Christmas in August???

As crazy as it is to believe, we are nearing the end of 2017. Seriously... we are half way through August!!! That means we have football season and holidays nearing! The most wonderful times of the year in my opinion... however...with that comes the logistical nightmare that is planning special events such as tailgate parties and holiday parties.

Now is the time to start planning (if you haven't already)! Here are a few tips from someone who has been organizing events for nearly 10 years:

Book early. Venues book up quickly for end of the year parties. If you do not already have a venue scheduled, start looking and making calls. Your date may need to be flexible, so pick a few dates that will work for you, and check the options.
Work Backwards. In order to get a timeline together, you need to work backwards from the date of the event. As an example, here's just one piece of the event planning pie... invitations... How far in advance do you want to send invites? How long will it take to print invites and get them posted? When is your artwork due to the printer? When do you need to start selecting/designing them?
Make a List. Brainstorm a list with every last detail you can imagine and add to it when something pops into your head. I typically revise my list several times as I go along and organize it by priority and/or deadline. This can include details such as signage, catering, welcome/check-in process, RSVP process, space layout, party favors/gifts, décor, etc. This will give you peace of mind to know that these details are covered. You can also save this list and use again in the future.
Don't sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, the most important part is that your guests have enjoyed themselves. Frankly most people only care about three things: food, booze, and entertainment (which really could just be good company and conversation). So if your florist uses the wrong flowers, know that it is not the end of the world and keep rolling.

Of course, if you are swamped with other end-of-year projects, you can always call your good friend Meg to take this off your plate!! 😏

Note: No dogs were physically harmed in the making of this blog. I cannot confirm or deny the harm done to one's ego. (Just kidding! She weirdly loves clothes!)

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