Event Planning Step One

The First Step in Event Planning

Choosing the Invitations

Whenever you throw a party the first thing you consider is who you are

going to invite. The guest list is important because the number of

people attending has a direct impact on the venue and also on the

menu. Whether you've hired someone to do your event planning for

you, or you've taken on the task yourself, it's important to make a list of

the invitees and then decide on the best method of asking them to

attend.

If the event is a wedding, formal invitations are sent out months before

the big day. Generally the bride and the groom visit a stationary store.

If you do have the benefit of having a professional helping with the

event planning, they may attend as well. Once there, you'll peruse

various books with samples of wedding invitations. There are so many

choices that the decision can seem almost overwhelming.

Once a style is chosen, an order is placed for the appropriate number

of invitations based on your guest list. If you're tackling the job of

addressing all the envelopes yourself, it's a good idea to ask for the

assistance of someone you know with excellent handwriting. If

someone is handling the event planning, they may secure the services

of a calligrapher who will complete the envelopes for you. This is the

preferred method by many engaged couples because it adds a simple

elegance to the invitation.

If your event is just as important but on a smaller scale, as in a birthday

party, you can approach invitations several ways. There are many

event planning websites on the internet that offer templates for birthday

invitations. A parent can download one of these and fill in the pertinent

information, even personalizing the invitations for the children. Children

enjoy this because they automatically feel special when they see their

name on the card announcing the party. If you've hired a professional

to handle the event planning for the party, they might suggest an

alternative for invitations or they may just request the guest list and

handle the invitation design and mailing themselves.

The same approach is often taken for events such as wedding showers

or baby showers. The invitations are designed to reflect the occasion.

Anyone who has ever received a baby shower invitation appreciates

the added benefit of a gift registry being mentioned in the invitation.

Event planning services generally can aid the expectant parents in

setting up their gift registry. It's a wise idea because new parents

normally need so many small things, and allowing the guests to choose

from a list makes the gift buying part of the event much easier.

Regardless of your event, if invitations are appropriate, it's important to

get them out early and ask the invitees to respond regarding whether or

not they can attend. This is essential for proper event planning because

once you have a good idea of the size of the crowd; you can

successfully plan on the other details that will make your party the best

it can be.