Don’t shoot the messenger! Now that we have our gorgeous spring weather, of course we have to remind you to plan for your Christmas party.

Event planning. Say those two words and see how fast your coworkers run for the door. But you’re game. And fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We are award-winning, event
planning experts. We plan all aspects of any kind of event, no matter the size or circumstance. From extremely small to a cast of thousands, we’ll keep our eye on the details so you don’t have
to. Simply Elegant – Event planning that makes you look good.

Party Planning
You’re thinking: great friends, great time, great party. We’re thinking: great parties come out of great party planning. It’s hard to believe that something as fun as a party can take so much work. But it does… Always. Of course, great hosts make it look easy. Great hosts rely on great people. We’re your people. Your party planning people. We’ll do the planning. You have the fun.

The rewards of a successful Christmas party will carry on throughout the year. There are many steps to planning leaving it to the demands and challenges of the holiday season is a recipe for headaches. Here are some tips to lighten the burden in planning this years parties:

Things to think about in planning this year’s Christmas party:

Use task lists and schedule deadlines to complete all your planning on time. If it’s an office party, then the location, budget, and date all three are usually determined by management so you’re working within limits already. Be mindful of your corporate culture in planning on food and entertainment. (IE food restrictions due to religion)

It is never too early to start organizing. In fact, numerous 500 guests or more companies have completed this planning already. Many of the large facilities are pre-booked on an annual basis with first come first served for the smaller ones.

Book your facility now. The larger the number of guests, the less number of local facilities are available. Why not look at unique locations such as a museum, garden or cultural centre. The environment in these locations create the base decor and give a refreshing feel to the festivities.

Re-think your theme. Successful parties create a common thread that tie everything together using the budget as your guide. Coordinating the entire Christmas program with the menu, decor and entertainment allows for a memorable celebration. An example of this is an international Christmas theme with world food/action stations with matching decor and entertainment.

Poll your employees as to what type of theme and entertainment they would like this year? You could make it a competition! Instead of the comedy show, perhaps they would like to experience a cirque show or a Christmas themed murder mystery? Focus the opportunity for an engaging and interactive party this year.

Guests love to take the dinner table centrepiece home. Why not set up a centrepiece creation competition between departments where the pieces are raffled off to generate money for your favourite charity. Remember to make a note in the invitation that there will be a prize for the department that decks out the most ingenious Christmas centrepiece.

Promote the designated driver concept and these alternative forms of transportation in your invitations. Let’s face it – drinking and driving never mix. Offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverages for the designated driver and others who prefer not to drink alcohol. If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base. Provide for for alternative modes of transportation for guests range from shuttle, limousine service or passenger vans taxi fare for the end of the evening. Don’t forget to budget for this!

Save a tree and go green e-invites for your event.

Planning a party is a lot like buying a house. You do the research, crunch the numbers, think ahead – and you put the best possible team around yourself to help you achieve your goals. When party disasters happen, it usually comes down to poor planning. And many smart, capable social committees just plain and simple don’t think through some of the basic details that will make or break their party. That’s what a planner is for.

Call Simply Elegant if you need support with some or all of your Christmas event. It’s what we do best. From planning, to decor, to entertainment, to catering, we work hard to ensure that every facet of your corporate event says what you want it to say. After all, this isn’t just some corporate event. It’s yours. It reflects back on your Company — and on you. Every detail has to be on message. You wouldn’t let an email go out that didn’t look good on the Company. You’re sure not going to let your company look bad through a poorly thought out or executed event.

Ultimately here are the Top Ten Signs You’re at a Bad Office Christmas Party according to CBS
– Late Show with David Letterman

10. Eggnog smells suspiciously like Liquid Paper.
9. Anyone caught under mistletoe gets choked by Latrell Sprewell.
8. Because of corporate downsizing, Santa is only 120 pounds.
7. Only food available is something called reindeer kebabs.
6. Last time you saw this much sucking up was on the Tommy Lee-Pamela Anderson videotape.
5. Christmas tree is just a fat intern in a green sweater.
4. For the 16th year in a row, the Canadian band leader has passed out in the eggnog.
3. Thanks to the alcohol-free punch, not a single butt gets photocopied.
2. Boss offers to give you a raise, and hes not talking about money.
1. Its held every year on July 23rd.

