Learning About Event Planning
About Me
Hi there, my name is Craig. Welcome to my site about event planning. When I was a young boy, I always helped my family members plan all of the party events. It often seemed like we were getting together for events every weekend. There were birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, retirement parties and holidays to plan and enjoy. I learned how to create menus, decorate venues and create guest lists starting at an early age. I still enjoy these activities when I get a chance to plan events. I will use this site to teach others how to plan their upcoming events. Thanks for visiting.
Fun Touches To Add To A Golfing Event You Host For Your Business
If you are a manager of a large business, and you wish to host a corporate event for your sales representatives, employees, and dedicated customers, a day of competitive golfing is an excellent way to thank those who make your business successful in a fun and festive way. There are several enhancements you can incorporate into a day of golfing to personalize the experience for those attending the event. Here are some touches that will pique interest and promote your business in a positive way.
Entice Potential Participants Attending With A List Of Events
It is a good idea to have an official schedule of events printed to mail and hand out to participants before the day of the golfing event arrives. This can serve as an invitation to the event and will be helpful in drawing the interest of those invited. Make sure to break down the event by time so those who decide to come will have an idea about when game play will be in session.
Host A Contest To Give The Event A Fun Competition
A friendly competition will make your event fun for those attending. Consider giving out prizes to those who received the lowest golfing scores overall as well as whoever gets their ball closest to the ball collection cup on each hole. Teams can be constructed and prizes can be given out to the team with the best score as well. Hand out playing cards on specific holes to those playing and give a prize to the participant that has the best poker hand at the end of the golf match.
Provide Music, Food, And Merchandise For Those Attending
Your golfing event should also have activities available for those who are not avid golf players so they have something to look forward to when their game has ended. Consider hiring a local disc jockey or enlist a radio station to broadcast live during your event. The music should not be played until the last golfer finishes their game. When the celebration begins, serve food and drinks to those who played. A tent can be set up on an area of the golf grounds where game play is not permitted or a golf course with a fancy hall for rent can be used for this purpose. Give out promotional items such as T-shirts, pens, or golf paraphernalia with the date and name of your event so those who attended will have a memory of the fun they had.
For more tips and ideas, contact an event planning company in your area.
Save the Date: Choosing the Wedding Planner That’s Right for You
When you get engaged, the minute details of the wedding you’re going to have are probably the furthest thing from your mind. As days pass and you get closer to the big day, however, these details can seem incredibly overwhelming. This is why most people hire a wedding planner. But how do you know which wedding planner you can say “I do” with and which ones you just can’t tie the knot with? If you’re looking for a few hints on choosing the wedding planner that’s right for you, then here’s what you need to know.
What Exactly Do They Do?
Not all wedding planners are created equal. Some handle only logistics (how to get everyone where they need to be when they need to be there), while some add vendors to logistics (finding florists, caterers, waitstaff, cleaning crews, etc.), and some take care of every detail, from cake to seating and everything in between. You’ll want to make sure you know what level of involvement you’re looking for before you start interviewing wedding planners. The last thing you want to do is to fall in love with a planner only to find out that they really only do logistics when you want the whole package.
A few good questions to ask here are what kinds of planning they do, whether they have ever done full-service planning before (if that’s what you want), and if they use specific vendors or are open to using the ones you prefer.
Do They Respect Your Budget?
One of the most important parts of a wedding is coming in under budget. Weddings can be extremely expensive, but if your planner pays careful attention to your budget, you can have the day of your dreams without paying for it for the next five years. Some wedding planners give lip service to your budget but end up going over in order to give you what they call “the experience.” If your budget is iron-clad, make sure they know that, and make sure they respect it.
Questions about how many weddings have they gone over and under budget on, any particularly good deals they’ve struck, and their relationships with local vendors are all important to ask here.
How Do They Get Along with You?
It does no good to have the best wedding planner available if you just can’t stand each other. Remember, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person, and that time will be some of the more stressful that you’ve had in your life, especially as you get closer and closer to the big day. Finding a planner whose personality meshes well with your and your spouse’s personalities and who can keep a cool head in cases where things don’t go as planned is a necessity.
