The Essentials Of Event Planning – Easy Steps That Secure Success – by Brandon C. Hall

If you’ve ever planned or hosted an event you know how overwhelming it can be. Attending to every small detail can leave you wishing the party was over before it even began. This is even more magnified if you are overseeing a large event such as a wedding or a dinner party for business associates. Something always seems to go wrong and it leaves the person in charge of event planning carrying the burden of the blame.

There are steps you can take to guarantee that the party will be a roaring success. One of those steps is to hire an event planner. If you really do feel as though all the small details are too much for you, you might consider hiring someone who specializes in event planning. There are many reputable companies who can offer you their services for a fee. All you do is explain the event to them, including your preferences when you wish to have the event, the theme of it and the menu and they handle the rest. The onus of the work is on them, and with their experience they can create exactly the type of gathering that you envision.

If finances are a concern and you can’t afford the luxury of a professional event planning service, there are things that you can do that will help your event run as smoothly as possible. Here are a few ideas:

Keep an ongoing list. Plan your event by writing down everything you need to do. As you complete those tasks, stroke them off the list and add new ones as needed.

Choose a theme that is appropriate for all guests. It might be difficult for some people to rent or purchase special outfits for a theme party, so try and make it something that is accesible and affordable for every guest.

Send out invitations or call with your invitation well in advance. Life is busy for many people and giving them sufficient notice will enable them to handle any arrangements they need to make, such as child care.

Choose a menu that isn’t too exotic. Although many people welcome new tastes, it’s often more appropriate to offer menu items that all guests are familiar with, this way they won’t be concerned about possible food allergies or digestive conflicts, if they know exactly what they are eating consists of.

Enjoy the event. Often the host becomes so overburdened with party details that he or she neglects their own enjoyment. Plan the event so you will have free time during it to mingle with your guests.

Event planning can be a tedious task, but with proper organization the work involved in planning the party or event can be well worth it. Getting together with family, friends or business associates in a social setting, is a great way to connect and communicate. With some attention to details before, the party can be a huge and often very fun success.

Plan your next baby shower like a pro by picking up your baby shower kit. For more articles and information on event planning visit our site.

Tweet This Post 

RSVP tips for your event – by Yolanda Nash

“Response cards” are usually included with invitations so the hosts and wedding event planners know how many guests are coming, the quantity of food and beverages are needed, chairs, wedding favors, place card holders and other critical elements of planning the wedding are needed.

When guests do not follow the response card etiquette it can make for quite a stressful situation for everyone involved in planning the wedding.

So here are some quick tips to avoid a stressful RSVP situation.

1. Mail out RSVP’s atleast 2 months before your event any longer can result in lost or misplaced RSVP’s

2. Include a self addressed stamped envelope with your RSVP

3. Include exact instructions such as how many guests they can bring, directions to the event, date and time of the event, if children are allowed, gifts, and a clear respond by date should all be included.

4. Have your wedding planner or hosts call all prospective guests and ask if they will be attending. This will give you a chance to let the guests know all of the what, when, where and how’s of the event.

If you use these tips you should have a clear number of how many guests are attending your event and a very stress free event planner.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas wedding favors, wedding planner, author and money saving phenom. She enjoys planning a wedding and seeing the look on the brides face when her special day arrives.

Tweet This Post 

PM AMUSEMENTS EXPANDS ITS BUSINESS through acquisition of Distinctive Party Design – by Stacey Cohen

PM Amusements, a full-service event planning company, today announced it has acquired Distinctive Party Design, formerly known as Westchester Party Design. The acquisition supports PM Amusement™s strategy to be the area’s largest one-stop event planner with the most diverse and convenient suite of event capabilities for corporate and private events. (PRWEB) September 1, 2004 — PM Amusements, a full-service event planning company, today announced it has acquired Distinctive Party Design, formerly known as Westchester Party Design. The acquisition supports PM Amusement™s strategy to be the area’s largest one-stop event planner with the most diverse and convenient suite of event capabilities for corporate and private events. Established in 1980, PM Amusements provides event/theme planning, amusement rental, and entertainment throughout the tri-state area and beyond. Distinctive Party Design™s offerings include floral design, thematic event services, and customized décor including props, centerpieces, draping, lighting and signage. The combined team of on-site floral/art designers and event planning staff offer full event and conference planning expertise for catering facilities, corporations, event planners, country clubs, and hotels. Such corporate events comprise 75% of revenues, with the remaining 25% consisting of social events, such as bar mitzvahs and weddings. “Through our acquisition of Distinctive Party Design, we will expand upon our proven success in the event planning arena by extending our capabilities to include floral and décor services, said Mark Damiano, President, PM Amusements, who led the transaction. The acquisition constitutes a logical, strategic extension of our capabilities and we look forward to delivering the best event planning solutions available in this area. More than ever, our clients want one-stop shopping and find it difficult working with several vendors when planning an event, added Richard Randall, Creative Director/Event Planning Design. Joining forces with such a well-established company as PM Amusements will allow us to strengthen our respective portfolios and positions both entities for significant market growth. PM Amusement™s 20,000 square foot facility, which houses everything from air bounce rides to high-tech surfing simulators, is currently being renovated to accommodate Distinctive Party Design. The new on-site design studio and showroom featuring separate themed areas (i.e., nautical, western) boasts an extensive array of décor packages, custom thematic artwork, entertainment options, floral and design creations. Distinctive Party Design and PM Amusements have partnered on corporate and private events for several years. Their first collaborations under this new arrangement involved event management services for Westchester Country Club™s 75th anniversary gala and Stew Leonard™s company outing. PM Amusements and Distinctive Party Design are located at 36 Bush Avenue, Port Chester, NY. For additional information, call (914) 937-1188.

