40 Tips for a Hassle-Free Birthday Party

From games to goody bags, your guide to the best party ever.
By Kate Kelly




Manners & Responsibility: Kids at Parties


Timing, Invitations, Cakes

Kids love their birthday even before they quite know what it is. And what's not to love about cake, presents, friends, and family? Some parents thrive on the planning, decorating, and hosting; others want to make the event as fuss-free as possible. No matter what your party profile, here are plenty of ideas to help you get started on a celebration your child will love.

Making the Most of Baby's First

Your baby's first year -- and yours as his parent -- is a milestone worthy of a party. But this may not be the year for a big blowout. Your newly minted 1-year-old may be overwhelmed by a large crowd.

1. One way to keep your event simple yet celebratory is to host an open house, particularly ideal if some of your guests are driving an hour or two to get there, or have their own kids with their own schedules and needs. Have your party from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and allow people to come and go as they please. That way, there's no pressure for your child to be "on" at a certain time, and you're not attempting to plan your event around naps, meals, or moods.

For bigger parties, which are especially ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, here are real-life tips that will make your day fun and festive.

Timing and Invitations

2. Any mom will tell you to be clear on the invitation what time the party ends. An hour-and-a-half party is the gold standard for 2- and 3-year-olds.

3. Indicate on the invitation whether you'll be serving lunch, so people know whether or not to feed their kids.

4. Remember to put an "RSVP by" date on the invitation, but don't panic if it appears no one is coming to the party! For some reason, many of us can never get around to letting people know we're coming (we are much more likely to call if we're not). The RSVP date allows you to start your follow-up calls without feeling like a nudge.

Let Them Eat Cake...

A big birthday cake will allow for a more dramatic blow-out-the-candles moment.

5. Try a theme cake if your kid's mad about Barney or Clifford. Costco is known for making great-tasting, inexpensive sheet cakes with lots of characters and designs to choose from.

6. Ask your local bakery about a cake featuring your baby's photo.

7. Ambitious? Make your own cake (from a mix or scratch). Get ideas and tools from Wilton.com.

...or Cupcakes

Cupcakes are less hassle. There's no cutting, and they're easier to serve.

8. For a photo-worthy effect, buy a cupcake "tree" to serve them from (again, Wilton.com has them).

9. Ice cupcakes in different colors and arrange them in a fun pattern, or one that spells out your child's name or "Happy Birthday."

10. Put out sprinkles and other decorations so each guest can create her own masterpiece.



Favors, Entertainment, Gifts, Food

Let Us Entertain You

Should you hire entertainment? It's not necessary for the kids. But it may make the party more enjoyable for you.

11. If you can't afford the cost of a magician or clown (they can be pricey in some areas), consider hiring a couple of teens to do some face painting.

12. Or, if you've ever taken a parent-child music class and have the book and CD, try adapting the classroom activities to your party by providing the kids with inexpensive instruments, music, and space to dance.

Do Me a Favor

Kids adore goody bags and may even expect them, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune.

13. The parents will love you if you opt for one biggish item rather than an assortment of small toys that often end up scattered all over the house.

A box of sidewalk chalk, a tambourine with the child's name on it, a set of maracas, or a travel-sized doodle board will make most kids happy. Parents will also appreciate if you go easy on the candy.

14. If you do want to go the more traditional route, visit OrientalTrading.com. There are literally thousands of inexpensive items to choose from.

Gift Dos and Don'ts

15. Do tell people what your child would like if they ask.

16. Don't open gifts during the party.

17. Do send a quick thank-you note. (An e-mail is fine, as long as it's personalized.) Your effort will be appreciated.

18. Don't set up a gift registry online. It's too much for a party.

Catering to Kids

19. Finger foods make everyone's life easier -- you don't need to provide cutlery, and your guests aren't trying to chase a toddler while balancing a plate of pasta salad. Sandwiches cut into quarters, veggies and dip, fruit on skewers, bagels, and muffins are just a few party-friendly food ideas.

20. If you're serving a crowd of toddlers or preschoolers who are all going to eat at the same time, chicken nuggets (don't forget the ketchup!) or Bagel Bites are easy on your budget and quick to pull together. The excited party-goers are often just too wound up to eat very much, which is why you don't want to spend too much time or money on the meal.

Games, Desserts

Toddler Games

What will kids do at the party? Toddlers and preschoolers are not big fans of complicated crafts and organized games. To accommodate short attention spans and a love of free play, your best strategy is to have several activity stations. Here are a few ideas.

21. Put multiple sets of bubble solution and wands on a table. Station a parent there to help kids blow the bubbles.

22. Gather all your ride-on toys and group them on the driveway or in the playroom. Put balls in another self-contained area.

23. Set up a pop-up tent for toddlers to run in and out of or use as a fort.

24. Invest in a nylon tunnel (available at IKEA and Toys 'R' Us) for children to play in and crawl through.

25. Play freeze dance. Kids dance when the music is on, stay still when you turn it off.

26. Sit everyone down for a story when the gang needs to calm down.

Creative Desserts

27. The only thing my 1-year-old recognized was the Baby Einstein logo. So I made him a caterpillar cake. It was easy, just a few round cakes with different colored frosting. He loved it. --Anna Marie

28. Mud cups are lots of fun to serve instead of cake and ice cream. Use clear plastic cups, fill halfway with chocolate pudding, top with a layer of crushed chocolate cookies like Oreos, and then put a gummy worm or two on the top to look like they're coming out of the earth. --Kris

29. Here's a great idea someone told me about: Scoop ice cream into baking cups before the party and stick back in the freezer. When it comes time for ice cream, everyone has their own cup without the hassle. --Wendy



Location, Readers' Secrets

Party Away

What if you don't have the room -- or the desire -- to throw a party at your house? Here are some low-cost ideas to host a party off-site.

30. Churches often rent out their rec rooms, which can come with tables, chairs, and even play equipment.

31. A nearby park makes a great venue if the weather is cooperative (if not, have a backup plan or rain date in mind). Reserve a space in advance, if possible, or lay claim to it early on party day before the crowds show up.

