Inside Andrew Warren's Wildly Responsible Fourth of July Party

If you're anything like us, you spent the weekend shaking your head and rolling your eyes at Instagram as people all over The Hamptons partied on, business as usual. But for all of the documented rash bashes (and trust, there were many more that did not make it to your feed), one party stood out as a remarkably responsible effort to celebrate. Exhaustingly so even!

Andrew Warren can usually be found hopping from place to place on the Fourth of July. But this past Friday, July 3rd, the fashion designer hosted a painstakingly safe and secure private party at his family home in Southampton. 

Honestly, you will not believe the epic amount of work that went into this shindig.

To start the reason I chose Friday was because I knew people would either have already been out here and tested, or if they were driving from the city they would have been tested and come straight to my dinner before they had made their own choices to go to other parties on Saturday. I knew if I had done it Saturday there was a risk of people going to something during the day and then coming to my house. The reason I had agreed to do this article was because I don’t think people know how much effort and thought and carefulness I put into everything I do. 

I planned this two weeks in advance. I had everything delivered Thursday and sprayed with Lysol, so all of the deliveries had time to sit outside and not be contaminated. I know that’s a little much but better safe than sorry. 

The catering company Ace Catering tests staff before every dinner they do, and I had known at least five other people who used them and no one had gotten sick. I set up the decor myself with the help of my two friends staying with me and my in-house help. I didn’t want to risk anyone else setting the table or anything like that. 

There were 18 guests total, spread out over the night. Eight of them had the antibodies and I still had them double check because I know they do go away at some point. Two were staying in my house, and we all tested before coming to the Hamptons. And for the others, I gave them the option to do the finger prick test the day-of before coming or to not come at all. I also have access to finger prick tests in a kit due to the fact I have autoimmune and heart issues I don’t normally talk a lot about.  I have these tests because due to these issues I would have to know as soon as possible if I got Covid as I would have a much harder time with it. 

I had video footage of my friends tests being taken and photos as I needed all the proof I could get. My mom is super strict so I literally had a PDF of everyone’s test results made. Basically I just had to be very selective and couldn’t be as welcoming as I normally am. To triple check, I had a temperature gun to read everyone’s temperature upon arrival. One girls guest who I knew, ironically a “guest of a guest,” would not test and asked me to change the date on her previous results for my parents and I literally laughed and told them not to come and was in shock someone would think I would do that.  

I really was super selective about who I invited and even though people were upset, better safe than sorry. If someone asked to bring a friend - someone I did not know - I flat out said no. I invited people only staying with their families and not in share-houses or at any friends houses who I was not planning on having (because I didn’t know their Covid status). I since the party as of this morning have again tested negative for COVID-19 as have both of my parents. On a last note, if I was in California, Florida or anywhere with that number of cases I would not have done this period. I feel very safe with Governor Cuomo and wish he would run for President since the only reason New York is doing this well is in my opinion because of him. I don’t discuss politics really but if Cuomo was to run I would vote for him.

So, was all of the work worth it?

I really had an amazing night and needed some form of normality again, so it was worth it. I just wanted to feel safe and have a night with my friends to just enjoy and not feel scared. 

And there you have it. The blueprints for a wildly fun, wildly responsible pandemic party. 

Click through for more snaps from the soirée!