Ask questions about things like the most stressful wedding they’ve done and how they handled the situation, how often you would be able to communicate with them, and the kinds of weddings they prefer to do so that you can get a good grasp of both their abilities and their character.
To start looking for a great wedding planner, speak with venues such as The Manoa Grand Ballroom, since venues often have planners on staff or know of good planners they have worked with in the past.
Two NLP Techniques You Are Already Using
Neuro-linguistic programming, more commonly called NLP, is a way to program the mind through language and other methods. This approach is becoming more and more popular as a way to improve how you feel about yourself and communicate more effectively than others. This is typically done through a number of methods you can learn, but there are also some things you may already be using without being aware that they are NLP techniques. Here are two of them.
Reframing Negative Situations
One NLP technique you might already be familiar with without knowing it is reframing a negative situation. When someone tells you to “look on the bright side” or you say “at least something worse didn’t happen,” you’re in fact programming your mind to reject something negative and accept a more positive outlook. Most people use reframing casually, but you can use the technique on a regular basis to start feeling better about things that are upsetting you.
If you lost a job, for example, you can get serious about reframing in order to cope with the frustration and anger you may be feeling. You can sit down and write a list of things that are in fact better now that you don’t have a job. For example, you might write down that you don’t have to get up at dawn. You might be able to sleep later. You might be able to spend more time working on creative endeavors. By actively searching for things that are good about your “bad” situation, you are reframing the way you think about it and that can ease your mind and open you up to new possibilities.
Anchoring Positive Feelings
Another NLP technique that you are likely already doing is the practice of anchoring. When you are about to hit the town with friends, do you start playing your favorite upbeat songs while you get ready? When you hear your favorite upbeat songs later in a store or on television, don’t you want to call up your pals and head out for fun? That is an example of anchoring.
Anchoring is the practice of tying an emotional “anchor” to a physical action you take so that when you want to feel that particular emotion, all you need do is to perform the physical action you’ve tied to it. You might do this on purpose; if you want to feel happier every time you squeeze your hands together, for instance, you simply need to do what’s called “setting an anchor.” Sit and think of happy times in your life as you squeeze your hands together, and NLP thinking dictates that, later, when you are not in such a great mood, all you need to do in order to feel better is to squeeze your hands together. You may want to set the anchor multiple times over a period of time in order for this to be effective when you need it.
Now that you know about the NLP techniques you might already be using, you might be interested in learning more about other techniques. Try to find the best NLP training events in your neighborhood so that you can start to learn NLP from professionals who can give you the information you need to succeed.
Three Tips For Choosing The Perfect Venues For Your Wedding And Reception
If you have recently gotten engaged and are now ready to plan your wedding, determining where you want to have it is essential. The guide below walks you through a few things to consider when picking the right venue for your wedding.
Consider When You Want to Get Married
The first thing you need to do is consider when you want to get married. You do not have to pinpoint an exact date, but knowing which season you would like to get married in will help you narrow down the possible wedding ceremony locations that are available to you. You do not want to get married outside in the cold if you are planning a winter wedding.
Consider How Many People You Want to Have at the Wedding
Next, you need to consider how many people you want to have at your wedding. If you plan to invite a lot of people, you will need to choose a venue that is large enough to accommodate the guests. You do not need to create the actual guest list when you are first choosing your venue, but getting a rough estimate can help you ensure you choose a venue that is large or small enough to suit your needs.
Consider If You Want to Have the Reception at the Same Venue
You need to consider if you want to have the wedding and reception at the same venue or if you would like to have the reception at a different venue. There are many wedding reception venues that provide you with the perfect atmosphere to celebrate your nuptials with friends and family, but are not ideal for the ceremony portion of your special day. If you plan to get married in a church and then want to have a reception somewhere else, be sure that the venue for the reception is somewhat close to the church where you will be married so that your guests can easily find the reception venue after the wedding.
When you go to book the venue location, the associate at the venue will be able to walk you through everything that is included in the booking of the venue and the dates that they have available for your big day. If you are getting married at one place and having a reception at another venue, be sure to coordinate with both venues to ensure that you can book them both on the same day.
