Semi-Annual Donor Dinner Proposal Overview Where: The Wren’s Nest When: Sat Oct 10th Who: 15 top donors plus one guest each (30 guests total) Concept: To be invited to the Wren’s Nest by Joel Chandler Harris was a tremendous honor and mean that you were part of the family. As important members of our family that is how we are going to make our donors feel. Guests will enjoy cocktails on the porch and reading garden and sit at long family-style farm tables in the spacious back yard for dinner. Guests will also dine on an elegant selection of favorite southern dishes, just like Mr. Harris would have wanted. Goals & Objectives:

Create a relaxed and social environment for major donors

Strengthen connections between major donors, the board and staff Reconnect donors to the mission, programs and goals of the organization

Identify possible new major donors

Décor & Vision Main Colors: Dark green, orange, gold and browns Guests will enjoy a rustic but upscale experience on the property of the historic household. The décor of the event will capture the timeless southern charm and enhance the experience of being at the Wren’s Nest; décor and menu will also reflect the fall season in color and food choice. A tent will be constructed in the back yard that will house long family style farm tables creating an intimate setting outdoors. Bistro style string lights will be strung from the tent over the rest of the back yard and reading garden to create a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Itinerary

Pre-Event Planning

Invitations sent out by September 5th

RSVP by: Sept 26th

Day of

Pre-Event

12pm- Set up for event begins at Wren’s Nest

4:30pm- caterers arrive to prep

Event 6-7:30pm: Cocktails on the Porch

Guest will park in adjacent church parking lot and are welcomed at front

steps. Guests socialize and partake in pre-dinner cocktails and hors

d’oeuvres.

7:30-9:30pm: Dinner

7:30 Guests are escorted to back yard where dinner tables are set up. Once

everyone is seated opening welcome remarks are given by the host/hostess

7:30-8:30 Dinner courses served (appetizers, soup/salad, entrée)

8:30-9:15 Main entertainment-storytelling (dessert served during)

9;15-9:30 Thank Yous, acknowledgments and closing remarks from

host/hostess

9:30-11pm: After Dinner

Guests mingle in backyard and reading garden with additional storytelling

for entertainment

After Event

11pm-12pm

Clean up

Set Up

Guests will park in adjacent church parking lot and approach the facility from the front sidewalk entrance for cocktails. Staff will be stationed at points marked with “x” to greet and assist with directions. Restrooms that guests will use will be located inside the house.

After cocktails on the porch, guests will be escorted to the main dining area in the back yard of The Wren’s Nest. A tent will be set up in case of unfavorable weather. During dinner the bar will be moved from the front porch to the stage in preparation for after dinner cocktails. Once dinner has ended guests are welcomed to mingle in the back yard, stage and reading garden to socialize until the end of the event.

Place Setting

Standard table setting will be used. The main difference will be that dessert flatware, coffee cup and saucer will not be present at the start of the meal, but brought out when dessert is served. Also the napkin will be placed in the center for the plate and will house the menu and place card. Both white and red wine glasses as well as a water glass will be set at the beginning of the meal, but once the guest has made their wine selection the unused glass will be removed.

Napkins will be folded to have a pocket to hold the place cards and menus.

Menu

Pre-dinner Cocktail Hour Hors d’oeuvres

Crab Cake Hush Puppies

Blue Cheese Crostini with Balsamic roasted cherry tomatoes

Artichoke dip with bread and crackers Specialty Cocktails

Mint Julep Apple Brandy Hot Cider

Dinner Appetizers

Fried Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese Pulled Pork BBQ with sweet coleslaw

Shrimp boil skewers with potatoes Soup/Salad

Fresh greens salad with your choice of dressing Traditional seafood gumbo

Butternut squash bisque Entrée

Shrimp and Grits with cheese, bacon and cherry tomatoes Herb roasted chicken breast with broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes Rib eye with mixed garden vegetables and roasted potatoes Vegetable Pot Pie

Suggested Wines Red- Pinot Noir White- Chardonnay

Dessert (all served with vanilla ice cream)

Georgia Peach Pie Apple Cobbler Chocolate Cake

Dessert Cocktails

Wines: Riesling, Moscato Liquor: Brandy, Cognac

Catering Information We will be coordinating with Talk of the Town Catering and Events for this event. Head chef Andrew Brackner will collaborate with us on the menu selection and the company will also provide service staff for the event. Talk of the Town is a premier caterer and favorite in the Metro Atlanta area boasting 5 star customer reviews on Yelp, Wedding Wire and The Knot as well as Atlanta Magazine’s Top Restaurants

Party in 2010, Commerce Choice Business for Excellence, National Association of Catering Executives and several other performance awards in 2014 and 2015 .

Contact Information Phone: 404-334-4863

Email: chris@talkofthetownatlanta.com Address: 30 Woodstock Street

Roswell, Georgia 30075

Budget

*Tables seat 10ppl each, budgeted for 3 tables

Sources www.wrensnest.org/events_host.php www.goodwinrentals.com www.tlcrents.com www.talkofthetownatlanta.com