Ever wonder how you can create a great party that is fun and safe for your children for less than $60 including gas?

Considerations for age appropriate parties:

1. Invite a maximum of children to match the age of the child. An easy guideline is to invite only as many children as your child’s age, plus one. This keeps the party small with young children reducing the opportunity for them to be overwhelmed. Each year your child learns to emotionally handle a larger group of children.
2. Have the child choose a theme. It makes your job easy (a favorite book, sport, movie, or a TV show. Then they can further help with the planning plus make decorations.
3. Keep the party simple.
4. Focus on structured group activities. Individual games focuses on a winner which leaves children out – maybe even the birthday child.
5. Always ask parents about food allergies.

Ways to cut birthday party costs without cutting the party experience:

1. Hold the party in your home
2. Avoid traditional meal times by holding the party between 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and serve snacks & dessert.
3. Bake your own cupcakes and let the kids decorate their own cupcake for a fun activity.
4. Make and hand deliver your own invitations, or “be green” and send e-vites with an RSVP date.
5. Resist hiring an entertainer or bouncy castle! Kids only remember the fun activities and birthday cake.
6. Make it a family affair and ask family members plus the guests parents to assist with activities.
7. Source theme decor from your own home first, then purchase the rest of supplies from economy stores.

ACTIVITIES FOR A BEACH PARTY (GEARED TO 5 YEAR OLDS)

We chose a beach theme to counter against our snowy Calgary weather. Collect all your colourful beach towels to cover your
party table and inflate all beach air mattresses and balls to decorate the party room.
Welcome each guest at the door with a lei and a tropical sun visor (can be part of their take home goody bag).
Encourage everyone to dress the theme (beach shorts, T shirts, flip flops, sun glasses and visors)

Simple party activity starters:

1. Decorate the birthday cupcakes (while the children are calm) using an assortment of frostings and toppings.
2. Do simple crafts (stickers, buttons with yarn, straw crafts, using little sea shells with beads and pebbles etc. Glue these onto mini frames or juice-cans. You can even use lids and add a magnet on the back.
3. Save time and purchase simple craft kits for only $1-$2 at the numerous economy stores.

Games for children with energy:

1. Fill balloons with small treasure based on your theme before you blow them up. For beach we used mini fish, wiggly worms, costume jewelry. The children then pop several balloons and gather their treasures. You can hang, hide or put them in a large garbage bag or box.
2. Group hunting games (same as Easter egg hunts) This can be treats, treasure chest items or even a puzzle piece to a treasure map that all the children work collectively to put together.
3. A circle dance of ”Hokey Pokey” works great and is completely non competitive.

Move into quiet games:

1. Hand make Lei Necklaces made from yarn, drinking straws, and colored crinkled tissue paper.
2. Simple relay races such as potato-on-spoon using a beach water toy.
3. Pin the “crab on the beach”. No winner needed here too!

Holding the party mid afternoon reduces the cost on food. Create a mock tail with juice and give it a beach name. Snacks can
include vegetable sticks and dip, seasonal fruit kabobs, mini pita pockets or bagels and finish with the individually decorated
cupcakes.

BEACH THEMED GOODIE BAGS

For less than $9, our goodie beach pail was equipped with a shovel had a snorkel face mask strapped to the outside of the pail
and was filled with a house safe beach sponge ball, squiggly florescent worm, a motorized bathtub sail boat plus a colourful
slinky. The children go home in their colourful foam visors (we collected a mixture sharks, butterflies, monkeys and pink
flamingos) Always make a few more in case extra guests arrive – yes this often happens!

THANK YOU NOTES

It is never too soon to teach etiquette to children. Create a list of the guests’ names before the party, and then jot down each gift
beside the giver’s name as they are opened for thank you cards.
Take photos of the children dressed in theme or put them in front of a prop. Download the photo onto your computer and
colour print them into thank you cards.

