- Choose a date and location (8+weeks).
- If the location is at your home, you only need to coordinate with the essential guests and their availability. If you are booking a venue, you will not have as much control in this area. These both coincide, so they are together here as Step 1.
- Theme!
- My favorite part of planning is selecting a theme. What are you wanting to portray? What kind of experience are you trying to provide your guests? If the event is for a child, what magical world can you create? Once you have a theme, you get to run!
- Invitations (5 weeks).
- There is an art to tangible paper invitations. It does not matter if it is a small dinner party or a large wedding, the receipt of an invitation elicits a visceral reaction to the recipient. It is worth the time to send out invitations.
- Rentals (4 weeks).
- If needed, anything that might be rented should be booked around the month-mark.
- Cake/catering (3 weeks).
- Depending on if you are using a grocery store (my favorite is Publix) or if you are going to a bakery, you may need more or less time. At Publix, you need between 24-48 hours.
- With catering, it could depend on the caterer. For smaller events, you usually can get away with a few weeks’ notice. I am a big fan of prepared food trays from Publix (or any larger grocery chain). The trays take the stress and mess out of entertaining, if the food is not the focus.
- Décor (2 weeks).
- Now that online shopping is so speedy, you can delay shopping for decorations until closer to the event date.
- Guest takeaways (2 weeks).
- No matter the event, it is nice to send home a little memento. You can never go wrong with a sweet treat. A takeaway treat is also something that foster your theme.
- Attire (2 weeks).
- Start thinking about what to wear a couple of weeks out. If you are going to dress the theme, you will not want to wait until the last minute.
- Event Roundup (1 week).
- This reminds me of wet tech in theatre. You want to run through the above list and lay out all of the décor to determine what you may still need.
- assess tableware, tablecloths, cups, napkins
- Balloons? Get your helium tank!
- Got your tulle?
- Make the grocery list now!
- This reminds me of wet tech in theatre. You want to run through the above list and lay out all of the décor to determine what you may still need.
- Decorate and Party!
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