Why should I hire an Event Planner?  An Event Planner serves many roles while guiding you through the event planning process of your special day.

• Financial Advisor:  With negotiating abilities and insights an Event Planner can guide you to options that can sometimes save money on the overall cost of your event.
• Researcher:  An Event Planner provides the convenience of saving you time and resources by staying up-to-date with other event professionals, current trends in events, etiquette, and cost saving ideas.
• Team Player:  Relationships formed between your Event Planner and surrounding event professionals offers a comfortable work environment throughout your event planning process.  
• Time manager and coach:  An Event Planner assists with organization and motivation.  A schedule is encouraged to manage the planning process and emphasize important details.
• Coordinator: Details….details…details--Many people are unaware of the details involved with event planning.    An Event Planner has experience in working with logistics, event professionals, timelines, delegation, minimizing stress, and much, much more.

Your Event Planner’s role is to minimize challenges and any stressors that may arise through strategic planning and constant communication with you and your event professionals from the beginning to the end.  Elegance By Design Event Planners enable you to sit back and enjoy every precious moment!

How do I find the right planner and vendors for me?

• Know your vision and budget for your event.  Discuss and come to an agreement with those who will have a part in financing or making decisions on your event by identifying the following:

1. What are the most important details concerning your event?  
2. What is the theme?  
3. How do you want your guests to feel during the event?  
4. What do you want your guests to remember about your event? 
5. Determine a realistic budget that you and everyone contributing are comfortable with even if you only have a range.

• Get referrals and recommendations.  Ask family, friends, and vendors for referrals and recommendations from recent events attended.  Ask questions about the quality of service, timeliness, and how comfortable they were to work with.  Make sure the candidates are in line with the vision for your event.  Check out their references from recent clients (at least 3).  If there is an event coming up that they are working, attend if you can and watch them in action.  
• Interview at least 3 candidates.  Narrow your interviews to 3 candidates offering the most of what is in line with your vision.  Remember you are interviewing each other.  It is important that you are comfortable with each vendor and they are comfortable with you.  You will be working with them very closely, sometimes up to a year or more.  Take the time to find the right one!  Make sure they understand what you envision for your event and that the ideas presented only enhance your vision.  Your interviewee should almost finish your sentences about your event by the end of the interview. 
• Get everything in writing.  Once you have found the right vendor, make sure you get all the agreed to services and terms in writing.  READ the contract in advance.  Ask questions about what may not be clear.  Make sure date, time, location of event, and how many hours of agreed upon service is in writing.  Then sign, confirming all printed information is correct.

What questions should I ask?

1. What is your experience in planning events?  How long have you been in the industry?
2. Will there be any other events scheduled on the weekend of my event?
3. What options will be available to me in case you may not be at my event because of any act of God?
4. Have you done an event at my venue before?
5. What is your cancellation policy?
6. May I request a current list of client and vendor references?
7. Are there any upcoming events I may come and observe?