Making Your Next Event STAND Out

I’ve been to plenty of events in my life – weddings, galas, birthday parties, trade shows, graduations and corporate meetings that award top producers.  I couldn’t even begin to count how many events I’ve attended….  I can tell you, though, how many STAND out in my mind as extra special, and unfortunately, I’ve got enough fingers on my two hands to count them all.

How can you make sure that your event stands out in the hearts and minds of your guests?  Here are  three simple tips you can use to make your event extra, extra special, no matter what kind of gathering you’re planning.

Tip One.

If you hire vendors to help you, make sure they love their jobs and are excited about your event.  Of course, they need to be professional and capable.  But the difference between a “nice” event and an “event to remember” is the spirit of the people who make it happen.  A friend of mind still raves 10 years later about a four-course Tuscan dinner featuring wines from the region.  “The chef, the kitchen staff, the wait staff and the wine distributor were so proud and excited, “ she said, “their spirit was contagious and the enthusiasm of the diners built all evening long.  By evening’s end, everyone was ecstatic.”

Tip Two.

Honor the senses.  Think about the sounds, smells and sites of your evening and how they combine to create a sensual experience.  Get your guests moving – or maybe relaxed! – with music.  If you’re cooking a gourmet dinner let the aromas of the food greet people as they arrive at your front door.  And then there’s my favorite – the softness of candlelight.  Nothing creates an atmosphere like votives around the room… EVERYWHERE!

Tip Three.

Pamper your guests.  When you are the host, you play a central role in how your guests will experience your event.  If you care about your guests, express joy and pleasure that they have joined you, and take the time to make sure they are comfortable, they will remember your event as something that was extra special.

These may seem like simple ideas, but sometimes it’s the simple things we overlook as we hone in on all the details that need to be managed when holding an event.  Remember, it’s the people that matter.  When you assemble an event team that truly cares about the success of your event, create an atmosphere that stimulates the senses and then honor the guests with your joy and gratitude, you will have created an “event to remember.”