THE THREE E's TO PLANNING
ANY SUCCESSFUL EVENT
ANY SUCCESSFUL EVENT
Whether it's a Wedding, Birthday Bash, Anniversary Party or any social event, there are three extremely important factors in planning that should never be overlooked or taken lightly. There's an old saying that goes "You never want a 'But' event". What this means is that you don't want an event after which your guests say "The [said event] was beautiful BUT...". The three E's to planning any successful event are easy to remember and will save you from that dreaded "BUT" event.
NUMBER ONE: THE EDIBLES
The food and beverages served at your event should be of the highest priority in your planning. Guests always arrive at an event anticipating great food. Think of the last time you arrived at an event. What was your first thought about the event before arriving (Ok, Ok, aside from whether or not you were looking fabulous)? It was likely something along the lines of "I wonder what kind of food they'll be serving" or, if you haven't eaten all day, "there had better be food!".
So now imagine walking into the said event and there was very little food offered. Or the food that was offered tasted bland, dry or...gasp!...unusual. Ruined your whole evening didn't it?
Your 'EDIBLES' should be presentable, tasty, creative and most importantly, there should be enough to go around! The same can be said for your beverages. Ensure that the quantity and quality is there. That wine being served with dinner should be paired correctly and of proper quality. Consider a minimum of 3 drinks per person for the average social party and much higher consumption for larger events such as weddings. For cocktail receptions, match your beverage choices to the theme and the food that is being passed.
Food and Beverage at your event is the most important element to any event. Give it the attention it warrants and budget accordingly.
NUMBER TWO: THE ENTERTAINMENT
There's nothing worse than an empty dance floor.
Or a boring event for that matter.
Contrary to popular belief, there are many mistakes that the host can make when selecting the entertainment for their event. It's not as simple as booking just any DJ, Band or Performer -- there are many factors to consider.
One factor is your guest majority or 'audience'. Are they mostly low-key kind of folk or are they party animals? Do they want to be "entertained" or would they rather be left alone to dance (whether they can or can't dance is irrelevant)? Are there children present (is it all children?) or is the event adults-only ? Recognizing who your guest majority is will help to determine the entertainment that will best...well...entertain them!
Also consider the style of the event. Is it black-tie? A casual affair? A wedding in a barn? This will play an important role in choosing your style of entertainment whether you've chosen a band, a DJ or any other entertainment.
And trust your professionals! Try to not burden your DJ or Band with an extensive "Must Play" list. While your super-lengthy list may be comprised of songs that you think are ah-mazing, your guests may think otherwise. The same can be said for extensive "Do Not Play" lists. While you may despise country, a large portion of your guests may love it. Your entertainment professional may be bogged down with requests for country yet he has to turn away disappointed party dwellers because you said so. A talented and experienced entertainment professional can gage his or her audience and keep your dance floor crowded and your guests entertained. A small list of "Do Not Plays" are perfectly fine. Handing your entertainment professional a manual, is not.
Yes, it's your event. Heck, it may be an event in your honour. But as the host of any event, at some point the event stops being all about you and becomes all about your guests.
In a nutshell, whatever entertainment professional you've chosen was selected out of dozens for a reason. That said, let the entertainment professional do their job and provide guidance if you truly want to...just let it be minimal guidance. After all, there's a reason you're not behind that spin table or up on that stage...right?
NUMBER THREE: THE ETIQUETTE
This Planner has always been a big fan of breaking the rules when it comes to planning events. However, as much of a rebel as I am, there are certain areas in event planning where I feel that the rules shouldn't be broken. 'ETIQUETTE' is one of those areas.
Etiquette exists for a reason. It shows respect. Period. And so when planning any event, etiquette should be kept at the forefront of your mind. Rather than be worried that you'll appear 'stuffy' or 'pretentious' by following proper etiquette, worry more about coming across as 'rude' or 'disrespectful'.
Now, when I refer to etiquette I'm not necessarily talking about where to place your cutlery on a table. I'm more zero'd in on etiquette that directly relates to your guests. For example, NEVER be late for your own event. For some reason, some guests of honour, Bride and Grooms, etc. have this unbelievable idea that "the party can't start without me and it's 'my day' so let them wait".
Pardon me?
Your guests don't care that you couldn't decide on what to wear, that you had to stop to pick up pantyhose or that you want more wedding photos in addition to what was originally scheduled. What your guests DO care about is that they're tired of standing around waiting for you, they're starving and their night has seriously begun to drag on and on. If your party is set to start at a certain time, it had better start at that time unless there's something beyond your control to prevent it from starting on time.
Another enormous etiquette blunder? Never expect your guests to pay for their own beverages -- alcoholic or otherwise. If you hosted a gathering at your home would you charge your guests for the drinks they consumed? Absolutely not! So why then, would it be alright to charge your guests for their beverages merely because the party has moved from your home to a more commercial establishment? Your guests are your personal guests, they're not customers.
Oh and in case you were thinking 'loonie/twoonie' bars, drink tickets, etc were a better option than 'cash bars'....really? This is a hosted function, not a carnival. Think again.
Always keep in mind that etiquette is a form of respect for your guests. Follow etiquette and you'll never have disgruntled guests. Ignore it and you may have guests that won't feel disrespected but you may have guests that do. And that can ruin any event at any time, whether the event just started or it's towards its end. It's not worth the risk.
So there you have it! Following the three 'E's above will not only ensure that you have a hugely successful event but takes the guess-work out of whether or not your event will be a crowd pleaser.