32. Some fire stations host parties for a small fee. Kids get a tour of the firehouse and use of a room for cake.

Readers' Secrets

33. You will be busy, so recruit a couple of family members or friends to run the video camera and take pictures. It's hard to do everything yourself. --Susan

34. If you really want to make the first birthday special, celebrate alone the night before. Take all the pictures then, and on the day of the party, relax. You don't have to worry about getting that shot of baby blowing out the candles. You've already got it. --Margie

35. For my daughter's third birthday, we had her party at a local park. The shelter had electricity so we were able to bring food in Crock-Pots. The kids played at the playground before and after the meal. Cleanup was easy. Having it there really took the pressure off of me. --Michelle

36. For my daughter's first birthday, we rented out a pool-side hotel room. The hotel allowed family and friends to come use the pool. We put tables together and had a beach party. The adults enjoyed the hot tub. Everyone had a blast. --Alicia

37. For my daughter's first birthday, I asked everyone to bring a 2-liter beverage. I provided the cake and meat. On the invitation, I said "no gifts please." --Vickie

38. If you're having the party inside, line the floor with a plastic sheet. Let kids sit in a circle on the liner while they're eating. After cake, channel their sugar highs by putting on some kiddy tunes and letting them dance away. --Nisha

39. Avoid character themes when purchasing paper goods. Instead, buy solid color plates, napkins, and cups when they're on sale. Then if you have remainders, you can use them for other occasions. --Tracy

40. The biggest hit at our party was blow-up beach balls that had fish inside them, inexpensive items that we got from the Oriental Trading Company. --Kelly



Originally published in American Baby magazine, July 2005.

Need Of Wedding Planners in India

These days, almost every couple is planning budget; however, everyone seems to think they can do all the preparatory work all by themselves to save money. Therefore, they invest in a great photographer to capture the moment, floral designer hired to make everything look nice and money spent ages. However, when it comes to getting a professional wedding planner India together will all the details, generally, the couple decided to hold back on this point. A lot of money in the plan, but to the wedding day, everything is executed is a family friend, an aunt, catering manager, or bridesmaid.



One should not forget that they get what they pay for and the wedding planner is no exception. The actual bride wedding planning service as a business, rather than as a hobby is essential, you will not be charged an amount which can not afford. And their interactive services and provide them with Indian wedding planners; do wedding planning services highly sought after.

How to give your content more impact at events

As digital content specialists for events, we’re often asked what can be done with data-heavy content to make it more engaging and interesting for visitors at events.

Events and exhibitions are an assault on all the senses. They’re noisy, busy, colorful, lively environments in which text or data heavy content simply isn’t going to get attention. It might be ground-breaking. It might be revolutionary. It might transform healthcare but unless it stands out in some way, unless it looks interesting and piques curiosity, your visitors will simply overlook it entirely. So, here’s our top tips for giving your content more impact at events:

Bring content to life

All too often we install video walls and plasma screens which clients load up with detailed data which is utterly uninviting. Save the paragraphs of texts and endless graphs that demonstrate your products’ brilliance for later. Pick out the key elements of your research, or product data/benefits and look for a novel way to tell its story, to bring it to life in a way which will entice visitors to know more. For example, as a frontispiece use a quote, a single graph, something a little cryptic or a question – something that is short and can therefore be big, gets right to the heart of the matter and will get people interested. Or think about creating a short animation to introduce the key benefits of your solution. Animations are a great way to summarise complicated information succinctly and pictorially and we can make them really cost-effectively these days.

Get interactive

Ideally, your frontispiece will be interactive as that’s what will pull your visitors in. If your question or graph or visual sets up the initial interest, the interactivity enables the visitor to be in control of discovering more. Increasingly, we’ve been using gesture and motion control technology to make our interactive content solutions even snazzier. For example, we’ve used leap motion control to enable visitors to control a 3D beating heart. By moving their hands mid-air they could zoom in on a particular section, rotate the heart to change perspective and play animations which showed the movement of blood through the heart’s chambers. Seeing visitors, “conducting” the movement of a giant 3D hologram heart, draws in further visitors interested to know more and get involved, and transforms your stand from being research-heavy and data-centric to being entertaining and lively.

Engage your audience

Interactive content gets visitors delving deeper into your products at their own pace, but it’s still a relatively passive approach. Draw the visitor deeper into your content by getting them directly engaged with the product. For example, instead of just displaying the graphical results of a piece of research for a pharma client, we asked visitors, via a 3m by 2m video wall, what they thought the results would look like. A graph appeared on the wall which they could then adjust – using gesture control technology and moving their arm up and down until it represented their expected results. This got them thinking about your solution rather than just passively receiving information about it – and it looks interesting to passersby to see someone interacting with and controlling data. The screen then juxtaposed the real results alongside their guesswork and gave them a score in terms of accuracy. You could even create a bit of competition here and introduce a leaderboard.

Super-size me

There’s a presumption that you can’t have interactive and large-screen at the same time. Not true. Just because you want to make your content interactive, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on screen size – in fact, it’s vital you don’t if you want to retain impact. Recently, we’ve been using large-scale video walls or LEDs alongside a bank of 6 ipads which each control a portion of the screen – we call this our socketing system. When not in use, the screen shows one large-scale image or presentation, but each ipad can be used to control a particular portion of the screen so sales teams can use their ipad to fling content onto a portion of the screen to demonstrate to visitors, with multiple demos happening simultaneously. You don’t have to use ipads for this – you could have one large screen which is multi-touch, so can be used by several different users simultaneously to provide the content they’re looking for. Visitors are more in the driving seat with this approach but the whole screen does have to be reachable which limits its size, particularly the height – although we can get around this by installing the screen as a touchtable, so it’s all accessible.

Less is more and big is better

Size really does matter when it comes to screens at events. The average householder has a 40inch screen at home in their living room, so are pretty much immunised against seeing small screens – in a busy environment it just doesn’t grab their attention. The screen size obviously needs to be compatible with the stand size, but a large scale image definitely has more impact than a small one. That said, just because a screen is large, doesn’t mean it should be filled corner to corner with information. On big screens, keep wording succinct, use imagery over words and video over imagery and think of clever ways to make a quick impact, before the visitors eyes have moved to the next shiny thing.

Resource : http://techtalk.eventmagazine.co.uk/2015/03/04/how-to-give-your-content-more-impact-at-events/

Let’s Party! 16 Business Event Planning Tips

There are many ways to create a unique experience for your employees, customers, and potential customers. Hosting a business event like a happy hour or networking event is a great way to get in front of people and learn more about them at the same time.

Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to have a party? But first ask yourself, “what are the goals of this event?” Is it to gain more customers, is it to show your employees that you appreciate their hard work, or are you thanking your customers for their loyalty? Who is this event for, and what’s the benefit for you and your attendees? Once you have your goal(s) in mind, like every event, you have to plan ahead. Use these tips and ideas to make business event planning a breeze:

Planning Your Event

1. Set your budget – How much can you afford to spend for the event? What will you need? Some of the usual costs associated with events include the venue, food, drinks, decor, marketing (printing/postage), giveaways and labor.
2. Create a guest list – How many people (and who) will you invite? How many people do you expect to show up? These answers will help you with the rest of the items on this list. Start by looking at your customer base and work from there. Use other networking events that you attend to pass out info about your event, if appropriate.
3. Select a date – When is the best time for your event? Select a few dates that work for you your potential invitees. Most people won’t be able to play hooky from work just for your event. Keep in mind that your date needs to coincide with your venue availability. The more flexible you are, the better your chance of getting a great location, and a good price.
4. Scout locations – Should your event be held at your business, or do you need to check out other locations that might work? How much room do they have? What does the venue include (i.e., food, drinks, staff, audio equipment)? Can you use their venue in exchange for getting more people in their door or in trade for something from your business?
5. Pick a theme – Having a theme can help brand your entire event from invitations to decorations, food, and drink ideas. Remember, the holidays are right around the corner and people LOVE holidays. Use Pinterest to your advantage for finding inexpensive and fun ideas for your theme.

Promoting Your Event

• Questions to ask yourself: How are you going to promote your event? What’s the right way to reach your target attendee, email, social media, print invitation? What will you offer people to get them to attend?
• Create a a timeline – Once you’ve selected a date for your business event, work backwards and decide when you’ll send out your save the date, invitations and reminders, as well as your post event thank-yous. Also consider when you’ll need to order giveaways (if applicable) and any other items.
• Send invitations – Try using different methods (paper, email, social media) to send out your invitations. You know your audience, what will work best for them? You may want to use multiple methods.

Additional Tips

• Consider piggybacking other events in your area. There might be a annual event in your town or neighboring town that can establish some traction for your event. There’s a Small Business Week in San Francisco that we’ve used to propel our customer events with extra marketing.
• Find a similar or complementary business to co-host an event with you. You can use their customer list to gain more attendees for your event and possibly more prospects for your business.
• Get donations from other business that might benefit from your event. They can sponsor different aspects of your event or help with giveaways or swag.
• Have invitations available at your place of business (if you have one), and on you all all times to pass out. You never know when you’ll need them.
• Social media is free! Make sure to use it to your advantage. You can offer invitees a deal for sharing your event with their friends.
• An unexpected surprise? Send folks who were not able to attend the event a virtual goodie bagwith a special offer like a discount for your services and merchandise. They’ll still feel important and recognized.
• Check out these helpful food and drink calculations based on the number of people attending and what they’ll potentially consume so you don’t run out.
• Last but not least, play the host/hostess. Make sure during the event that you work the room and keep the event, conversation, food and drinks flowing!

Originally Published on: http://www.verticalresponse.com/blog/business-event-planing-tips

Event Management: Preparing The Event Budget

Predicting the financial outcome of an event

The event budget is a projection (forecast) of the income and expenditure that the event will incur based on plans made and information gathered.

The preparation of a budget is an essential part of event management. It is fundamentally important that Event Directors are able to predict with reasonable accuracy whether the event will result in a profit, a loss or will break-even. This is achieved by identifying and costing all probable expenditures and by totaling all expected revenues (income). By comparing expenditures and revenues, it then becomes possible to forecast the financial outcome of the event.

The prediction of financial outcomes of the event need to take place very early in the planning stages. There is no use on setting dates, booking venues, preparing plans until there has been some attempt to determine whether the event is financially viable.

Importance of financial control of an event

Once the Event Budget has been constructed, the Event Director has a means to exercise control of the event finances. Many organisations have run into severe financial difficulty and even bankruptcy as a result of staging events. The budget therefore enables the Event Director to make sound financial decisions about the choice of venue, and expenditure on a whole range of things including promotion, equipment and stafffing. The process of budgeting also enables the Event Director to calculate how much revenue is needed to stage the event in accordance with the planned level of expenditure.

Continual adjustment of the event budget

The preparation of an event budget is one of the earliest tasks to be undertaken in the event management process. However, it should be expected that there will be numerous adjustments and refinements to the budget throughout the whole project life-cycle. It is not possible to know every cost from the start, nor is it possible to know whether efforts to secure sponsorship and government funding will be successful. Event budgets by the event management team as better information comes to hand.

Basic event budgeting rules

Although the budget takes time to develop, there are some basic rules that should be followed from the outset:

• Budget to avoid making a loss

If an event looks likely to make a loss, it calls into question whether the event should go ahead according to the existing plan. If it is not to late, plans should be changed so that the event will at least break-even.

• Be realistic about event incomes

Far too often, event plans are far too optimistic about the amount of sponsorship to ge gained, or the number of people who will attend as spectators or participants. Over optimistic predictions are often a cause for financial loss as a result of staging an event.

• Have a contingency plan

In thinking through what could possibly go wrong with an event, it is a good idea to determine what must be done if something does go wrong. For example, what happens if the sponsorship pull out, or there is very bad weather?

Typical event expenditure

For information on typical forms of event income click here.

Events costs will depend on the scale and type of event. Not all the categories stated in the table below will apply to every event.

Travel and Accommodation	Costs associated with officials needed to run the event may have to be borne by the event organisers. Event participants are generally responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. In minor or local events travel and accommodation costs are unlikely.
Trophies, Awards	The cost of medals, trophies and other awards requires detailed knowledge about the number of competitors, the categories of divisions of the competition and the format of the competition.
Salaries	Applies only events are organised by professional staff.
Postage and telephone	Events usually require considerable communications with participants and the event management team.
Stationery and Photocopying	Special event stationery may be printed but otherwise there is always a lot of photocopying and usage of organisation letterheads to write correspondence.
Medical Fees	Events require persons with at least First Aid training to be in attendance. Larger events may also warrant the employment of a doctor and physiotherapists.
Venue Hire	A critically important aspect of the budget. Information about the probable cost of the venue needs to be obtained as early as possible. Beware that there some hidden costs such as security and supervision costs, and heating and lighting costs.
Insurance	Additional insurance can be taken out to cover risks of injury and/or financial losses associated with events.
Printing	Event programmes, posters, fliers and other promotional documents may need to be printed - especially where quality and colour is required.
Promotion	Expenditure on promotion may be considerable where a significant proportion of the event revenue is likely to be earned through spectators. Promotion covers items such as advertising, give-aways, costs associated with promotional events and sponsors' signage.
Equipment Hire	Includes equipment directly used by participants in the event and also any equipment used by the event management staff including sound systems, computers, mobile phones, two way radios, etc.
Transport	Includes costs of transporting equipment and hire of buses.