The party is a quick two hours, organized with a logical rhythm for child interest and safety and it was super inexpensive. Plus
why not forget our Calgary snow for awhile and transport yourself to the beach? Happy Birthday!

Planning Corporate Events Key to Success

Whether you are planning a convention, seminar series, awards dinner, ceremony or any other kind of corporate event, early planning is always advised. It’s not always possible, of course, but longer lead times allow for better problem solving and contingency plans.

The more you’ve got at stake, the more likely it is you will need an events company to help you in the planning of your corporate events. If you are thinking of relying on your in-house team, ensure you assess the skill set of yourself and your team honestly. Planning corporate events is one of those things that looks much easier than it is.

In fact, planning corporate events requires great efficiency, devotion to detail, imagination and the ability to find innovative solutions when everyone else is stuck on the problem.

Keeping your eye on the prize helps. Your event should have a stated goal. If it’s just happening because it’s always happened, that’s a great reason to question if your event is even necessary. A good corporate events company can help you define your objectives for an event — and meet them.

Successful events engage minds, win hearts, sway votes, make leaders, secure business and close deals. Everything you do, order, book, create and plan around your event should be working towards your specific goals.

When all is said and done, you want your event to:

• be unique, memorable and professional
• obtain objectives
• be personal and branded from conceptualization to execution
• be able to obtain and maintain strong relationships; business and/or personal
• meet the measures of success you’ve set for it.

Make sure any events company you are considering is a good fit for your corporate culture. They must also have the necessary skill and experience to deliver all of the planning and logistical elements that will help you achieve your specific business goals.

it’s important to interview them in advance and ensure they are capable of supporting both your vision and all of the necessary elements you require when planning corporate events:

The Basics

• Budgeting
• Venue Selection
• Creative theme proposals for your event
• Décor planning
• custom centerpiece creation
• Catering services
• Lighting
• Laser shows and fireworks
• Tents
• Customized gifts and awards

Logistics

• Destination management
• Conduct physical site review for final selection and recommendations
• Contract negotiation and supervision
• Set-up
• On-site management- staffing, etc
• Equipment Rental
• Audio-visual requirements
• Photography and video
• Accommodation arrangements
• Travel and transportation arrangements
• Permits
• Security

Affiliated Services

• Public Relations

• Communications Strategy
• Media relations
• Sponsorship Relationships
• Graphic design; including logos, brochures, annual reports, invitations and display material
• Printing
• Website design and maintenance
• Fundraising-consultation and materials
• Entertainment & talent search (Music/Sound, bands, DJ’s, entertainers & speakers)
• Entertainment contract negotiation

Yes, planning corporate events is a huge amount of work and it can be very stressful. A beautifully  planned and executed corporate event, however, can motivate staff, drive sales, reward hard work and engage an audience the way almost nothing else can.  It might just be the best investment your company can make to distinguish itself in times like these – and that can’t be bad for your career either!

Keeping New Year’s resolutions isn’t easy. About half the population makes at least one – and most give up along the way.

Don’t sweat it (unless, your resolution is to um, sweat more). Here’s the up side. Even if your resolve has broken, the very act of self-examination is a positive one.  The year is still  young. Here are some tips to keeping your new year’s resolutions.

Make Only One Resolution – The chances of success are greater when people channel their energy into changing just one aspect of their behaviour. If you feel compelled to make more than one, consider approaching one at a time.  Give yourself a break.

Plan ahead, be specific and track your progress – If you are serious about making resolutions – plan, plan, and plan.  Take some time to reflect upon what you really want to achieve, what you are going to do, where and when you are going to do it.  Set up goals within your major goal and track them.  Write everything down. Each minor goal success unavoidably leads to the achievement of your major goal and you’ll wake up one day to realize you have accomplished what you set out to do.

Define success – Define what success means to you and know the reason why it is important to you.

Commit to actions instead of results. Saying you’ll lose ten pounds is meaningless without an action plan. Commit to action (say 45 minutes of exercise three times a week and a portion controlled diet) and you’ll see results.

