Work With an Event Planner

If you're celebrating a milestone, a birthday, or organising a wedding, it's always nice to have a bit of help. We've outlined some of the key steps we encounter when working with our clients to allow them to host one unforgettable event.



No matter if it's a 1st or a 21st birthday party or an elaborate wedding, we've worked with all types of clients to ensure their event was a stress free success.

So whether it's your first time hiring an outside event organiser to help you, it's important to keep these few things in mind.

Organising an event can seem like a daunting task, but remember, having the help will save you a world of stress and allow you to enjoy the event as a guest.

Time: 2-12 months (depending on the event)

Method

This is the biggest tip of all. Just like the old saying that all good things take time, having as much planning time as possible will allow you to have the event you want, not what you've settled for because of time constraints. Having time up your sleeve gives you and your planner greater negotiating power when you book your venue and suppliers (such as a caterer, entertainment, etc).

If you're trying to organise a special event in under a month, you're putting yourself in a desperate situation.

Plan at least 2 months out for a birthday and 5-12 months out for a wedding.

Using an event planner can be an economical way to get a great deal from a caterer or venue as they book several events in a year and have more buying power.



Getting them to help you find the right venue and caterer and read over your contract can take a huge strain of and save you money in the long run.

We often go with our clients to the proposed venues for site visit prior to booking it and ask all the important questions that our clients may not think of until they've already signed a venue contract and it's too late.

In some cases we can negotiate bonuses like overnight accommodation for the bride and groom or a welcome drink on arrival for a birthday celebration toast.

A planner can help with just one or two things or they can see the entire event through from initial ideas to the special day. We've even attended our clients events (but stayed unnoticed in the background) to help out with set up and ensure everything runs smoothly so that you don't have to stress at all.

Decide how much help you want. Do you need them to help with selecting the venue and menu? Are they helping with creating invitations and managing the RSVPs? Do they need to source entertainment, a photographer or transport?

This will vary based on the type of event you are hosting, and what you want it to include.

Many people who organise an event for the first time often fall into the trap of wanting to plan a champagne event on a beer budget (no offense to beer themed events, which can be great too!)




Have an idea of the style and feel you want. This will let your planner hit the ground running with plenty of ideas. As they work with hundreds of venues, restaurants and suppliers, they should know who will give you the best service for your budget.

Good planners will take the time to discuss your event's purpose, budget, guests, and your personal preferences.

They will also be upfront about their fees and provide you with a breakdown of more than one option for each service you need. This way you can compare costs and ultimately choose which supplier to go with and there won't be any surprises.

If your plans change, guests numbers change, etc let them know as soon as possible so they can make sure everything runs smoothly on the event day. This is especially important with catering and/or seating numbers.

With careful planning, your event should run seamlessly so that on your event day you'll have no stress about what time the florist or entertainment arrives.

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#event_planning
#wedding_organisation


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