Handcrafted menus and favours we did as a last minute addition.
As strange as it might sound, I always enjoy the last few days before a large event is about to take place. For me it’s like tying a big ribbon onto the top of a gift. People often comment about how stressful it must be. Truth be told, this is the time when I have the greatest amount of fun and the months of planning start to pay off.  In the week or two prior to any big event I take the time to consider these three things:
1)  What can I do to make my client feel good and at ease? Sometimes it is a reassuring email or phone call. Often it’s showing them a completed event summary (aka run of show) that lists the timing and details. Most importantly it’s maintaining a positive upbeat attitude that shows control and confidence. I make sure I leave some time to help out with any last minute running around my client may not have time for.
2)  Do my event suppliers have all the information they require? I do this by sending an event overview including a phone number and email in which they can easily reach me onsite. I also make sure to keep a list of event suppliers and key players close at hand. It’s a great reference when starting to plan the event in future years if it happens to be an annual gig.
Door Prizes we put together for an ’80’s themed Awards Ceremony.
3)Â Â What are a few things I can do to enhance the event?
- By this stage in the game I have a very good idea of where my budget is. If there is some room, I might add a few door prizes. For one particular event I had just enough funds left to add a chocolate fountain (for 500 people).
- For my next event, I designed, created, printed and framed signs to match the theme for the registration table – in part to enhance the décor and in part to serve a functional purpose. Not something that we had planned on but an easy extra requiring little to no budget. Maybe I have the time to create individual menus for each place setting. This is the perfect opportunity to add something fun and exceed your client’s expectations.
- I always make sure to bring a little something to thank the committee chair or any other key players. For my Paris themed holiday gala I found beautiful Eiffel tower Christmas ornaments to give each of the committee members to remember their contribution and efforts for years to come.
A few thank you flowers we made for our Committee Members.
Well with our next event just a few days away, I’d better get back to the preparations…..and my glass of wine.
Happy planning everyone!
