Could seating charts be the hardest part of planning a wedding or dinner party? I just came across a user-friendly software that makes this lovely part a bit easier.  Perfect Table Plan loads your guests' contact information in a savvy manner and then not only keeps track of the RSVP status and meal preferences but allows you to drop and drag names into your custom "floor plan".  You can configure your floor plan with as many round, square or rectangle tables and easily indicate the number... Read Full Story

If the brown hotel foyer isn't the giving the hip vibe you envisioned for your wedding reception or cocktail party, have no fear, rental furniture is easy.  Adding a few funky chairs or a crisp white sofa to a lounge area can transform the overall feeling of your event. You can rent white tables with a light in your theme color inside the base, colorful pillows, mirrors and unique chairs guests will talk about.  I think pictures offer the most inspiration because the options are endless... Read Full Story

We spend so much time and energy securing wonderful event speakers, but our job's just beginning once the event speakers are booked. If you have the bandwidth, I recommend assigning someone on your team to be a fully dedicated speaker host.  If you don’t have this person, consider hiring someone very responsible to serve this role.  The speaker host will be the one waiting for the sedans to arrive, taking the call from the limo company when the client has been picked up from the airport... Read Full Story

Have you checked out Event Manager Blog.com yet?  If you're looking for another resource for our industry,  Australian event veteran Julius Solaris has created an incredibly insightful blog for professional event planners called Event Manager Blog.  With an International audience in mind, he provides reading suggestions, interviews with industry experts and poses great questions for the active online community.  A true believer in Open Source, Julius is currently working on an open source... Read Full Story

When you host a corporate party or conference the registration desk is often the first impression your guests have of your company and the event.  Naturally, you want the desk to look as organized and inviting as possible.  When setting up a registration desk I like to have one of each of the items the guest will receive in the welcome bag displayed on the desk, as well as the event agenda taped down.  You’ll probably want to have multiple copies of the guest list handy (keep this under the... Read Full Story

When looking into a tent rental there are many questions to ask and options to think through before signing the contract. Who'd have thought a tent could be so complex? A few things I like to consider when planning an event with a tent are are now posted in the Helpful Planning Tools  section under "Tent Rentals".   Have a great party. Read Full Story

Consider a creative, branded ice sculpture to add a little wow to your next party. Beyond the simple ice swan, ice sculptures can be carved into the shape of your or have a logo tastefully etched into the ice (which looks great with your theme color light shinning up from beneath). At weddings I think it looks so nice when the seafood is arranged on an ice bar. Done right, the ice sculpture can be so interesting you don't need to invest in other decor for a cocktail party. A few creative... Read Full Story

Remember how long it took to set up the Coleman camping tent when you were 14?  And your little brother forgot to put one stick back in the bag so the tent just won't stay up? Recalling these memories makes you think these tent companies have a very tough job - and nothing goes perfectly to schedule when it comes to tents. Set up and tear down can take anywhere from 4 hours to 14 hours, so plan accordingly when you book your venue.  At the very least you want the tent installed the day... Read Full Story

Are you looking for a way to really surprise your guests with great branding?  Consider wrapping the elevator doors at your next event.  This really makes an impression and is easier than you would think.  We use a company called Giant Impressions in San Jose, Ca. to create "stickers" to decorate the elevator with unique messaging. Coca Cola's event logo on elevators. Click to expand pic.You can use the giant stickers to unveil a new branding to your employees, recognize a big milestone or... Read Full Story

Are you looking for a way to really surprise your guests with great branding?  Consider wrapping the elevator doors at your next event.  This really makes an impression and is easier than you would think.  We use a company called Giant Impressions in San Jose, Ca. to create "stickers" to decorate the elevator with unique messaging. Coca Cola's event logo on elevators. Click to expand pic.You can use the giant stickers to unveil a new branding to your employees, recognize a big milestone or... Read Full Story