Special Event Floral Arrangements
Flowers and plants are very effective when used as room decorations for special events such as wedding receptions, banquets, and corporate events. Floral arrangements can be delicate or bold and add color and texture as design elements in a banquet hall or special event tent. When placed strategically, floral arrangements can direct guests where you wish them to walk or look. Here are some unique floral arrangements that can make your special event a memorable occasion:
- Hanging Floral Arrangements – For a unique approach to special event floral arrangements, hang your arrangements from the ceiling and have them cascade down onto guest dining tables. Blossoms and greens can be strung onto long clear wires to form columns of vegetation or a delicate rain of flowers. Floral globes or individual blossoms can hang from a grid on the ceiling to create a shower of flowers above the guests’ heads. When these arrangements are well lit, they can transform a banquet hall into an outdoor garden with their colors, textures, and designs. These arrangements are especially effective in large halls with tall ceilings, and can also work well outdoors when hung from trees.
- Floral Garlands – Flowers and greenery can also be hung on walls and curtains to create lush garlands that softly drape and create walls of vegetation. These garlands can be made of seasonal fresh flowers or even silk blossoms. They are very effective on canopies where a guest speaker may deliver his message or a bride and groom may stand to take their wedding vows.
- Floral Backdrops – Another dramatic way to display flowers and greenery is to create an entire free-standing wall that is covered in moss and lichen and then encrusted with floral blooms of different colors and shapes. This wall of flowers works well when using different colors of flowers that gradate from one color to another color such as from white to yellow to pink to purple. This flower wall also works well for guests to stand in front of to have their pictures taken.
- Floral Paths – To create an aisle or path that is separate from the rest of the banquet hall, a path of potted plants can sit on the floor in long rows of planters. This will keep the interior path free from walking guests until the planters are moved to other areas.
- Floral Arrangement Vases – Blossoms of a single type of flower can be displayed in oversized clear glass columnar vases filled with water and interspersed with clear glass balls or marbles. These floral arrangements are most effective when lit by spotlights from underneath. These floral arrangement columns are eye-catching because of the light that travels the full length of the glass vase and is magnified by the water and glass balls.
By incorporating a few of the above ideas you can create a unique look and atmosphere for your special event that is completely accomplished by flowers. These floral arrangements are most effective when coupled with theatrical lighting. For more information, visit http://aladdinsflorist.com or a similar website.
Rent A Mechanical Bull To Make Any Surprise Party Even More Enjoyable
Throwing a surprise party for someone can sometimes be difficult to do. If you want to throw a fun and exciting party for a friend or family member, consider renting a mechanical bull for the event. When renting a mechanical bull, there are things that you need to know though. The guide below walks you through what you need to take into consideration before renting.
Determine How Much Space the Mechanical Bull Needs
When you call to rent the mechanical bull, you need to ask the company how much room they need for the bull to be able to operate properly. The bull will spin and buck so you want to be sure it is not located near a wall or staircase. Also, the company will need to have space to put down padding around the bull so no one is hurt when they fall off of it.
Determine What You Want to Use to Create a Barrier
You will need to create a barrier around the edges of the mat to ensure no one walks onto the mat while someone is riding the bull. If you plan to have the bull indoors, consider using couches or chairs around the mat to create a barrier. If you plan to operate the bull outdoors, you could stick wooden stakes into the ground and then lace the stakes through pallets that are stood on their side to create a barrier.
Consider the Electrical Supply
When you rent a mechanical bull, there needs to be a power supply in order for the bull to operate. Be sure to ask the rental company if they have a generator they can use to power the bull, if you plan to use the bull outdoors. If they do not, you may need to supply one for the company to use.
Consider the Time Frame for the Rental
Finally, you need to consider how long you want to rent the bull for. You need to be sure the company has plenty of time to set up the bull and the padding before your guests start to arrive. The associate at the rental company should be able to let you know how long they need to set up the bull and the mats.
Everyone will be able to have a great time on the bull and show off their riding skills. Be sure to have props, such as stylish hats for people to wear to make the pictures and videos from the party even more humorous. For more party rental options and information, contact companies like Ken Rent.
