Because the cancellation came so late, a number of guests didn't get the memo about the change in plans until they had begun to board their flights to Martha's Vineyard; and as TMZ reported, a number would have been hit with non-refundable fees charged by the hotels they were meant to stay in — not like it would seem to matter to those on the invite list.
But one of the arrangements we suspect would have been impossible to adjust at the last minute is catering. Bloomberg says the Obamas had planned to serve a meat-free menu which was pulled together by musician Questlove and included, among other things, Spam musubi made with fake beef and fake pork, as well as vegan eggs made by California-based vegan food manufacturer Eat Just. The extensive vegan menu also included cheesesteak egg rolls. Bloomberg didn't say whether there would be meat options for whom vegan dining wasn't really an option.
Even if plans have changed, there are those that feel there was no need to go to such extremes, since the party was meant to be held outdoors, and under the watchful eye of a coronavirus coordinator. Local writer Richard Taylor told The New York Times that the former president "has 20-plus acres of land, and everyone was going to be outside. You're dealing with a sophisticated crowd. I think the concerns were a bit overblown."
