Themes and Innovation
An event planner's job is to make their client's dreams come true. This is where planners
prove their worth. They should tell you not only that your ideas can be accomplished, but
also know exactly how it will be accomplished.
The basic rule of thumb when doing this is: first, create an extravagant "wow" factor. This
doesn't have to necessarily be the most expensive budget line item, but definitely the
most eye-catching. Next, focus on making the key elements look the part. Spread the
bulk of your budget in this area. Finally, isolate the select items that you can get away
with inexpensively, and make it a point to keep those on a low dollar figure.
Got that? 1. "Wow" factor. 2. Focus on what's important. 3. Spend thriftly on what's
not. And there you have it! A really simple, but very effective method of creating a great
themed event, with any sized budget.
Now, theory is worth absolutely nothing without a bit of practical application. So let's take
these two examples (true war stories from recent history).
1. 1st Birthday
A client wanted a first birthday party for her son at a private estate. She had a decent
sized budget and wanted all guests to really remember this event.
The wow factor was miniaturizing. We created a buffet tent complete with custom-made
short tent legs so that only 4 year olds could fit inside without bending down and a
customized buffet table to allow the children to serve themselves with finger sized foods.
The children then sat at low tables on grass mats, a perfect height for them.
The two other key areas were the game area and the parent's area. We made sure that
the game areas (face painting, fishing, etc) were really well designed and didn't look half-
rate. We created a seperate tented area just off to the side for parents, with their own
buffet, so they could sit there and relax, but still be very close to their children and watch
them carefully.
Finally, it was not a high-end event, so all the products were disposable, and all food was
self-serve. A minimal amount of money was spent on waitstaff or catering product.
2. An Autumn Wedding
Another client wanted a beautiful fall-themed wedding. The couple was involved in the
wedding industry so they wanted something really elegant, but at the same time, truly
unique.
The wow factor was trees. We took old tangled tree branches (8' - 15' tall), decorated
them with crystals and dark flowers, and "planted" them inside the tent, amongst the
guest tables. This created a mood of guests dining in a forest.
The other key areas were the tabletops and lighting. The linen was a copper irridescent
crush, and although it was as food station event, a setting of diningware was pre-set at
the tables to give them impression of a full table. The lighting was all pin spots and
twinkle lights, which gave the location a very sultry, dark taste, perfect for a fall night.
Finally, the couple decided that they needed to cut their budget by using basic black
plastic plates and "reflections" silverware (inexpensive, metal foil plastic forks and
knives), at a cost of less than $1.00 per guest.
So remember, to create a memorable themed event, just keep in mind those three
criteria, and let your imagination run wild... at least until your budget runs out.
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