How To Choose The Right Event Planner

ONLY great event planners produce great events. Whether you are planning a corporate event or any social event, large and elaborate or even small and intimate event, the greatest favor you can do yourself is to have a great event planner organize the event for you.

Event planners are both planners and producers of events. Whether or not you know what type of event you are trying to produce, that is the theme, venue, guests, entertainment and the overall atmosphere, a great event planner has what it takes to create the perfect mood and atmosphere and to make a lasting positive impression in your guests’ minds.

Here are a few quick guides to choosing the right event planner for your next event.

Service: If you know what type of event you want to hold, you should first list out your event needs, all the vital components to your event’s end result before starting the search for an event planner. A good event planner will work closely with you, listening to your specific needs and helping to create a clear vision for your event. A great event planner builds confidence in you similar to that which you have in your doctor or lawyer.

Friendship: A great event planner is one who is genuinely interested in you and in helping you solve your event problems. He/she displays a great sense of commitment toward you and delivers nothing short of high quality services to you. So when selecting an event planner, please find the one that shows you that care and that you can have fun with, not one who is only out to make as much money as possible from your event. Your event planner should be one you always look forward to working with.

Reputation: Any event planner that you choose to manage your event must have a great reputation and a level of experience. To find out about these, visit their official website. If they can create an organized, engaging and exciting website, chances are that they are capable of producing a great event as well.

Creativity: To make your special event a really memorable one, your event planner must be able to come up with ideas that will constantly “wow” the attendees. Your event planner’s creativity comes to play in putting together an eye pleasing and classy event with a superlative ambience that both you and your guests could never have imagined. You therefore need to be on the lookout for such when next you are hiring an event planner.

Strength of Character: It is not only important to pick a creative event planner but also one that has a reputation of being honest, straightforward and trustworthy. Trust me, your event does better with one who can keep to his word and deliver exactly what he/she has said to do.

Fund Management: A great event producer knows how to deal with money responsibly and understands how to spend wisely too. Your best choice for an event planner therefore is the one who can deliver the best possible event within the confines of your budget.

Please note that whenever you need to hire an event planner to help you with an event, it is your comfort level that is most important. Be sure to hire someone who understands what you want out of the event, instills confidence and can go all the way to produce a successful event that will be enjoyed by all in attendance and remembered for years to come.


Originally Published : http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/04/how-to-choose-the-right-event-planner/

Top Event Management and Wedding Planners in India

Let’s take a look at the most reliable, popular and professional wedding planners in India.

1. Reynold Weddings

Reynold Weddings is one of the first wedding planners in Goa. It offers the services like Reception/Venue, Decor , Caterors , Entertainment , Florist , Bridal Accessories , Beauty & Makeup , Photographer , Transportation , Selecting wedding Invitations & printing it. It also designs and implements the theme for the wedding with the input from customers.

2. L’amoreweddings

L’amore weddings is owned by Gunjan Bansal who was organizing wedding events in USA for more than 3 years and he launched this in Haryana in 2011. Their services include venue selection, theme decor, entertainment (performance of dance), video/photography to cover the full event and catering. Apart from this they also provide bridal make up and mehndi or henna art.

3. Elite

Elite wedding planner was established in Mumbai in the year 2011. One can choose complete wedding package or else if they want only a specific service then they can chose Wedding day coordination, Theme decoration and styling, Destination wedding planning, Month of coordination, Partial wedding planning. Services for the complete wedding planning includes Wedding Concept & Design(Theme Decoration) , Venue Selection , Catering and Menu Selection ,Music and Entertainment , Staging and Audio/Visual , Lighting Design , Invitations & Guest Management , Wedding Invitation & Stationary , Reception Management , Trousseau & Personal Shopping, Accommodations Search & Selection , Transportation , Photography/Videography ,Wedding Cinematography , Delivery and set-up of all wedding day items etc.

4. Regal Weddings

Regal weddings in Udaipur (Rajasthan ) have more than 10 years of experience in organizing wedding events.The services include venue and decor, Travel Management, accommodation, caterers, Menu and Beverage planning,florist,photographer, videographer, Musician,hair style and make up for bride etc. You can choose the venue from the wide of range of palaces in Rajasthan. The venue can also be in any one of the beaches in Goa.

5. Ferns N Petals

FNP Weddings is one of the top wedding planner in Delhi. The services include Venue Selection,Vendor Management, Trousseau, Transportation, Photography, Invitations, Hospitality, Entertainment, Catering, Stage Decor, Mehendi etc.
Wedding Planners In South India

6. Divya Vithika

Divya Vithika wedding planner is a Bangalore based company owned by Divya Chauhan and Vithika Agarwal. Both of them are former Miss India Asia Pacific in the year 1997 and 1998 respectively. The company provides everything related to wedding like wedding Invitations,venue selection , décor and set designs , events and Entertainment , Customized functions , Designer Clothing ,Hair and Make-up , Photography and Videos , Beauty and Fitness ,Mehendi artists , Ushers and helpers , Organizing baraat , Personalized gifts , Stage management , Guest management , Cuisine & Catering , Hospitality etc.

7. Rings & Roses

Rings & Roses is a Bangalore based wedding planner and was started in the year 1999. The services include Flower & decor,Stage & Mantap decor,Lighting,Bridal car decor,Wedding cakes,Bridal bouquets,Invitations & stationery, Photography, Videography, Catering, Music & entertainment, Bridal makeup & mehendi, Gifts & giveaways, Accomodation, Guest management etc.

8. Athithi Wedding Planner

Athithi wedding planner is located in Chennai and owned by ‘Kalynamalai Mohan’ who was involved in wedding planning and catering services for more than 30 years. The services include Wedding hall, catering, Wedding shopping,travel, Flower decoration, Accommodation, Invitation, Purohit,Costumes, Jewelry & Accessories, Beauty packages, Photography & Videography, Guest reception etc.

