Event Planning Part 4 - The Meat and Potatoes of Event Planning

Choosing Your Menu

One of the most talked about aspects of any event is the menu. People love to eat and if they are invited to a party, one of the things they will usually be most excited about is the food.

It can be a daunting task, planning an entire menu for a group of twenty, thirty or three hundred people. But with some careful thought and proper event planning, you can prepare a menu that will not only satisfy your guest's appetites but it will impress them as well.

If the group that you are hosting is large, hiring an event planner might be in your best interest. The reason for this is that local event planners generally have an outstanding relationship with caterers. They know who is good, who serves what and which catering company will satisfy all of your dining needs. A benefit to hiring a catering company is that they handle all aspects of beverages and food. All you need to do is sit down with the person planning your event and decide on a menu that will fit into both the appetites of your guests and your budget. Armed with this information, the event planner will contact several caterers get a quote on your party and then come back to you with a few finalists. You'll be able to not only meet with the caterers, but generally you can also get a taste test of what they have to offer. This is a great approach because then you, as the host, are fully prepared for what will be served to your guests the day of the event.

If your soiree is a smaller affair, than you might decide to handle the event planning details of it yourself. This includes taking on the planning of the menu. In this case you'll consider whether a cocktail party, a sit down dinner or a buffet might be in order. Each of these alternatives offers distinct benefits. If you decide on a cocktail party, you'll need to choose several hors d'oeuvres that your guests will enjoy. It's usually prudent to plan on a few of each for every person attending. If you plan in that fashion, you won't be embarrassed by running short of food.

A dinner party or buffets are also good choices for a party. Depending on the number of guests invited you can plan either without too much difficulty. One important note is that whenever you are event planning and the function will include food it's wise to consider whether any of your guests have special needs when it comes to food. This can include things like diabetes or food allergies. If you are having someone attend who is highly allergic to a food, try not to serve that food at all.

When it comes to event planning, menu planning is a big factor. If you consider the size of your guest list and the time of the event, you can choose foods and presentation that fit the tone of your party to a tee.

Event Planning Part 3 - The First Step in Event Planning

Choosing the Invitations

Whenever you throw a party the first thing you consider is who you are going to invite. The guest list is important because the number of people attending has a direct impact on the venue and also on the menu. Whether you've hired someone to do your event planning for you, or you've taken on the task yourself, it's important to make a list of the invitees and then decide on the best method of asking them to attend.

If the event is a wedding, formal invitations are sent out months before the big day. Generally the bride and the groom visit a stationary store. If you do have the benefit of having a professional helping with the event planning, they may attend as well. Once there, you'll peruse various books with samples of wedding invitations. There are so many choices that the decision can seem almost overwhelming.

Once a style is chosen, an order is placed for the appropriate number of invitations based on your guest list. If you're tackling the job of addressing all the envelopes yourself, it's a good idea to ask for the assistance of someone you know with excellent handwriting. If someone is handling the event planning, they may secure the services of a calligrapher who will complete the envelopes for you. This is the preferred method by many engaged couples because it adds a simple elegance to the invitation.

If your event is just as important but on a smaller scale, as in a birthday party, you can approach invitations several ways. There are many event planning websites on the internet that offer templates for birthday invitations. A parent can download one of these and fill in the pertinent information, even personalizing the invitations for the children.

Children enjoy this because they automatically feel special when they see their name on the card announcing the party. If you've hired a professional to handle the event planning for the party, they might suggest an alternative for invitations or they may just request the guest list and handle the invitation design and mailing themselves.

The same approach is often taken for events such as wedding showers or baby showers. The invitations are designed to reflect the occasion. Anyone who has ever received a baby shower invitation appreciates the added benefit of a gift registry being mentioned in the invitation. Event planning services generally can aid the expectant parents in setting up their gift registry. It's a wise idea because new parents normally need so many small things, and allowing the guests to choose from a list makes the gift buying part of the event much easier.

Regardless of your event, if invitations are appropriate, it's important to get them out early and ask the invitees to respond regarding whether or not they can attend. This is essential for proper event planning because once you have a good idea of the size of the crowd; you can successfully plan on the other details that will make your party the best it can be.

Other helpful information regarding this can be found at:
Pearson's Renaissance Shoppe


For More Information Contact:
Hailey Pearson
Pearson's Renaissance Shoppe
Where the Past is Present
http://www.pearsonsrenaissanceshoppe.com