Make it personal – What do you really want out of life?  Got a book in you?  Think about starting it or finishing it.  Concerned about sustainability and contemplating the 100 mile diet?  Go for it!  Do something that is easy too. When you achieve that goal it will be easier to move onto the next.

Be persistent – New habits take time to learn – expect that you will slip up and revert to the old you.   Don’t give up.

Focus on the rewards of achieving your goal(s) – For example:  more exercise will of course make give you more energy. Have someone in particular you’d like to spend it on?  Or think about how good you’ll feel by helping others through a really great  charity.

Tell your friends and family – It’s harder to fall off the path if you’ve told others and are accountable to them.  Also, encourage others to be resilient when they initially fail at their resolutions.  This small gesture can lead to reciprocal encouragement and keep you on the resolution path.

Reward yourself – there is nothing like a reward to keep your morale up.  But be smart. A drink is not a good choice if you’ve resolved to quit drinking. A chocolate isn’t a good reward if you’ve resolved to cut out sweets.

Have Fun- need we say more? You’ll stay on track if you infuse fun into  your routine. On the exercise bike? Make sure you have great music to listen to, a really good magazine or a TV taped with your favourite shows. Or get outside and walk through your favourite areas of town.

If you’ve had a little slip, think of it as our little secret. Today is a new day and a chance to try again. Start right now. And just worry about keeping  your resolution one day at a time.

We’re rooting for you — good luck!

Successful Event Planning

A successful event starts with strategic planning and is dependent on the ability to anticipate obstacles. Because there are always obstacles.

If you are going to work with an event planning company, you need to interview them first. You want to know they’re going to be a good fit for your corporate culture or personality. And you want to ensure they can get the job done.

So how can you determine whether an event planning company is right for you?

Start with what they’ve done in the past. Ask them for case studies of successful events they have planned and executed. Give them as much information about your event as you can and ask them to identify strategies that they believe will make or break your party.  Be up front about your budget and ask them to give you ideas that will work for the money you have. Look for the most innovative event you can get within your price range.

If your event needs advertising and promotion or media relations, ask the event planner if they can or if they have a supplier who can provide these services and what the cost is.

Once you’ve chosen your event or party planning company, you will need to determine the following:

Attendance

Assess how many people are appropriate for your event and the venue you choose. Present your guest list to the event planning company and make sure to notify them with any changes as soon as possible. Your check-in staff should mark off all of the people that attend so you know who was there. If your event is in a public space, consider having someone with a hand counter at the entrance.

Corporate Events Guest List

Corporate guest lists are one of the most difficult lists to produce. They need careful consideration and you don’t want to miss any suppliers, dealers, partners or affiliates. Ask your event planner if they can help you with the list – and budget a good amount of time. Inevitably, the guest list is worked and re-worked a number of times.  Then make sure you have all the right approvals from anyone with a vested interest in the guest list.

Event Layout & Flow

Make certain that the layout for the venue is easy for guests to move around in. The plan should allow an unobstructed flow throughout the event and the easy move of people. If your event is leading up to something specific, make sure your floor plan supports it. Look for possible bottlenecks and blockages at every turn. You may need to redesign your space several times – but it’s better to do it in advance than in response to a crisis on the day.

Food & Drink

One of the most important aspects of any event is the food and drink.  The menu and food quality are extremely important and should be appropriate for the time of day and type of event.  Ask your planner to present you with two or three menu options to choose from — and be sure to ask them why they’ve chosen them. You want your event planner to have carefully considered the specific needs of your event — and not simply present you with one of the standard menus they present to all clients regardless of the event. A really good planner can make great suggestions you might never have considered. Let them.

Your event planner should be able to provide a taste test for food, wine and cocktails. That will allow you to ensure you are serving your guests exactly what you want. Speaking of cocktails, ask for bartenders who will monitor guests for those who drink too much. Be sure to offer taxi chits, hotel rooms or other types of assistance for those who overindulge. Ask your party planner to provide a menu of exotic non alcoholic drinks and coffees that can be served towards the end of the evening as well.

