Preppy Gold: Olympic Event Design with Inspo from Ralph Lauren
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October 14, 2024Calm, Cool + Curated: 4 Ways to Create Killer Events
1. Save your time, reduce stress, and stay within budget.
IE: hire an experienced planner who has a lengthy collection of beautifully organized events under their belt. When hired you can talk and direct less and relax until the big day… then it’s time to PARTY.
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- Where to find them: NOT on The Knot. These experienced gurus typically don’t do marketing because they don’t have to.
- Ask friends who have thrown great events.
- Ask vendors who have worked with many different kinds of planners.
- Check out (or ask) about their brag sheet. What big events have they worked with over and over?
- Experience is key for these positions. Time teaches all the possible costly and time-consuming mishaps that can occur. It’s not what you know… it’s what you don’t know that you need to know. Hire someone who knows.
- Where to find them: NOT on The Knot. These experienced gurus typically don’t do marketing because they don’t have to.
2. Work with vendors who know how to create the WOW moments.
Do you want everyone talking about how amazing the experience was? Do you want your guests to walk in and their mouths hit the floor? This happens less frequently then people may think… but who it happens for is for the client who knows WOW vendors create WOW moments.
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- Where to find the WOW vendors: Wow moments are publishable…. (unless you have an NDA situation.)
- Vogue
- In Style Weddings
- Celebrity or high profile events.
- Wow venue collaborations.
- Where to find the WOW vendors: Wow moments are publishable…. (unless you have an NDA situation.)
3. Pull in your heartstrings. Nothing makes a day sing more than a bit of beautiful nostalgia.
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- How to do it:
- Get personal- show your guests you care with photos, personalized seat cards, or table markers. Use a special color glassware for the family.
- Honor those loved ones who have passed. A beautiful memory chair that stays empty to signify the presence of someone special is a thoughtful and unique reminder.
- Does Aunt Jo need a comfortable spot to sit and watch the young people dance- choose a soft chair in a seating vignette that is easy to get in and out of and maybe even “reserved” for your guest of honor.
- Want to bring some nostalgia home? Purchase a custom-made sweetheart table that is a significant part of your day and then a significant part of your home.
- How to do it:
4. Quality counts. Logistics and efficiency can be boring backroom words for many… but these elements make a big impact on the day.
What is the quality of the delivery and setup teams? Has a company ever not shown up for a job? Does a company care about delivering quality products? Does the food taste good? Are the flowers wilting? Are the linens wrinkled and messy?
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- How to find it:
- This one is easy: READ THE REVIEWS. If you can’t find them- go looking. Many times companies with bad reviews will intentionally not make them easily accessible.
- Ask other vendors that will tell you the truth. No one knows the way the back of the house with vendors works better than the people who work alongside of them.
- How to find it:
All Photography for this Article:
*VENDOR PARTNERS*
Experiential Design + Creative Direction @stephkadlicko
Hosts @friendsofvillaterrace
Event Management @festoonsandflourishes
Photography @stephkadlicko
Cinematography @moments.recorded
Floweral Design @feistyflowers
Cuisine + Culinary Catering @shullyscuisine
Beverage Wagon Bar Service @cordialco_
Wardrobe + Personal Styling: @reneebreannedesign
Photo Team Logistics + Hospitality @gldngatherings
Rentals @relicsrentals
@borrow_curated
@tablescapeschgo
@nuagedesignsinc
@bbjlatavola
Stationery @copperrowstudio
Flower Heads @sonyakammes @doitdarlin
Music performance no.1 @arroncrook @donnawoodallmusic @markdavismusic
Culinary Consulting @private.palate
Venue @thevillamke
Museum @villaterracemuseum
Hair + MUA @pretty.crazy.beautiful
Sailcloth tent @bluepeaktents
Sound/Lighting @eventsbydesign
Tux @suitshopofficial
Gown @curated.gowns
Transportation & Valet
@keehnsservices
*DMI Limousine Services
Mobile WC *Arnold’s Environmental Services