Wedding Venues: Don’t Let Hidden Costs Creep Up On You
When it comes to renting a wedding venue, you expect it to cost a significant amount of money. You expect there to be a variety of expenses tacked on to the initial rental cost as well. However, there are some that you will never even see coming your way. In fact, here are some of those hidden costs for two wedding venues:
Wedding Venue #1: The Rustic Barn
If you are going for a simple, rustic wedding, then a barn is the ideal location. However, if you are choosing a barn on a local property that has sentimental value to you or your significant other, it probably doesn’t have modern amenities. Therefore, it can take a lot of work and money to get a barn in good enough shape for the wedding day.
- Bathrooms – Most barns aren’t going to have nearby bathrooms, so you’ll need to bring in porta potties. More than likely, you’ll want something more sophisticated than the basic style.
- Generators – While barns have a natural charm to them, they don’t always have electricity. This means you’ll need to supply that.
- Climate Control – In the winter, you will need space heaters. In the summer, you will need fans.
- Lighting – Unless the barn has a significant amount of windows or your wedding is being held in the afternoon, you will need some light.
- Cleaning – Barns aren’t known for their cleanliness, so a professional cleaning service may be required to eliminate dust, dirt and spiders.
Wedding Venue #2: The Exotic Destination
Destination weddings are fun and exotic, but they’re also expensive.
- At Least Two Planning Trips – While planning remotely will work for some couples, others will want to actually visit the destination in person to take care of any preparations and fine-tune the details. So, you will visit the destination at least once before the actual wedding day, which means that you will need to pay for hotel, food and transportation twice.
- Transportation – Speaking of transportation, you will need to pay for your hairstylist, makeup artist and photographer to get to the locale – unless you’re hiring locally. Even without these individuals, your bridal party may assume that you should pay for their transportation expenses. If you’re not, you need to make this clear ahead of time.
- Regional Marriage Requirements – Some countries require that you and your soon-to-be spouse be in the country for a certain period of time prior to getting hitched, so this will need to be factored into your costs. Some aren’t as strict as others. In fact, some countries don’t have requirements. For example, in Jamaica, it’s only 24 hours. However, in France, at least one of you must be in France for 40 consecutive days before the wedding.
- Second Reception – Because some people may be unable to attend your destination wedding and reception, will you plan a second reception to celebrate your marriage with your loved ones and friends who were unable to fly out?
While these costs may be worth it in the end to you, it is important to understand that you may be draining your life savings in order to make these locales work. For that reason, you will want to keep these potentially hidden costs in mind as you consider these venues for your wedding, or ones like Rolling Meadows Ranch. Make sure you take the time to truly consider them before signing any contracts.
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Selecting Your Ideal Wedding Hall
Choosing a wedding hall is arguably one of the most important decisions you’ll face during the wedding-planning process. This is the place where you will not only tie the knot with your partner, but enjoy dinner and dance the night away with your loved ones. As you shop around for wedding halls, however, there are some common mistakes that you’ll want to be careful to avoid.
Underestimating Your Guest Count
All wedding halls will have “maximum capacity” limits that cannot be surpassed during your event due to local fire codes and other regulations. Therefore, you’ll want to be careful about falling in love with a venue that’s too small for the anticipated size of your wedding. Avoid underestimating your guest count; if anything, you’ll want to overestimate to be sure that you choose a venue that can accommodate all of your guests.
Failing to Negotiate on Price
Many people don’t realize it, but most wedding halls out there are willing to negotiate when it comes to pricing. This is especially true for venues that offer a number of services, such as catering, bar services, DJs, and more. Of course, it all depends on demand. If you’re holding your wedding on a popular date (such as Valentine’s Day), your negotiating powers may not be as high as if you were to hold your event on a random Saturday in February.
Not Reading the Fine Print Before Deciding
No matter how much you have fallen in love with a wedding hall, it’s imperative that you read through your contract carefully before you sign it or place any kind of deposit. There could be stipulations or rules in place that you’re not in agreement with. Specifically, be sure to look for restrictions on decorating and noise levels.
Assuming You Have to Hold a Saturday Wedding
Finally, if you’re on a budget, don’t assume that you have to hold your wedding on a Saturday. You might be surprised to learn just how much money you can save by having your wedding on a Friday, Sunday, or any other day of the week that works for you. Because demand for wedding halls and other services is lower on these days, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars these days.