Tweet This Post 

Planning Special Events – Part One – by Heidi Richards, MS

If you are in the Event Planning Business the strategies needed to make an event memorable and profitable are extremely important. They require a certain amount of planning and a whole lot of commitment to achieve the ultimate goal: Having a Great Event with just the right number of attendees! An event, which leads to even more success, referrals, more business, and most likely more people committed to the project in the future.

A special event is an event with a specific purpose, such as a special occasion (celebration of a milestone, conference, party, awards ceremonies, fairs). They are different from ongoing programs.

Strategies for Success:

If a company or host has hired you, they have already determined that the purpose of the event is important enough to warrant the expense and time necessary to put it on. If you are a volunteer leader, this must be the first step in determining whether or not to pursue the idea.

Do you need a team of volunteers/paid staff to execute a successful event? Involve your team in the planning. This core group will help develop the “theme, select the location, and determine who else should be involved.

Determine the purpose of the event. Is it to make money? Is it to increase awareness of the product or company or organization? Is it to celebrate a success or a milestone? It might be a combination of all three. Once you know the purpose, you can plan accordingly.

Who is the target market? As an Event Planner, you may not be involved in that part of the planning. Your job may be just to stage an extraordinary event. The company or organization may be responsible for attendance.

How will you measure the success of the event? By the number of attendees, by the amount of money raised, by the number of people interested in helping out with future events?

If this event has been hosted in the past, talk with others who have worked on it before. Get their advice and support. Seeking the opinions and advice of others will help to elicit support for future success of the event. Find out what went right, what went wrong and how they measured success in the past. What are/were their expectations of this event? Were those expectations met or exceeded? If not, what would they have done differently? This will help you develop your Master Plan.

© 2005 – Heidi Richards

Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is also the Founder & CEO of the Women’s ECommerce Association, International www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) – an Internet organization that “Helps Women Do Business on the WEB.” Basic Membership is FREE. Ms. Richards can be reached at Heidi@speakingwithspirit.com or heidi@wecai.org.

Tweet This Post 

Nationally Renown Event Planner D.R. Roberts Launches Web Site Featuring Extensive Services, Impressive Client List and Areas of Expertise – by Deanna R. Roberts

Budweiser, Dental Health Foundation, Gatorade, Golden State Warriors, Oakland Raiders, and Tanqueray are just a few of D.R. Roberts™ satisfied clients across the U.S. Are you planning an event and agonizing over the details? You needn™t any longer. D.R. Roberts Event Management, Inc., an experienced full service event planning company, is prepared to handle your private, corporate or public affair from beginning to end … from concept to conclusion. Oakland, CA (PRWEB) February 7, 2005 — Art auctions, conferences, corporate parties, cultural festivals, fundraising galas, group travel tours, health fairs, sporting events, weddings; D.R. Roberts Event Management, Inc. has successfully planned and produced all of these events and countless others throughout the United States. Known nationwide as the Event Doctor, Deanna R. Roberts has over 10 years experience fulfilling clients’ dreams and exceeding their expectations. Today the company announced the launch of its new information-filled web site (www.RobertsEvents.com). The Event Doctor has the natural talent and professional training to turn mere ideas into extraordinarily successful quality affairs. Roberts skillfully attends to every detail for each event and activity the company plans, produces or manages. When D.R. Roberts Event Management, Inc. is in charge of planning an event, its clients are presented with an event plan, cost estimates and timeline so there are no surprises along the way. Nationwide, Roberts has considerable professional contacts and resources to ensure successfully produced events anywhere in the country. The company is able to approach every project with the confidence that it can provide venues, speakers, caterers, presentation displays and decorations for any occasion. Events planned by D.R. Roberts leave memorable impressions. Particularly interested in sporting events, Roberts has applied expertise and professionalism to planning special events for the NBA, NFL, PGA and college sports programs, as well as community sports activities. Following a cultural festival that D. R. Roberts Event Management, Inc. planned in last year, the company received a host of praises such as one from a festival vendor. “Raise a club to D.R. Roberts Event Management! The Literacy Classic event was great! It was the most organized, no-hassle event I have ever participated in, and I’ve participated in several. Keep me in mind for any events that you handle where Urban Golf Gear can participate. It will be a pleasure to do business with your company again. Thanks!” That says it all! Demonstrating the level of Roberts™ expertise, two years ago, the CEO began teaching Special Event courses at the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State University. Visit www.RobertsEvents.com to learn more about the talents and services D.R. Roberts Event Management, Inc. offers.

Tweet This Post 

Next Page »