| I love entertaining and planning parties but these | | | | the bulk of your purchase. Plan wisely keeping in mind |
| festivities can get pretty costly and could take up a | | | | flavors and prices per serving. Some bakers charge |
| lot of your time. Some feel that have no time to plan | | | | by size of the cake and some may charge per |
| and claim to have little or no creativity and would | | | | serving and always express what you have available |
| rather hire a party planner to handle it. I can admit | | | | to spend. There is nothing worse than falling in love |
| that after planning for food, cake, decorations, gifts, | | | | with an idea that you can't afford. |
| table settings and entertainment, you could easily | | | | Utilize your computer for tutorials and other free |
| spend a pretty penny and get overwhelmed. But as | | | | information on websites like You Tube and search |
| an event planner myself I plan to teach you how to | | | | engines as Google. The ideas and creativity are |
| use your own resources to plan, with few or minimal | | | | endless on the World Wide Web. Many pros often |
| purchases to decorate, and entertain your next | | | | refer back to ideas found online, books or even in |
| occasion with ease. | | | | blogs. It is a good way to keep up with current |
| You may wonder why I would take such a risk when | | | | trends and tips. |
| this could easily have been an article selling myself | | | | If you are planning to ask friends and family |
| and my services. Well I believe we all learn from each | | | | members for help. Always make sure it is something |
| other and I did not wake up and decide to be in the | | | | they can do without your help. For instance if your |
| event planning business, it came to me after seeing | | | | cousin wants to help but is known to procrastinate. |
| how easy it is to plan these events with a little time | | | | Give them something that is not time sensitive or |
| and patience. | | | | short tasks that can be completed before they get |
| When planning for your next event the first thing | | | | distracted. In other words find and utilize their |
| you should always do is a sketch. Even if you are not | | | | strengths. |
| an artist you can doddle some items on a page to | | | | Now that you have checked off some items as done |
| get an idea rolling. I find sketches to be useful for | | | | or have designated task to get done, you can begin |
| current events and can also be saved for future | | | | planning for your favors and gifts. Items that are |
| events and just think, If you forget a detail you will | | | | perishable should obviously be prepared as close to |
| always have a blue print of your original idea to refer | | | | the date of your event as possible again leaving |
| back to. | | | | room for under estimating because we will always |
| Next of course should be your budget. How much do | | | | run into some sort of mishap if we don't plan for it. If |
| you have to spend on your ideas. Separating each | | | | you still have a few weeks left for your event and |
| into categories, such as decorations with sub | | | | most of these items have been completed already, |
| categories listing items like balloons, table cloths, | | | | then it's safe to say you have taken important steps |
| centerpieces, etc. Or Food with menu selections and | | | | to planning your first event. Now the rest of the |
| sub categories listing utensils and other items needed | | | | details, like food, drinks, music and entertainment |
| to keep things rolling smoothly. | | | | should be designed to coordinate with your event. If |
| Now to the fun stuff, Once you have your idea in | | | | you are planning a kids party, your choices should be |
| place and you know how much you plan to spend | | | | age appropriate. If you are planning an anniversary |
| you can begin putting things together. I try to plan | | | | dinner maybe you can use items that are sentimental |
| for events a month or more in advance. Leaving time | | | | to the couple you are celebrating. |
| to shop around for discounts and clip and use | | | | I believe once you have planned your first successful |
| coupons. By now you should have your color scheme | | | | event, these items will begin to come to you with |
| and decorations sort out, leaving room for | | | | ease, and you will develop confidence and experience |
| corrections if you under or over estimated some | | | | and begin to have fun with planning events. Hopefully |
| where. | | | | these tips were helpful in assisting you with planning |
| If you are not a baker, then I would say to begin | | | | your next event, we will discuss favors, and other |
| shopping around for a baker or bakery for your | | | | popular party items and where to find them or how |
| cake, cupcakes or other dessert choices. This should | | | | to make them. Together we can accomplish the |
| be about a couple of weeks to a month before your | | | | biggest task there is, planning and organizing a |
| event depending on the availability of your cake | | | | successful party. |
| decorator. Hopefully this and maybe the food will be | | | | |