By being careful to avoid these mistakes when it comes to choosing your ideal wedding hall, you can ultimately make the decision that’s right for you.
Tying The Knot: Choosing The Best Banquet Hall For Your Reception
If you’re planning a wedding, the reception is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the experience. The reception is a time when family and friends get to celebrate your new marriage, and you certainly want the experience to be a wonderful, memorable one. If you’re considering renting a banquet hall to host your guests after the big ceremony, here are some important things to take into consideration.
Seating And Layout
Of course, you want everyone to be seated comfortably with ample room. Take a look at the banquet hall’s layout so you can prepare for table and chair setup. If you plan to have a DJ and a dance floor, you’ll need the venue to have a large area where people can gather and groove to the music. Narrow long-shaped banquet halls may not provide your guests with enough room to easily maneuver through and socialize. Make sure the place you choose will have plenty of space for everyone to gather and eat as well as enough room to set up buffet tables and entertainment.
Location
Just like in real estate, the location of your selected banquet hall is important. Try to find a banquet hall with a location that’s close to the actual wedding ceremony venue so people won’t have to venture too far. If you have guests coming from out of town, be sure they book a hotel as close to the reception location as possible so it’s more convenient. Choose a location that is easy to find, and provide directions to the reception hall in your wedding invitation so people won’t get lost. Ideally, the wedding and reception can be held in the same place, but this may not be viable if your chosen banquet hall doesn’t offer you the accommodations needed for the ceremony portion of the wedding.
Views
Banquet halls can be found on golf courses, beachfront property, parks, and other scenic locations. A lovely view will definitely enhance your experience, so try to find a banquet hall that offers beautiful views as people mingle and celebrate. Buildings with large windows and a covered outdoor area will make the experience much nicer. Outdoor space gives guests the option to socialize outside and get fresh air. Finding a beautiful location doesn’t have to be too expensive; just look for places that are located in a nice area with little traffic and pleasant views. With proper planning and a little legwork, you can find a beautiful banquet hall that will give you lots of space in a terrific location that’s sure to bring you fond memories for years to come.
Make Your Company Picnic Comfortable And Convenient Using These Resources
Whether in your building’s parking lot, at a park, or in a rented space within your community, hosting a company picnic is an excellent way to show your support for employees and give them an opportunity to build camaraderie with one another. To ensure that the event is comfortable and convenient for everyone involved, consider implementing the following helpful resources as you plan:
Rent a Portable Cooling System
Renting a portable cooling system is an effective way to ensure that temperatures at your event are comfortable for every guest no matter their preferences. If your event is being held outdoors, set up an enclosed tent and put the cooling system inside it. This will give people who prefer cooler temperatures somewhere to hang out during the event, while everyone else takes advantage of the outdoor weather. Your chilled tent will provide a safe place to spend time if rain or wind shows up during the event. You can also rent upright low pressure misting fans and place them around your designated picnic area if the weather is expected to be hot and sunny. Contact a company like Fan Guy to look at various options.
Incorporate a Dumpster Rental
To help keep your picnic area clean throughout the event, rent a dumpster and have it placed nearby so guests know exactly where to put their trash. This will eliminate the need for having to put several garbage cans out and having to change them as the event unfolds. It will also minimize the need for guests to search for a place to put their trash, and it will decrease the chance that garbage ends up on the ground when all is said and done. You can use the sides of the dumpster to hang posters for the event, which will make it look a little more appealing.
Invest in an Inflatable Slide
If children are invited to the company picnic, consider investing in an inflatable slide and featuring it near the picnic tables. Place a few orange cones around the slide and put signs near the cones that designate the play area for guests only. This will give little ones a safe place to play so their parents can mingle with co-workers without having to constantly worry about what their kids are doing. It’s a good idea to ask for volunteers who are willing to take turns supervising the slide area throughout the event to minimize the chance of accidents.
To help fund these resources, consider holding a raffle at the event. Sell tickets for a dollar each and present a prize that your company already owns, such as one or two of your products and goody bags filled with promotional items.