Event Planning Resources

We love empowering others and have designed these tips for the event planning newbies. No added fluff to get your mind spinning even faster. Just the brass tacks.


F&B Budget Savers

  • At standing events/receptions, most guests consume 2 drinks in their first hour and 1 drink per hour thereafter.

  • Need to cut bar costs? Bottled beer drains your budget more than most other beverages.

(more budget savers coming soon)


A Better Guest Experience

  • Ask yourself: what would I need if I were attending this event? It may seem like a simple question but pausing to ask this question will open you up to things you didn’t think about, from parking maps to welcome beverages and late night snacks.

  • Standing events or those with no formal meal should still have seating for 70% of attendees. This can scale up or down depending on things like attendee age, event duration, or presentations/speeches.

  • Restroom accessibility is at the top of the list for what guests remember, regardless of indoor/outdoor or how busy the event is.

  • Self serve water stations cut down on bar lines, and their accessibility makes it easier for guests to stay hydrated.

  • Reception music should be quiet enough where guests can speak at a normal volume.


How to Hire Vendors

  • Know who you want and ready to reach out to them? Don’t forget to share these crucial details:

    • Event Date

    • Start and end time

    • Headcount

    • Location

    • Format (e.g. seated dinner, standing reception, casual party with partial seating)

    • Your vision and specific desires

  • Don’t know where to start? We created a Vendor Sourcing “How To”! If you’ve never booked a vendor before, you may be wondering where to start. In this guide we’ll break it down into these 3 approachable steps:

    • Initial Inquiries

    • Solidifying Vendor Details

    • Confirmations


Happy, Healthy Vendor Relationships

  • Respect their expertise. You hired them for a reason!

  • Use thorough but concise communication. Most vendors love bullet points.

  • Tip in cash, where applicable. This helps them cut down on credit card fees, which can be really taxing (no pun) for small businesses

  • Leave a review on the site of their choice


Decor

  • Empty space is good. Don’t be afraid to use less decor than you planned.

  • Place bigger decorations, first. Then fill in empty spaces with smaller pieces.

  • When in doubt, decor is better in 3’s

Adrienne Hollie

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