Party Planners bring pizazz to the table(1)
By 2009-3-27 14:10:19
With summer just around the corner, lakefront homeowners are starting to open their doors and windows to the fresh air; and moving their social life out of the house and a little bit closer to the shoreline in preparation for the summer party season.
Spring and summer play host to the less formal parties of the season, as people want to show off their gardens and homes, and just have fun with friends and neighbors. But when should you start planning, and how do you host the best event of the season?
Mikki Gardner of Setting the Scene in Birmingham suggests bringing in a professional party planner early in the process.
"You want a planner to help out as soon as you have thought up the special occasion," Gardner says. "We can help you with the initial design and concept."
Leslie Jacobs of Leslie Jacobs Associates in Bloomfield Hills says that everyone has a busy life, so bring in a party planner early.
"I work as a sidekick," she says. "Some people know what they want, but they need someone to do the legwork; some just need someone to play off of; while others need help with the entire process. I simply facilitate all the different vendors."
For a small event — say, less than 50 people — you'll need a few months to plan, according to Dee Dee Hoffman of Party Design in West Bloomfield.
"It takes a few weeks to create and print invitations," she said. "For a larger party, I like to have as much as eight months to a year. With summer parties you need to get a jump on renting items like large tents."
Parties come in all sizes and varieties, and party planners have plenty of ideas to help your special get-together have all the pizazz and spunk needed to be special.
"I've helped plan a 3-year-old's birthday party from start to finish," she says. "Or I can just help execute the plans a client already has. It depends on their relationship with us and how involved they want the party planner to be."
If you're planning a wedding, birthday, or a casual gathering of a couple of hundred best friends for wine, food, dancing and fun, here are a few things to keep in mind to host the best party of the season.
With fine food available, quality wines and incredible weather, the recipe has to include one essential ingredient — great guests.
"(It's)people, always the people," says Hoffman, a 23-year party planning veteran. "You need good food and good wine, but always invite good people."
Jacobs agrees, saying, "You need a good mix of guests."
According to Gardner, a combination of different factors will lead to a successful party.
"Invitations, decor, the right caterer, the right staff and the conception and development of the event design all are important to have a great party," she said.
So after your guest list is set, onto the next step — food and themes.
Gardner and her partner Holly Romer have been in business for almost a year after a successful 10-year run in the corporate event planning and catering field. Experience has taught her to find unusual trends to plan a party around.
"Create a unique design," she advises. "Some of the more recent successful trends are the South Beach feel, but you can always use one of the proven classic themes, like a martini party."
Jacobs suggests looking to your own life to create a party atmosphere.
"Entertain according to your lifestyle," she says. "Recently, the Latin flavor, with salsa and Latino music, has gotten popular."
Hoffman has noticed a certain trend with food parties. Rather than having a big sit-down meal or a ton of appetizers, the two are being combined.
Spring and summer play host to the less formal parties of the season, as people want to show off their gardens and homes, and just have fun with friends and neighbors. But when should you start planning, and how do you host the best event of the season?
Mikki Gardner of Setting the Scene in Birmingham suggests bringing in a professional party planner early in the process.
"You want a planner to help out as soon as you have thought up the special occasion," Gardner says. "We can help you with the initial design and concept."
Leslie Jacobs of Leslie Jacobs Associates in Bloomfield Hills says that everyone has a busy life, so bring in a party planner early.
"I work as a sidekick," she says. "Some people know what they want, but they need someone to do the legwork; some just need someone to play off of; while others need help with the entire process. I simply facilitate all the different vendors."
For a small event — say, less than 50 people — you'll need a few months to plan, according to Dee Dee Hoffman of Party Design in West Bloomfield.
"It takes a few weeks to create and print invitations," she said. "For a larger party, I like to have as much as eight months to a year. With summer parties you need to get a jump on renting items like large tents."
Parties come in all sizes and varieties, and party planners have plenty of ideas to help your special get-together have all the pizazz and spunk needed to be special.
"I've helped plan a 3-year-old's birthday party from start to finish," she says. "Or I can just help execute the plans a client already has. It depends on their relationship with us and how involved they want the party planner to be."
If you're planning a wedding, birthday, or a casual gathering of a couple of hundred best friends for wine, food, dancing and fun, here are a few things to keep in mind to host the best party of the season.
With fine food available, quality wines and incredible weather, the recipe has to include one essential ingredient — great guests.
"(It's)people, always the people," says Hoffman, a 23-year party planning veteran. "You need good food and good wine, but always invite good people."
Jacobs agrees, saying, "You need a good mix of guests."
According to Gardner, a combination of different factors will lead to a successful party.
"Invitations, decor, the right caterer, the right staff and the conception and development of the event design all are important to have a great party," she said.
So after your guest list is set, onto the next step — food and themes.
Gardner and her partner Holly Romer have been in business for almost a year after a successful 10-year run in the corporate event planning and catering field. Experience has taught her to find unusual trends to plan a party around.
"Create a unique design," she advises. "Some of the more recent successful trends are the South Beach feel, but you can always use one of the proven classic themes, like a martini party."
Jacobs suggests looking to your own life to create a party atmosphere.
"Entertain according to your lifestyle," she says. "Recently, the Latin flavor, with salsa and Latino music, has gotten popular."
Hoffman has noticed a certain trend with food parties. Rather than having a big sit-down meal or a ton of appetizers, the two are being combined.
From oaklandlakefront.com