Summer is the perfect time for a picnic! Picnics are a great way for corporate businesses to give back to their employees and show their gratitude for all their steadfast hard work. If you’ve been chosen to plan your company’s annual picnic, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together the below tips to help you save time, money, and unnecessary headaches.

Here’s how to plan a company picnic with as little stress as possible.

Plan ahead as much as possible.

Easier said than done, right? We understand that it’s not always realistic to carve out extra time to plan a company-wide event when you still have your regular job duties to attend to. That’s why we strongly recommend putting together a schedule that realistically addresses the complexity of putting together such a large-scale event. This will ideally go back 5-6 months before your planned picnic date to give you enough time to secure a venue, hire a rock star caterer, and give employees enough notice to clear their schedules.

The trick here is to find a caterer who has the experience needed to take this off your plate. And it’s a bonus if they have partnerships with picnic venues — that way you can scratch two important to-dos off your list right away, and then breathe a sigh of relief!

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If we could pick a favorite event venue, it would have to be Independence Grove. Ok, we’ll admit it – we’re a bit biased!

Events at Independence Grove: Quick Facts

Events at Independence Grove is the exclusive caterer and event management partner of Independence Grove Forest Preserve, and is a Catering by Michaels company. The venue opened in March of 2001, and was specifically designed with a premium visitor experience in mind. It is open year-round to host various events and celebrations.

Independence Grove is located in Libertyville, Illinois in a 1,100-acre nature preserve and recreation area. People know it for its pristine beauty and secluded setting. It’s been described as a Midwestern one-of-a-kind treasure because of its natural calmness, beautiful grassland and stunning lake views. Because of this, hosting an event at Independence Grove will provide a truly unique and memorable backdrop for any type of wedding, social or corporate event.

Independence Grove

There are three main event categories we normally get bookings for at Independence Grove.

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We love working with event planners, and recently had the opportunity to chat with Nisar Naimi from Events by Nisar. If you’re about to plan an event, his insights may be especially timely!

How did your career in events begin?

​It started off as a part-time job to make extra cash on the weekends during my undergrad years at Loyola University. I used to work for a non-profit community organization, and my boss at the time introduced me to his friend who was an event planner. I worked with her throughout my college years, then went full-time with event planning once I graduated.​

Why do you love working in the events industry?

​I love that it’s a new experience every day! I get bored very easily, so I love the creative and personal interactions that allow me to have a new and exciting experience every day. More than anything, I love all of the relationships I am able to build and foster.​

What are current trends you love?

​Simple is more.

• I love the mixing of metals (golds, rose golds, silvers).
• Lighter, softer tones in decor have also recently become very popular.
• The rustic theme is very big at the moment.

Couples are now so much more open to being creative with their menu selections, especially in terms of live action stations, exotic ingredients, and presentation. It seems that recently, food has definitely taken precedent over decor and other event items. ​

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Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to honor and show appreciation for all loving relationships — whether they’re romantic partnerships, friendships, or family bonds. As a full service caterer, we have the amazing opportunity to be a part of so many special moments and celebrations in our client’s lives. 

On this very romantic day, we wanted to share the union of a very special couple, Ellyn + Carlo, and their gorgeous wedding at Independence Grove that was featured on David Lai Weddings blog.  

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Food tastings are probably the most fun and delicious part of wedding planning. However, there’s more work involved than you may initially think. We want to make sure that you walk away from the wedding tasting not only full, but feeling confident and excited about your custom menu.

Here are the top 10 things to know before your wedding tasting.

Be open-minded.

Be willing to think outside the box. There’s a good chance that almost everyone has had a Caesar salad at a wedding before, so guests will be more excited by something unexpected. Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you like what you taste, then it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser on your big day.

Consider the timeline.

Though your designer will guide you with timeline items, it’s helpful to have a general idea of flow during your big day. For example, consider where you will be during cocktail hour. If you’re not there, be sure to have some hors d’oeuvres set aside so you don’t get hungry.

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