28 May HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR EVENT PLANNER

Just recently, a celebrity bride took to Instagram to recount her horrible experience with her wedding planner. I can only imagine how disappointed she had been on the day she’s supposed to be the happiest! This sort of experience can happen with any kind of event and you don’t want to spend all that money for an event that will make you sad or angry.

Here are my few suggestions on how to get the best out of your event planner:

1. In-person meeting/Interview: To create an event as we say here at emca is to create an experience and people will never forget how you made them feel. You need to make sure that you can ‘vibe’ with the event planner and that he/she ‘gets you’. The planner should be as excited as you about the event and show genuine interest in understanding you and your goal for the event. ‘Vibing’ with the planner may not be something a lot of people consider important but trust me, the positive energy and mutual respect help to enhance communication which is important in the delivery of an exceptional event.
2. Look at pictures, videos and reviews from the planner’s previous jobs: This is so important as it helps you understand his/her capability and experience. I will also advice that you have the planner talk you through the process of creating some of the events so that you can understand how he/she works.
3. Discuss the budget ahead of time: This is probably the most important and one of the first topics for discussion so that you don’t waste each other’s time. If you have a strict budget, please say so early enough so that the planners can contain their creativity within the budget.
4. Have it all written down! Oh you know how fun brainstorming for an awesome event can be and everyone has all these amazing suggestions and you like some of them and the others you out rightly dismiss but you are not sure if you were clearly understood? Please have the planner send you meeting minutes with all the actions after each meeting. It is also important that you take time to go through and make sure you are all on the same page.
5. Discuss timelines and have it in black and white! This will help you or anyone on your team to follow up on the event’s progress at any time.
6. Look at the physical samples for the souvenirs: This one may just be me. A simple picture is usually not enough for me. I like to feel the quality of the product with my hands.
7. Be involved with the drafting and proofreading of event material: Ensure that you approve before the planners go to print.
8. Talk about everything you feel the need to talk about, no matter how small. It is part of the event planner’s brief to listen to you.
9. Listen to the event planner: Even though you have all these grand ideas about your event, you should definitely listen to and consider all advice from the planner. He is the professional after all and that’s why you are paying him/her.
10. Have a contract! Especially for big events and make sure that you are looked after.

Photo credit: the internet

Ijeoma Okoli

emca