budget concerns, guest safety or liability reasons, many businesses provide one or two complimentary “drink tickets” plus a cash bar. We encourage you to talk with your event manager about options.
Send “Save the Date” messages and invitations. Give your guests as much time as possible to work your event into their calendars. Think about sending save-the-date info weeks or even months in advance to ensure a good turnout, then follow up with the invitation when you have all the details in place.
Have fun! With all the work you’ve done in the planning stages and with the proper team and vendors in place, you should be able to relax and enjoy your event.

With the Michigan Union closed for renovation there are fewer on-campus venues available this year so make your reservations early. Here are some resources to consider:

Venues at the Michigan League, Pierpont Commons and Palmers commons

Going off campus? Let us bring the festivities to you. Keep in mind that M|Catering is available, even for events in private residences. We can provide turnkey services including wait staff, serving tables, food preparation and we’ll leave the kitchen clean and sparkling afterward.

For the easiest celebration ever, there’s only one thing you need to do: Call us! Here are just a few of the U-M departments whose events we helped with in 2017:

Duderstadt Holiday Party, 100 guests, Duderstadt Center
MedEquip Winter Appreciation Event, 130 guests, MedEquip office
Transportation Services Holiday Party, 125 guests, Transportation Services office
Cardiac Surgery Holiday Party, 40 guests, Cardio Vascular Center
Oral Surgery Holiday Party,140 guests, Matthaei Botanical Gardens
School of Information, 200 guests, SOI offices
Central Power Plant, 25 guests, Palmer Commons

Need an appetizer that’s easy, fancy and positively delicious? Place a round of soft cheese (goat cheese, brie or
camembert) on a pretty tray and slather it with fig jam. Garnish with some grapes, crackers and fresh figs. Cut out a
wedge to help get the party started. Then stand back and wait for compliments.

Chef Russ Palmer is the Executive Chef for M|Catering

Makes 12 five-ounce servings

Ingredients

3.5 to 4 pound thawed, bone-in turkey breast
Dash of Spice Mix
2 tsp minced garlic, divided
1⁄2 cup apple cider
3 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Spice Mix

Combine 1 tablespoon each of kosher salt, onion powder and groud black pepper.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Rub turkey breast with spice mix and 1 tsp of the garlic. Place in roasting pan.
Roast until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, about one hour.
Allow the roast to rest for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan, bring cider, juice, cinnamon and remaining garlic to a boil. Reduce by 1⁄2 to 2/3.
Carve the turkey into 1/8” thick slices and shingle in a lightly oiled serving pan.
Pour glaze evenly over the turkey. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.