I just survived my first.
Wedding, of course.
After nearly two years of planning, plotting, and drinking, it's all over. And I have managed to wrangle five key tips for event planners and future brides:
1. Make a battle plan. Set up a strategy and plan every last task that has to be done down to the hour. You may be cross-eyed after doing this,but it'll make life a lot easier in the long run. While only half of your tasks will have hard deadlines, it doesn't hurt to set personal ones for everything else, this way you can schedule yourself to death in advance and still have a bit of wiggle room for when the s*** hits the fan.
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| Never underestimate the importance of caffeine. |
2. The devil is in the details. Pick three things that you really want to focus on and stick with them. If you try to focus on every little detail and make every little thing special, you're likely to fail and/or go insane. Besides, if one tiny thing is forgotten, only you and your team will know. Everyone else will be too busy having a great time.
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| Always look on the bright side of life. Monty Python does. |
3. Never underestimate the importance of flexibility. Sometimes things will go wrong and you'll have to improvise, fast. You'll have to roll with the punches and live with it. Depending on how flexible you really are, you can either have a blast, or end up crying in the corner. Take your pick.
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| Despite losing power, we still managed to rock the night with a capella versions of pretty much any song we could think of. |
4. Things will get overwhelming. There are a lot of decisions to be made that rest on your shoulders and people will judge you on. Everyone will deny it, but let's face it, this is an event that uniquely represents you (in the case of the brides) or your organization (in the case of event planners).
Take the time to slow down and take a breather, even when you're convinced the world will end if you do, it will be a good thing. Being calm will help you deal with the ups and downs or at least come down from that crazy night-before-the-event adrenaline-high that'll have you crashing hard.
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| Sometimes, holding a big ball of fur can be helpful. Sometimes, not so much. Especially when that ball of fur really wants to get at, and destroy, your big expensive dress. |
5. Build, and rely on, a great team. They can be your support network and helpers. They will be the ones to pick up the slack when you're exhausted and keep you cheery when all you really want to do is burn all of those ribbons to cinders.
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| Having the support of a great group is key. |
Bonus tip 6. Enjoy it! It's been a long haul and it's finally happening/over! Find moments for yourself and savour your victory. It all goes by in a whirlwind and it's nice to be able to remember it. Pictures are great but they tend to lessen in meaning if you don't remember the event depicted happening.
