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For a Great Dinner
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Bonus Points!
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End of March/Early April
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- Choose the venue — preferably with outdoor seating or a private patio!
- Read through the entire Host Kit so you know what to expect
- Send your mailing address to [email protected] so we know where to mail your package (Dinner Party in a Box). If you are co-hosting, provide only one mailing address!
- Brainstorm the menu and decorations
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- If you're hosting alone, find a friend or fellow birth mom to co-host with you; divide and conquer the tasks together!
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April 11th
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- Confirm location and time with [email protected]
- Confirm menu and decorations — are you making your own flower arrangements, asking a friend for help or purchasing?
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- Get an in-kind donation of food and drinks from a local restaurant, grocery store or caterer
- Maybe you want to go the extra mile and hang some string lights or tie balloons
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Week of April 15th
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- You (the hostess) will be emailed a link with RSVP information and your city-specific digital invitation
- Throughout the week, BraveLove will officially announce the dinners, promote online and open online registration
- Once your city is announced on social media, then you can start announcing publicly on social media too
- You will start receiving RSVPs this week!
- If you are co-hosting, delegate one person to correspond with guests
- Ideally, within 24 hours of receiving an RSVP, correspond with that guest, introduce yourself and confirm their RSVP. If you've confirmed your dinner location, then let them know that information as well.
Note: BraveLove does not publicly advertise the address of any dinner location. That information is passed through you directly to your guests.
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- Add a few extra gifts for the birth moms to take home
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Week of April 29th
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- Be on the lookout — your Dinner Party in a Box will be mailed to you this week, which will include your event check
- You will receive a check for $600. You may spend $40 PER RSVP for dinner and $20 PER RSVP for a gift or something extra for your guests. Any unused funds will be asked to be returned to BraveLove by May 13th (donated through out site). Please keep all receipts and turn in to [email protected]
Example: If your dinner had 6 RSVPS you may spend up to $240 on the dinner and $120 on a gift or extras. $240 would then be returned to BraveLove.
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Week of the dinner
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- On May 3rd, registration will close so people can no longer RSVP (sometimes we make exceptions if you're trying to boost your RSVPs)
- Touch base with all of your birth moms either by text, email, or phone to confirm that they're still attending. Resend the address and remind about the parking situation ...and any other notes you wish to provide.
- Re-read the Guide for the Night
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- Look outside and make it clear where the dinner is happening - hang a sign, tie balloons, etc.
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Day of
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- Set your table(s) - don't forget to use the picture frames as place settings!
- Set out BraveLove gifts (either at each place setting or grouped together in a designated spot so people won't leave without them)
- Find a spot for the QR code sign-in. Please make sure all guests check in!
- Set up food and drinks – are you doing buffet or family-style?
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- Send an individual text to all those who have RSVP'd reminding them of the time and location and that you're so excited they're coming! This will help ease anxiety for some and may help encourage those who were contemplating canceling.
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Night of the dinner (Thursday,
May 9th)
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- To avoid feeling flustered as the host, be ready early because some of your guests will arrive early and you want to be prepared to chat rather than running around
- Welcome your guests!
- Once most guests have arrived, get started by welcoming everyone as a group or letting people get food (and then welcome)
- Remember to snap photos throughout the night - don't forget the group photo!
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A few days later
(Mon,
May 13th)
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- Email any shareable pictures from the dinner directly to [email protected]
- Communicate to those who didn't show up that they were missed and that you'll keep them posted on future meet-ups or events
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- Send a personal communication to all of those who attended with something like "Thank you for coming! I loved meeting you... I hope you had an enjoyable evening."
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A week later
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- Update the shared Google doc by marking those who attended, those who canceled, and those who were no-shows
- BraveLove will send out an email communication to all of those who attended and RSVP'd
- Mail stuff back to BraveLove. You will have a prepaid return envelope enclosed with your Dinner Party in a Box. Enclose leftover money, all receipts, and leftover swag and gifts. Drop this package off at the nearest USPS location.
- Respond to feed back email sent by Ashley.
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A month or so later
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- Start thinking about a meet-up, possibly over the summer. You pick the date and place and then spread the word to all of those who attended this date to your guests
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- Coordinate this meet-up with your co-host or someone else that attended the dinner
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