31/05/2020
6 TIPS FOR PLANNING AND BUDGETING YOUR EVENT
The key to not overspending is planning. It’s as simple as that. That’s why I’ve learned the pre event planning is as important as the day of the event. When you have a strong foundation, there will be less wrinkles the day of and you will likely stay within your budget.
1. Understand who your audience is. You are going to want to pick a different color scheme or theme depending on if you are doing an event for a middle school, or for a 85-year-old’s birthday party. Try to think of things that match your audience. LOOK on PINTEREST. Pin color schemes you like or styles. THIS IS THE TIME TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN!
2. PICK YOUR THEME AND STICK WITH IT. This is sometimes difficult to do. I would say if you don’t have a vision in your head, it’s easy to get lost. Before purchasing an item, ask yourself “does this fit my colors? Does this fit with the other Décor?” if not, you don’t need it.
3. Determine a budget and your main pieces. I find the part I like the least about events is money! Whether you are planning your own wedding with a budget of $5,000 or a budget of $100 for a school sponsored dance, you must be aware of the budget in relation to what you want to see happen. Look up basic costs to make an archway or to hire a DJ before sticking to a plan. Sometimes a tight budget requires you to make sacrifices but focus on the pieces you want to shine!
4. Layout your event. Whether the event is in your living room or a grand hall, visit the space and visualize where you want things to go. It can be as simple as making a couple of notes of the area and getting dimensions for the space. Then, once you have time, try your best to create your own floorplan. I can’t tell you how much money it saves you when you know what you want before you start buying. It also helps you stay focused on the theme.
5. Make a list of everything you will need. This is everything from spray glue to tablecloths. It is important to make a rough estimate of the cost of everything you need to buy. This allows you to see where you need to cut back, or where you have a little wiggle room. I like to set aside $100 (or a reasonable amount) for day of emergencies. Just in case something isn’t working properly, or you need more flowers.
6. Plan out your time. Whether you have a year or 2 weeks, you need to plan it out! I personally love paper planners. I currently am using a Papier planner and I love it! I would highly recommend them. I like to make a big check list of everything that needs to get done before the event and (later) a list of day of things. Once I have made the list, I prioritize what needs to be done first. I then set due dates for parts of the event. If you are working with a crew it is also helpful to write this on a white board with assignments, so they know what still needs to be done.
Along with planners, if I don’t like my planner, I won’t use it. Make sure you find one with a lot of space to write and matches your style. Just like journals, you will never regret splurging on a good planner.
Once you have everything organized and you have done your research, you are ready to get started! I wish you the best of luck!
Let me know if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see!