9. VR Wedding Planners

VR Wedding planner is a Hyderabad based company providing the services for wedding for the past 15 years. The services include Wedding Planning, Theme Parties, Flower Decoration, Marriage Mandapams, Stage Decorations, Catering etc.

10. Fonix Events

Fonix Events is one of the popular wedding planner in Kochi,Kerala. The services include planning and budgeting, a personal shopper for the bride, Help with the men’s outfits, Organizing hair and make up,Stationery, Wedding cake, Wedding costumes, Ceremony, Reception venue searches, Photographer and videographer, Flower arrangements and venue decorations, Entertainment artists, Master of ceremony, transport etc.

11. 3E's Events

3E’s Event is the well known name behind the Events and Artist Management company in Delhi NCR located in Noida. They provides collection of various activities that comprise of Wedding Events, Corporate Shows, Event Management, Celebrity Management, Product Launches, Fashion Show, Ghazals, Conference, Exhibition, Road Shows etc. 

Top 10 expensive wedding destinations in India

New Delhi: Wedding is a once in a lifetime affair and in India weddings are larger than life sagas. Most couples unwind their hands when it comes to their wedding and to create their special day as an epic ,many people opt for exotic locales like royal palaces, beaches and exquisite venues.

India is a hub for extravagant weddings as several such grand and glorious venue options and various wonderful exotic locations are available.

Kerala, Goa and Rajasthan are a few places that couples choose for their wedding and subsequently can plan their honeymoon here.

In India for people whom budget is not a constraint, couples seek the most expensive wedding venues to tie the knot.




1. The Leela resorts, Goa - The Beach Wedding Destination



Goa, the land of beaches is the dream location for weddings.

It is famous for the picturesque beaches and the serene atmosphere and is not just ideal for planning a catholic wedding, but Hindu weddings can also be brightened up here.

There are provisions for luxurious hotels, beach weddings are mostly preferred.

The Leela resorts in Goa is considered as one of the ideal destinations to tie the knot. It is located on the picturesque and secluded Morbor beach, in south Goa.

2. Raj Palace, Rambagh Palace and Jai Mahal Palaces, Jaipur - The Royal Wedding Destinations



Jaipur, The Pink City is a land offering various grand and royal wedding destinations which is a choice for many couples.

Its a dream of every girl or rather a fantasy to tie the knot as a princess against a regal backdrop, then the Raj Mahal, Jai Mahal Palace or Rambagh Palace will be ideal venue.

These palaces are preference of the elite section of the society. These are ornate and royal palaces, which now have been transformed into wedding destinations.

In recent years the Samode Palace is also gaining popularity.


3. Taj Falaknuma palace wedding - Hyderabad



Hyderabad – the city of the Nizams works best for a couple who wants to imbibe some of the Nawabi culture for a very unique experience.

In recent years The Taj Faluknama Palace has become something of a landmark in Hyderabad apart from the infamous Charminar and Fort of Golconda.

It has become one of the beautiful and attracting wedding destinations of India. It attracts tourist from all over the nation and abroad.

This beautiful palace offers large Venetian style chandeliers, grand statues and fountains which will give you fairy-tale experience.


4. Udaipur Palace - The History Wedding Location



The city of lakes and palaces, Udaipur is another ideal wedding destination in the country.

The Udaipur Palace (hotel) is a romantic destination that offers one of the most expensive and grand locations for a wedding.

If at all one plan to have your dream like wedding like like the Royalty of Rajputna what could be better than that. The royal family of Mewar organises and plans the event.

They have successfully managed to complete a decade of organizing such weddings in India.

Jag Mandir situated amidst the lake called Pichola is another sought after wedding destinations in the city. The beautiful lake and the exquisite sculptures add to the romantic mood and goes off well for the couples.


5. Umaid Bhavan, Jodhpur - The Palace Wedding Destinations


The second largest city in Rajasthan, Jodhpur shelters the latest built palace in the Indian history - the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Till 1944 the construction of the palace was extended.

In the recent pasts the Umaid Bhawan Palace has seen some lavish and grand weddings.

Other palaces like Ranbanka and Ajit Bhawan also remains packed for marriages. The Mehrangarh fort is famous for wedding receptions.


6. Sainik Farms, New Delhi - Extravagant Wedding



Sainik Farms is known for hosting grand and high gala weddings for higher classes of society in Delhi. This farm is 50 years old and is located in the southernmost part of the city.

The affluent class society of Delhi prefer Sainik farm for weddings and several other functions.


7. Zuri Kumarakom, Alleppey (Kerala) - The Exotic Hotspot for Wedding



Kerala is preferred for quiet and picturesque wedding. Backwater wedding is also quite popular and it is an ideal destination for the beach wedding too.

Zuri Kumarakom near Alleppey in Kerala is not just luxurious and flamboyant with its wedding arrangements, but offers a spectacular view of a tropical setting along the banks of a lake, fringed with coconut palms. It provides couples with serenity during the wedding.



8. Alibaug Beach, Mumbai - The Cleanest Wedding destination



Located in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, Alibaug is a coastal town which is famous for beach weddings. One can enjoy a private and amusing wedding night.

Alibaug Beach is very clean and beautiful beach which is situated at a four hour drive from Mumbai. There is also a beautiful resort at a five minutes walk for the beach.


9. Jaisalmer - A Wedding Venue In the Forts



Jaisalmer fort is one of the oldest forts in existence and was found in 1156.

One can enjoy camel safari in this desert city and also famous for the sand dunes and the folk entertainment of the local people.

Wedding planned here will be a life long affair to cherish

You can reach Jaisalmer from Delhi and Jodhpur through a train route whereas Bikaner and Jodhpur are connected to Jaisalmer through roads. Hence transportation is not a problem at all.


10. Palace Grounds, Bangalore



Palace Grounds, a palace located in Bangalore, was built by Rev. Garrett, who was the first Principal of the Central High School in Bangalore, now known as Central College.

It is the poshest place in Bangalore to get married. The open grounds bang in the center of the city offer the best venue for a large gathering.

Increase Registrations: Unlock the Power of Data

It seems like every blog post, whitepaper, and webinar for event professionals is focused on one thing: data. But in most cases, “data” is little more than a buzzword accompanied by little to no actionable insights. So we decided it was time to get real about event data and give event professionals some tips they could sink their teeth into.

