Party Rental Supplier GTA | Affair Tent & Event Rentals
Searching for Party & Social Event Planning tips in Toronto, or elsewhere in Ontario? Look no further. Welcome to our Event Planning Handbook!
Party & Social Event Planning Made Easy
This Party & Social Event Planning tip sheet is intended to provide some helpful tips and how-to info for anyone looking for help putting together a party or social event of any size, indoor or outdoor.
If you would prefer to have live assistance, please contact us and one of our professional, courteous and highly experienced event consultants will assist you in putting all of the pieces together.
Tips To Get Started
So you are planning a Party or Social Event and want to ensure the event is successful? Some of the key items to keep in mind are as follows:
- Keep it simple
Planning a Party or Social Event is generally much simpler than a wedding and shouldn’t present too many challenges. Scope and scale of parties & social events of course varies widely, but the key elements remain generally the same.
Not sure where to start? Contact us and we’ll be happy to assist.
- Pick a theme/decorative direction
Pick up a few food/drink entertainment magazines. Snap shots are also easily taken of magazine pages of interest at your favourite book store. A detailed web search is also a great way to find inspirational looks to get a handle on the direction you want to take (Google Images and Pinterest in particular).
Note: It’s OK not to have a theme for an event.
- Select Your Venue Type - Indoor vs. Outdoor?
The very first major decision that should be considered when planning an event is the choice of venue type. This choice will inform all other aspects of the planning process. Banquet halls, restaurants and other indoor venues are not for everyone, with more and more clients opting to rent a beautiful tent, with options unique to their own taste and budget.
Venues are varied, as are tent styles. Find a venue and/or tent company that matches with your personal tastes and price out your preferred interior finishes (i.e. chair rental, colour scheme, dishware, glassware, décor elements, etc.)
Not sure where to start? Contact us and we’ll be happy to assist.
- Develop Your Tentative Guest List
This important step will have the biggest impact on your total budget. Coming up with a “budget” for your event before figuring out how many people you want to invite is a pointless exercise.
- Choose Your Menu/Shop for a Caterer
Selecting the right type of food is essential to a great event. It’s the most remembered part of any social gathering, more than the entertainment, décor, etc.
Good food = good memories for all in attendance. As the old Irish proverb goes, “Laughter is brightest where food is best.”
Not sure where to start? Contact us and we’ll be happy to provide recommendations for caterers in your area.
- Shop for your Entertainment
Band or D.J? String quartet or harpist? Choose what best fits your theme and tastes. Remember to ask for a demo tape or video clip of them in action at another event!
Note: Non-traditional entertainment options and/or novelty items are a great way to make your event memorable. Don’t be afraid to be a little different…but keep it within the bounds of good taste.
- Determine Your Budget!
Now that you have shopped around to see how much the elements of your party and/or social event will actually cost, total it all up and determine what the overall budget looks like it will need to be, based on your tentative guest count.
You may find you can spend less than you imagined, or that you will have to spend more than you have. If the latter, reducing guest count is the simplest option. Adjusting your personal tastes and choosing less expensive decorative elements is also an option, but will require that you go through the shopping process again to refine the quotes you’ve already collected.
Final Party & Social Event Planning Tips
- Social Media is your friend
Unlike weddings, where inviting guests and tracking rsvp’s is still generally done via formal written invitation, sending out invitations and keeping track of your guest list for parties and social events with the aid of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Evite, etc.) can be a huge help.
- Make Sure Everyone Gets Home Safely
If alcohol is being served, ensure that you have qualified staff serving the drinks and have transportation options available for anyone who may have had a few cocktails. Better safe than sorry! Cabs are a quick and convenient option just about everywhere.
Common Rental Items Found at Parties & Social Events:
- Frame Tents
- Tables
- Chairs
- Dishware
- Glassware
- Table Cloths