When in doubt, just remember this: if your edibles are lacking, the entertainment downright sucks and you've made your guests wait over an hour to begin dinner because you chose to be late...THAT is what your guests will remember of your event. Not what your centerpieces looked like.
CHEERS!
NUMBER ONE: THE EDIBLES
The food and beverages served at your event should be of the highest priority in your planning. Guests always arrive at an event anticipating great food. Think of the last time you arrived at an event. What was your first thought about the event before arriving (Ok, Ok, aside from whether or not you were looking fabulous)? It was likely something along the lines of "I wonder what kind of food they'll be serving" or, if you haven't eaten all day, "there had better be food!".
So now imagine walking into the said event and there was very little food offered. Or the food that was offered tasted bland, dry or...gasp!...unusual. Ruined your whole evening didn't it?
Your 'EDIBLES' should be presentable, tasty, creative and most importantly, there should be enough to go around! The same can be said for your beverages. Ensure that the quantity and quality is there. That wine being served with dinner should be paired correctly and of proper quality. Consider a minimum of 3 drinks per person for the average social party and much higher consumption for larger events such as weddings. For cocktail receptions, match your beverage choices to the theme and the food that is being passed.
Food and Beverage at your event is the most important element to any event. Give it the attention it warrants and budget accordingly.
NUMBER TWO: THE ENTERTAINMENT
There's nothing worse than an empty dance floor.
Or a boring event for that matter.
Contrary to popular belief, there are many mistakes that the host can make when selecting the entertainment for their event. It's not as simple as booking just any DJ, Band or Performer -- there are many factors to consider.
One factor is your guest majority or 'audience'. Are they mostly low-key kind of folk or are they party animals? Do they want to be "entertained" or would they rather be left alone to dance (whether they can or can't dance is irrelevant)? Are there children present (is it all children?) or is the event adults-only ? Recognizing who your guest majority is will help to determine the entertainment that will best...well...entertain them!
Also consider the style of the event. Is it black-tie? A casual affair? A wedding in a barn? This will play an important role in choosing your style of entertainment whether you've chosen a band, a DJ or any other entertainment.
And trust your professionals! Try to not burden your DJ or Band with an extensive "Must Play" list. While your super-lengthy list may be comprised of songs that you think are ah-mazing, your guests may think otherwise. The same can be said for extensive "Do Not Play" lists. While you may despise country, a large portion of your guests may love it. Your entertainment professional may be bogged down with requests for country yet he has to turn away disappointed party dwellers because you said so. A talented and experienced entertainment professional can gage his or her audience and keep your dance floor crowded and your guests entertained. A small list of "Do Not Plays" are perfectly fine. Handing your entertainment professional a manual, is not.
Yes, it's your event. Heck, it may be an event in your honour. But as the host of any event, at some point the event stops being all about you and becomes all about your guests.
In a nutshell, whatever entertainment professional you've chosen was selected out of dozens for a reason. That said, let the entertainment professional do their job and provide guidance if you truly want to...just let it be minimal guidance. After all, there's a reason you're not behind that spin table or up on that stage...right?
NUMBER THREE: THE ETIQUETTE
This Planner has always been a big fan of breaking the rules when it comes to planning events. However, as much of a rebel as I am, there are certain areas in event planning where I feel that the rules shouldn't be broken. 'ETIQUETTE' is one of those areas.
Etiquette exists for a reason. It shows respect. Period. And so when planning any event, etiquette should be kept at the forefront of your mind. Rather than be worried that you'll appear 'stuffy' or 'pretentious' by following proper etiquette, worry more about coming across as 'rude' or 'disrespectful'.
Now, when I refer to etiquette I'm not necessarily talking about where to place your cutlery on a table. I'm more zero'd in on etiquette that directly relates to your guests. For example, NEVER be late for your own event. For some reason, some guests of honour, Bride and Grooms, etc. have this unbelievable idea that "the party can't start without me and it's 'my day' so let them wait".
Pardon me?
Your guests don't care that you couldn't decide on what to wear, that you had to stop to pick up pantyhose or that you want more wedding photos in addition to what was originally scheduled. What your guests DO care about is that they're tired of standing around waiting for you, they're starving and their night has seriously begun to drag on and on. If your party is set to start at a certain time, it had better start at that time unless there's something beyond your control to prevent it from starting on time.
Another enormous etiquette blunder? Never expect your guests to pay for their own beverages -- alcoholic or otherwise. If you hosted a gathering at your home would you charge your guests for the drinks they consumed? Absolutely not! So why then, would it be alright to charge your guests for their beverages merely because the party has moved from your home to a more commercial establishment? Your guests are your personal guests, they're not customers.
Oh and in case you were thinking 'loonie/twoonie' bars, drink tickets, etc were a better option than 'cash bars'....really? This is a hosted function, not a carnival. Think again.
Always keep in mind that etiquette is a form of respect for your guests. Follow etiquette and you'll never have disgruntled guests. Ignore it and you may have guests that won't feel disrespected but you may have guests that do. And that can ruin any event at any time, whether the event just started or it's towards its end. It's not worth the risk.
So there you have it! Following the three 'E's above will not only ensure that you have a hugely successful event but takes the guess-work out of whether or not your event will be a crowd pleaser.
When in doubt, just remember this: if your edibles are lacking, the entertainment downright sucks and you've made your guests wait over an hour to begin dinner because you chose to be late...THAT is what your guests will remember of your event. Not what your centerpieces looked like.
CHEERS!
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