Key Objectives for Planning the Best Events
Event design encompasses two main objectives: aesthetic details and the organizational design of the day. Aesthetic design is the realm in which the visual details exist. Stationery, table settings, floral accents, signage etc. This is easiest to portray in a portfolio because it’s visual. On the other hand, organizational design includes details such as the timing of the event, the order in which formalities are scheduled-the flow of the event, sound design, hosting details such as where and how guests are greeted, the form of food service etc.
These two design aspects intertwine to create the atmosphere of an event. Both are equally important in setting the stage for showcasing the point of celebration (wedding, holiday, birthday etc.) and creating the setting for how you want your guests to feel throughout the event. Ensuring a comfortable environment visually and physically allows your guests to relax and focus on the celebration with you.
In taking a closer look at the organizational design, we want to ask ourselves a two key questions:
How do I (as the host) want to feel at this event?
How do I want my guests to feel?
Possible answers to these questions are “relaxed,” “energized,” “celebrated,” etc. These answers will be vague and amorphous to start so we need to take the next step to create actionable definition. If your goal is to create an atmosphere in which your guests feel celebrated for example, we would look for ways to lay out the red carpet, if you will, for them. This could take on a number of forms such as having them greeted at the door with champagne, serving an upscale dining experience that is focused on service at every opportunity, providing gift bags and so on. As you put words to how you want the event to feel, we will be able to start creating specific plans.