Staffing

Be sure to talk about staffing requirements.  Will you need security?  Valet parking? Of course, adequate and appropriate catering staff is essential.  If gift bags are a component of your event, who will distribute them?  Is there an auction component to your event?  If so, you’ll need an auctioneer.  Greeting staff should be capable of collecting/distributing tickets and be provided with a seating plan to ensure all your guests know exactly where they’re going. You planner will help you determine your staffing needs. Nothing kills an event like under or inappropriate staffing.

Venue

Think about location and ambiance. Ask your event planner to recommend several venue options and visit them to assess for yourself if they will be suitable for your event.  Assess the space for logistics but also see how pleasant the venue staff is to deal with. You want to ensure your guests will be well taken care of by everyone, and that includes those who work at the location of your event.

Guest Experience

If your event is to highlight a product or brand, your guests need to be able to interact with the product and connect with the brand.  In fact, this may be the most important thing you must think through when organizing a product launch. How and when your guests have a chance to interact with the product will determine if and how a lasting and positive impression is created. A great planner can be invaluable in helping  you work this out.

Budget

When planning, be specific and stick to your budget– but do consider additional options based on your planner’s experience.  You’re better to add every line item you can think of and then trim the based on thoughtful consideration rather than having to suddenly add budget items in at the last moment. After your event, take an accounting.  Did you come under budget or go over budget — and what were the reasons for why you did or didn’t?

Overall Production

Consider production.  Are you having speakers or entertainment? Events need a production plan so that all flows smoothly.  The event planning company you are working with should have a preferred vendors list for any services and supplies they don’t handle in house. Their own production team should be clear on expectations and deliverables.

Press Coverage

Are you looking for press coverage for your event? Your events company may well have a great pr firm that can help you achieve your objectives. Certainly we do. Media advisories, social media campaigns, and art (b-roll, video and photos) are just some of what a good PR firm can help you create or source.  If getting media attention is important, you will want to involve the pr agency as quickly as possible. They may have insight into days and times of day that will be preferable for your event over others.

Photos and Video

You may wish to hire a photographer (and possibly a videographer) to document the event.  Photographs are a useful tool enabling you to review the event and evaluate its success. Also, they are powerful storytelling tools on websites and in newsletters, etc. Great photographs or video sent from an event to a media outlet can get pick up even if the outlet has not sent a reporter.

Keep in mind:

Nobody is perfect. Things happen. Your event planning company’s job is to control what they can – but sometimes, there are simply things beyond their control. Talk to your even planner about their contingency plans. Ask them the types of on the day emergencies they might expect to encounter and how they would handle them.  Chances are they have seen it all before!

Ask to be provided with a timeline.  This document creates a process for the planning of your event and will minimize the possibility of things going wrong. This will ensure that the event planner you are working with has systems in place to minimize errors.

There are thousands of details that will go into the planning of your event. Depending on what it is, it could take dozens, hundreds or even thousands of hours of event planning to bring it all together perfectly. The right event planning company will make all the difference in the world.

Some Post Event Benchmarks For Success:

1. Capacity of space versus projected attendance and flow.
2. Targeted guest list of opinion leaders, tastemakers.  Did you invite too many people or not enough? How was the turnout?
3. Successful celebrity wrangling.
4. Great post event press coverage.
5. Were the proper permits obtained for rearranging the furniture if being held in a public space and was all in accordance with fire codes.
6. Was the number of staff sufficient for your gathering? If security was planned, did they do their job?
7. Was the catering planned for the perfect amount of food and drink?
8. Did your guests compliment you on the choice of food and drinks?
9. Were guests interacting with activations and displays for your branding event?  If you had giveaways were guests excited about receiving these?
10. Did the entrance work well with a well organized red carpet area if that was required and were VIPs escorted for photo opportunities?
11. Check in area:  was it well staffed and order maintained? No gate crashers?
12. Did you need to extend the event and was your event planner able to do so and still work within your budget?

Ultimately with any event you want your guests to come away with an a great experience that leaves them feeling .  Events should come together with the appearance of ease of process—in other words all the hard work should be invisible.  Great events planning and planners will keep all the drama behind the scene.