Want to know how can you use data to hit your registration goals? Read on…


Step 1: Set Goals

This one may seem like a no brainier, but every great strategy starts with a goal. Once you have a clear goal set for your event – this might be bringing in new business or increasing registration numbers from last year – it’s easy to work backwards and set benchmarks that align with your promotion strategy. Based on your overall event goal, you can set sales and registration goals by channel (online advertising, social media, email, etc.).
When setting these incremental goals by channel, you will want to plan your strategy accordingly. For example, if your primary goal is acquiring net new leads for this event, it may be important to put more emphasis on paid media than email nurture programs.
Once you have your registration goals in place, create a calendar in which you set specific milestones for your event. By doing this, you’ll be able to track progress as you near event day to determine whether you need to ramp and accelerate, or if you are on track to meet your goals.
For first-time planners this may seem difficult, but it’s really worthwhile to set some type of goal so that you can measure event success.

Step 2: Plan Accordingly
Now that you have clear goals in place, align your promotional calendar to help you meet your milestones. Perhaps you want to kick things off with a bang so you launch email, paid, and organic programs all in week one. Or, maybe by week eight you realize you’re below the target goal and need to supplement your efforts with some kind of social sharing or referral program.
We put so much time into organizing an amazing experience for our attendees, this promotional calendar will really help ensure that you are hitting your goals and able to execute on that strategy. Depending on your goal for total attendees and registrants, it’s all about monitoring channel effectiveness. Optimize each channel for peak performance by looking at what is actually driving engagement and registrations, not just impressions and clicks.

Step 3: Track & Measure
It’s now time to start tracking and measuring your channels’ effectiveness across three key areas: awareness, sales, and quality.
Awareness shows what channels are driving visitors to your registration pages.
Sales shows which channels are actually driving registrations and ticket sales.
Quality is sales divided by awareness, which will indicate how each channel is performing on its own and relative to other channels.
By calculating the ROI from each channel, you can start to identify which channels are performing better than others and reallocate your budget if necessary.

Step 4: Evaluate
As you start evaluating ROI metrics by channel, it’s also important to begin evaluating the performance of specific initiatives to better optimize for the future. Use benchmarking data across the different channels to evaluate how well your initiatives are doing, and optimize where appropriate.
For example, you probably have an email nurture program in place to promote your event. Compare email to email performance to see what subject lines are getting people to open, and what calls to action are driving registrations. Take what you learn here and implement that across future campaigns.
What you learn from an email campaign shouldn't be kept in isolation. Take these insights and apply them across your paid and organic initiatives as well.

Step 5: Reallocate
Using all of this data, you can start to figure out where you’ll need to reallocate budgets to increase marketing effectiveness. If you identify that one particular channel is dramatically outperforming another, it doesn't make sense to keep funneling dollars into that strategy.
Being a better marketer starts with creating a comprehensive strategy, benchmarking your performance across that strategy, and taking action when necessary. The data is yours for the taking. Leverage it.

by Justin Gonzalez, Marketing Communications Manager at DoubleDutch.

SECURE YOUR INDIAN WEDDING VENUE

Your life is the most exciting day soon. You have to get your site with your caterer, DJ, photographer, florist, decoration, and bakeries contraction. Your beautiful invitations have been printed and mailed to your guests. Because all of the details have been arranged, you decide it's time for you to relax and look forward to your wedding. Then, a few days you receive an unexpected phone, your event coordinators who shared some shocking news and the front of your big day: After your activities no longer exists, because the location was confiscated, and business eviction! Unfortunately, this is a lot of couples are in a depressed economy is facing foreclosures are on the rise where a very common phenomenon. People can no longer be sure that they have with the contracting business will still exist on their wedding day, but there are also times when you contract for the venue can take a number of important considerations.

When looking for a venue there is something you should ask the representative to reduce your venue deprived of the possibility of your wedding day, the important issue. At the venue of the event coordinators meeting your initial request is acceptable, if the company has a good reputation. You should also ask if the property is in foreclosure. If you were told that the property is in foreclosure, then you should move forward with your search, because there is a positive business case for the possibility of your day is risky. If the coordinator refused to answer your question, then you should be skeptical, and contact the venue, will be open for you to provide honest answers.

In addition to asking these important questions, you can go online or to the county recorder's office to check public records to see if there are foreclosure properties only pay arrears. You can also check the property tax records, if you find the boss owe taxes, then they are likely to be in arrears of their mortgages as well.

If you eventually will be considered before your event, venue foreclosure victims, then you may be able to pursue a breach of the site owner. In your pursuit of this statement, you should cut your losses and celebrations safe alternative sites. Your compensation will include any additional charges, you will bear the results in order to ensure an alternate site, such as printing new invitations or make last-minute travel plans costs. You may also need to pay additional sums suppliers, if they have to make arrangements for more services in different venues. You may have to pay your suppliers can be included in any additional payments you make a claim for compensation venues.

On the other hand, if you choose a venue to be notified, they sign a contract after the foreclosure, then your legal remedies may be because you choose to enter the full knowledge of the property in foreclosure and contractual restrictions accept the risk of property foreclosure activity in your day, you can stop. Whether it is available to you that is not a better choice for the venue, in foreclosure, and find a place to enjoy a good reputation contraction.

If the venue is not foreclosure is still essential that you check your contract carefully to make sure it is specified under deposit and you have to pay business is closed for any reason, the case of what happens.

Also, if you have or you know in foreclosure it is strongly recommended that you consult with a lawyer, and you should be advertising business, and signed a contract, you may not be able to make informed decisions about site work honors. Finally, you will eventually be responsible for the payment of damages in the lawsuit and who can not have their own activities, individuals in your location.

Planning a wedding can be a tension and a lot of work. The last thing you want is to add to your stress Find your activities no longer operating. Remember, one of the most important parts of your wedding is the location, so do some detective work, and asking the right questions, so you do not lock their wedding. By taking these extra steps, you can reduce your special day will be ruined or worse, the possibility of cancellation.

Mission Marriage: The transition from Genda Phool to fresh Gladiolas!

