ET LØFTE EVENTS

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
FOR YOUR NEW YEAR OF EVENT PLANNING

While for many New Years Resolutions wind up being nothing more than a To Do List for the first week of January, those who are planning a grand-scale event know that their commitments must be long term and stand strong. Most large events can take a year or more to plan and with that comes challenges and temptations that aren't easily avoided.

Here are a few resolutions that might help your event or wedding planning in 2011 become slightly less daunting (and some wee advice to go along with them!):



"I WILL PLAN MY EVENT WITHIN MY FINANCIAL MEANS/STICK TO MY PLANNING BUDGET"

This resolution can be a tricky one to keep a handle on. You've likely set a budget for your event but temptations, not to mention sticker-shock, can easily derail your efforts if you let them.

Ensuring that you stick to your estimated budget will save you a lot of financial stress both pre and post event date. While the said event is likely to be a stand-alone event in your life, you have to ask yourself if it's worth going into debt for. If not, creating and managing a specific budget will help you in creating an event that all will enjoy (and one that won't slap you with collection calls later on).


However while sticking to a budget is important, it's also necessary to be realistic with your plans and your budget. If you're planning an sit-down dinner reception for 200 guests for example you have to expect that a budget of $30,000 for all details involved may not cut it. Do your research and find out if your budget and plans are realistic or require some tweaking. If your steadfast budget doesn't seem to get you what you want, keeping an open mind to alternative options is key to your sanity and your accounting. Consider shortening your guest list, moving your event from the evening to the day (when food and beverage costs tend to be more budget friendly) or changing your event from a sit-down function to a cocktail reception.

It's also important to understand that you get what you pay for. For example, understand that a cake designer can't create an elaborate boutique-style five tier, fondant-icing cake for a mere $400. Don't expect that because you're on a strict budget your vendors are going to sympathize and negotiate their fees/costs. If your budget is $400 then you have to accept what $400 will get you. If that's not satisfactory then accept that you will go over your budget.



"I WILL CONSIDER PROPER ETIQUETTE WHEN PLANNING MY EVENT"

Yes, this event that you're planning is likely about YOU. Or it's entirely plausible that you are solely shouldering the load of planning an event for someone else and so you feel entitled to do things YOUR WAY. But keep in mind that while the event may be all about you, you are the host and with being a host comes certain etiquette and responsibilities -- first and foremost, taking proper care of your guests.

So often and especially in the case of weddings, etiquette gets tossed out the window due to laziness, financial strains or the classic "well it's my party" attitude. Many planners feel that etiquette is silly, outdated and stuffy. Yet Professional Event Planners can guarantee that if you exercise improper etiquette with your chosen event it's improper etiquette that your guests will remember above everything else.



Here are some of the most common etiquette infractions that you will want to avoid:

- being late for your event/ceremony/wedding
- making your guests wait an extended period of time FOR ANYTHING
- expecting your guests to pay for their beverages (a.k.a the horrific cash bar scenario)
- putting address labels on invitations/thank you cards rather than handwriting them
- typing or writing generic thank you cards
- taking a year to send out thank you cards or worse, not sending them at all (this boo-boo is extremely common for smaller parties such as Baby/Bridal Showers, Birthday Bashes, etc)
- including gift registry information on wedding invitations
- requesting monetary gifts
- not ordering enough food but having enormous centerpieces/decor
- not thanking your guests for coming

...oh how I could go on forever...



"I WILL REMEMBER THAT MY EVENT IS MINE AND NO ELSE'S"

It's very easy to get pulled into a thousand different directions with your plans due to outside influences. And with once-in-a-lifetime events many planners forget what they envisioned for their party and succumb to everyone else's ideas and desires. This can be a result of the fear of creating unnecessary drama and conflict among family members, the threat of financial aid being cut off or the dread of hurting feelings.


Avoid the situation by being clear and upfront with your intentions for your event with family members and friends and let them know that your plans are very important to you. To deflect hurt feelings express your appreciation for whatever suggestion is being offered but politely decline (politeness is key!) and explain why. In some cases where financial input is a factor, issue a compromise that will benefit everyone (especially you!)



"I WILL ENJOY THE PLANNING PROCESS!"



That feeling that you're drowning in a sea of expectations, budgets, time lines, To Do Lists and pressure to have a party that outdoes all other parties your guests have attended? Yup, we've all been there. It's funny though how unnecessary these stresses really are.

How can you enjoy the planning process? First, be organized. Have a To-Do List coordinated for each month of planning and check items off as you go along. Enlist family and friends to help with items that you know you won't have time for/will require help for. Have a check-list of items that must be ordered or purchased. Set a detailed budget and keep track of deposits and balances. Create a binder to house all details of your event including magazine articles or ads, pictures and swatches.

Heck, hire an EVENT PLANNER to keep you organized if that's what will help you enjoy the process of planning.

Most importantly though, throughout the planning process of your event, be sure to remember what the event is for in the first place! Are you marrying the love of your life? Are you celebrating a milestone birthday? Is your son or daughter 'officially' becoming a man or woman? No one sets out to throw a party for the sole purpose of having a party. Keeping the reason for the event at the forefront of your mind at all times will help you to enjoy the planning process and keep that excitement fresh and alive.