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” With the planning and design of the way the passage of time, and all related wedding ceremony, which is an eternal happiness is not just for those who are married but for close relatives and friends. Grand celebration provides the rationale and storage treasure a person smile. All along, the United States has been inseparable elements of ancient times Indian wedding. Esteem held in Indian wedding celebration is not only a brilliant appeal, but there is a change in a rich and passionate. Witness the wedding fraternity target audience tastes change, requiring more and more precise, and to create demand personalized products sold. No wonder the planned wedding in the country and overseas this year has enabled us busy and colorful wedding season. It's almost a surprise, from the customer specific requirements, planning a wedding today is like a dream offer, provided that people will always cherish the experience.


Looking back, when we conceived the wedding to come from headquarters in Delhi this morning, our sales team trade trader inquiry has begun, many have changed in the organization of the wedding fraternity. Many factors may have contributed to it; it's the impact of globalization can not be ignored. Cocoa colonial and economic prosperity in the world, we have witnessed the monotony of the wedding is an out of date. Everyone wants to be able to provide a unique experience for their guests, and with rising disposable income, every bride and groom want to make your own wedding event.


In the past decade or so, the wedding has suddenly become a "larger than life" thing. Preparations begin months in advance with the traditional "phoolwala" and "always" has given the international fashion and culinary artists florist flight from different corners of the world to meet their family and friends discerning platter. With the wedding has become the occasion to show their social status, hiring a wedding planner and wedding designer prevalent. Nothing unnatural fact, the traditional "phoolwala" has been replaced by a florist who will not only add to the perfect-at your wedding and floral decoration, but it will get the bride and bridesmaid smile and charming floral jewelry. From theme wedding destination weddings, whether decorative or PATAYA Sufi night beach event, the wedding ceremony is suddenly about, well put it frankly, "a one-upmanship."




Speaking brick and mortar industry, India has been a national trend, e-commerce followed. If the Internet boom in recent years than the wedding industry supply chain is the essence of the essence of overcrowding in the past decade. Multiple players in the market led to the product, which is unheard of, the availability of the 1980s. From the invitation to the entertainment options, this is a choice for consumers and reputation wedding planning competition. Young influential clearly show the red card the traditional 'band, baaja and baraat ", informed, traveled, they do not want to spend eternity Genda vide, or a lehenga from a local boutique, for them, it's all about living a dream by dream .. Swarovski crystal ornaments, and vintage Chardonnay, welcome their guests in luxury hotels, magnificent dowry.





This ongoing wedding season has been phenomenal for my dynamic unsung wedding heroes and we hope to welcome a few more brides and their special ones not with genda phool but with Gladiolas, of course.


Originally published on: http://www.fnpweddings.com/mission-marriage-the-transition-from-genda-phool-to-fresh-gladiolas/

PREPARING for YOUR EVENT or CONFERENCE

Whether you’re running a business meeting, a party or a major conference in Delhi NCR, do not start planning any event until you are thoroughly prepared. Before you book venues or invite speakers, you’ll need a comprehensive blueprint and water-tight strategy for the event.

Define what you hope to achieve from your event

It’s important to work out what you want to achieve from your event and to stick to it. Develop an event outline and checklist to help you to work out your objectives and refer to it continually throughout the event process. In the event outline, detail the primary and secondary objectives of the event and how you are going to achieve and measure them.

Be prepared - event and conference checklist

One of the most frequent mistakes made by new event and conference planners is to launch into the ‘planning’ before they've done the ‘preparation’, leaving themselves vulnerable to budget blowouts, double-booking, lost tasks and mixed messages.

Are your conference or event ideas practical?

The problem is that if you are not thoroughly and strategically prepared, as your event develops and evolves, you are likely to find you have already locked in dates, places, venues and people that later become inappropriate or impractical.

Event and conference timeline

Creating a timeline will force you to work backwards from your proposed event date and build in all the necessary lead-times for each activity. Knowing that it will take printers three weeks to deliver your invitations will dictate how early you need to confirm the design, and how much time you are able to give your guests to RSVP.

Flexible event budgets

Developing an accurate budget - and allowing flexibility for unexpected expenses - will enable you to priorities how and where you will spend your money. Knowing just how much the venue and catering cost will govern your decision on the type of entertainment to engage.

How to Conduct a Beneficial Waste Audit for Your Event

The last thing most event planners think about when it comes to an event is waste management. Usually it is a mere afterthought in the cleanup process, however, proper and deliberate management of waste before, during, and after an event can save money and decrease your carbon footprint. We live in a day and age where people value companies and businesses that do their part to be gentler to the planet by creating and implementing “green initiatives”. Today’s article will cover just how you can manage the waste from your event effectively and efficiently with a Waste Audit.

Waste Audits will not only help Mother Earth, but will save you some dollars in the end too. Use the following step-by-step guide to learn just how you can do so.

Step #1: Set Your Waste Management Goals

By conducting Waste Audits for your events, you can look at excessive and unnecessary materials and eradicate costs. Identify what you can learn, what you want to accomplish, and set your goals.

Step #2: What is the Scope of Your Audit

Be concise and transparent about what you will be auditing. Will the waste audit entail the entire event or will it just be for one facet of the event? Clarify where your greatest benefits lie in comparison to your available resources.

Step #3: Keep Your Waste Separate

By this I mean avoid mixing waste from other events with yours (if possible). This will allow you to have the most accurate results. You can do this by setting up a dedicated area for the waste from your event.

Step #4: Designated Waste Managers

Your normal event staff will probably have their hands full with their duties. If resources allow, hire Waste Managers to take on the task of handling waste management for your event. Educate and inform Waste Managers of your goals and procedures for audits.

Step #5: Make Sure You Have the Proper Equipment

If your waste management goals includes recycling, make sure you obtain to right receptacles for collection. This will make your Waste Audit flow smoothly and effectively. Other equipment you may need will include:

Gloves

Signage

Waste Containers (of various colors or markings)

Aprons

Tables

Hand Washing/Sanitizing Station

Large Garbage Bags

Scales (to weigh waste)

Step #6: Have Fun While Auditing

Handling waste is no one’s idea of a good time, however, you can make your Waste Audit a fun little competition. Create Waste Audit Teams and hang a dry-erase board to keep up with tallies. Play music if allowed to keep morale and spirits up and even more so, offer prizes or gifts. Show you appreciate your team for their hard work.

Step #7: Tally Up

By the end of your event, you should be able to easily collect and calculate your waste numbers. The best way to do this is to use a scale to weigh what has been collected. After collecting your results you will know if you hit or missed your Waste Management goals and what you need to do to improve for the next event.

Waste Management can be quite rewarding for the pocket and business. You’ll save money by knowing what resources to reduce or eliminate and your clients will love that you are doing your part to help out the planet.

As always we would like to wish you the best in all that you do! If you have questions or comments please feel free to post them below or shoot me an email.

Originally Published on: http://www.thewynningexperience.com/waste-not-want-not-how-to-conduct-a-beneficial-waste-audit-for-your-event/

Top 5 Things To Keep In Mind To Manage An Event Successfully

Event management is not a piece of cake. There are hundreds of things that could go wrong. Learning the nuances of managing an event is crucial if you are looking to host a successful event. Effective event planning is essential. Be it social events like Parties and weddings or corporate events like Annual General Meetings and Product launch parties, a proper event management system has to be in place. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when you are hosting an event:


1. Not all events are the same!

A classic mistake by event managers would be to think the same way for all events. Each event is different and requires different and innovative thinking. You cannot actually manage to perform the same things for two different types of events. Hosting a corporate event requires you to have a complete know how of protocols and procedures. On the other hand, managing a concert requires you to have knowledge about sound systems and various other resources.


2. Estimate correctly

If you are holding a real time event, you need to figure out the number of guests correctly. Ensuring that proper seating arrangements are there and guests get ample space to move around is essential. If starters are being served you need to ensure that food reaches to all. Remember, what might be right for a few people might not be right for a hundred other people.


3. Prepare and arrange correctly

Hosting an event requires you to understand your responsibilities. All organizers should know their duties perfectly so that nothing is missed out. More, you need to be careful about the arrangements, especially proper technical equipment's. You do not want the mike to go off in the middle of a performance, do you?


4. Adhere to the rules

Before you organize an event, you might need to take permissions from the authorities or follow a certain procedure. Remember to complete all the formalities and adhere to all legal rules so as to avoid any complications.


5. Don’t panic!

One of the worst things that could happen is that you panic if something goes wrong. Things do not always go right even if you do meticulous event planning. Event management requires a good amount of planning and an ability to shred off the most difficult of situations with a smile on your face. Even if anything goes wrong during the event, instead of fretting over it, try to make sure everything else goes right!

Event Floor-Plans and Seating Arrangements - A Guide

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5 TIPS FOR HAVING YOUR DREAM WEDDING ON ANY BUDGET

1. Choose a Budget Bloom With High Impact


One of my favorite affordable flowers is the carnation. It looks lavish and elegant when used en masse on its own in a centerpiece. Carnations can also take on a sculptural element when used correctly.


I also love mixing different materials in my arrangements. Consider augmenting your décor or creating an entire look based on non-floral elements, such as fruit. The color and size of the fruits you select need to work in harmony with your overall theme. You can also paint them gold or silver leaf and sprinkle them with some sparkle to add dimension.

--Colin Miller


2. Incorporate DIY projects that are meaningful


Featuring handmade items close to your heart is one of the best ways to create a truly personal event on a budget. Design your own gorgeous centerpiece with items from a craft store, taking inspiration from a glamorous wedding and tailoring it to the theme of your event. Create your own invitation and find a creative way to reduce the cost, such as making it into a postcard. Print menus for each place setting that is personalized with the name of your guests, so that each one doubles as a place card.


3. Pick three wedding elements and do them well

Focus your energy (and budget) where you think it will matter most, rather than attempting five things on the skinny. Spend your money on the parts of the wedding that guests will notice and appreciate: offer a better cut of meat and top-notch wine instead of party favors; serve a delicious three-course meal (including dessert) instead of an elaborate multi-course menu; rather than hiring a band, book a DJ who understands how to work the energy in the room, so when it's time to party, everyone is on the dance floor!
--Christion Oth Studio


4. Prevent Beverages From Sucking down your money — literally (and quickly!)

You've invited friends and family, and part of being a host is to provide excellent food and drink. Instead of a full bar, offer a signature drink — alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Delicious sangria, bellinis made with Prosecco, trays of pre-poured martinis, wine spritzers: It's your call. Make a selection ahead of time and negotiate the price with the caterer or banquet hall. No need for them to stock the bar with every type of alcohol ready to satisfy every whim.
Colin Miller


5. Don't Forget The Golden Rule of Wedding Style

True style isn't about what you wear or how much money you spend—it’s about how you treat your guests. Your wedding is your first joint statement as a couple and an opportunity for you and your fiancé to function as the quintessential host and hostess. How you treat your guests and make them welcome is more important than any other element of your wedding!
--Colin Cowie


Originally published on : http://www.colincowieweddings.com/articles/wedding-basics-etiquette/5-tips-for-having-your-dream-wedding-on-any-budget

What Experience Are You Giving Your Guests?

Whether your goal is to raise money, bring employees together, or it’s to boost traffic at your conference / tradeshow, planning an event that offers an incredible experience is the ultimate goal of hosting any event. What experience are you giving your guests or potential clients?


Building excitement is only half the battle of planning a successful event. After you have gathered a team of trusted pros, targeted a specific audience, created a solid marketing plan (need event marketing ideas? Here is a great article by BizBash), it’s time to determine the type of entertainment you want to offer your guests. The location, décor, entertainment, food, and drinks will be the main focus, no matter what type of event you are planning.


About five years ago I attended a large, extravagant gathering that is still talked about today among my circle of friends. The party was centered on an upscale circus /carnival theme, which featured fire dancers, a fortune teller, card reader, a live show, music, free drinks, and amazing food. Great entertainment goes a very long way in creating a memorable event. You don’t have to have a large budget in order to create an amazing event that will be talked about for years to come. When planning your event, it’s smart to stick to the five senses.


Visual Appeal – This can easily be created through vibrant colors, and lighting.


Sound – This can be achieve through music. Hiring a band, DJ, or playing music centered on your theme is a great idea.


Smells – Smell seems to be a strange focus, but smell is very important, and often overlooked. Create the right aroma through scented candles, delicious food, or aromatherapy.


Taste- Taste is achieved by serving up delicious flavors all can enjoy.


Feeling – This sense does not have to be touch, but an internal emotion based on feeling. This is built on the lively entertainment and unique theme of an event to create a feeling of fun, happiness, and excitement.


Originally found on : http://www.bizbash.com/event-marketing#.VSUaKV2UcdQ