Being an event planner isn’t easy. A good event planner always has to be ahead of the curve when it comes to knowing the trendiest event venues from hotels and receptions to restaurants.

When planning any event such as a wedding, party or corporate event it’s important for every event planner to have a network of trusted event facilitators, vendors, contractors and suppliers that can be hired for various events.

Not only will having a network save an event planner time and money but building a friendly working relationship will maximise their value to your clients, giving your services that edge that could be the difference between a job going to you or your competitors.
 

Here are some of the event vendors, suppliers and contractors services that every great event planner should have in their network:

Destination Management Company (DMC)

A destination management company provides local knowledge and resources relevant to the area your event is in. They are particularly useful when you’re arranging an event in an area you’re not personally familiar with.

DMCs will save you time and money as their substantial local knowledge will mean that you’ll know the best hotels, transport, caterers and entertainment relevant to the area your event’s in.

Communications Consultant

When planning an event, a large amount of information must be communicated to clients and of course guests and that’s where communication consultants come in. They’ll help produce professional communication materials including brochures, invitations, and agendas among other things. Communications consultants work with designers (or are designers themselves) and therefore the quality of design adhered to means that all materials will be of the highest quality.

Stationery Designer

For more intimate events it might be necessary to produce custom stationery such as notepads and pens. A stationery designer will make sure that these are done efficiently. They’ll also give you a choice from hundreds of different styles and assist you with choosing stationery that best suits the feel of your event.

Promotional Product Designer

One of the rules of hosting a great event is to never let your guests leave empty handed. Most relevant if you’re planning a corporate event like a client meeting, seminar, conference or trade show, any souvenirs must be relevant to your company.

Common promotional products include hats, tote bags and stationery. A great product designer will make something that truly reflects the company and/or event’s message and help it stay in the minds of guests.

Photographer

While it’s an expense many smaller event planners want to avoid (after all, everybody has a camera on their phone these days!) a great photographer will capture the spirit of the event and give guests an amazing keepsake.

Having a photographer that produces professional photographs is especially important for events such as weddings and graduation parties. Photographers should themselves have a network of A/V technicians, videographers and additional photographers as well as the ability to understand the art and rationale behind different kinds of events.  

Caterer

A caterer can make or break an event and most of the best event venues don’t have in house catering services. For a top event planner this is an advantage as they have the opportunity to give the event a unique flavour through their choice of caterer. While it’s good to have a few top general caterers on the books, there are times when event planners need to broaden their horizon, planning a traditional event like a wedding that requires a certain culture’s cuisine to be served.

With Caternow www.caternow.com.au anyone can have access to a wide range of caterers and be able to order from them at the touch of a button. All caterers that work with Caternow are reliable and leaders in their specific cuisine. With Caternow you can be guaranteed that you’re getting the best caterers available without going through the effort of trying to find a caterer yourself.

Wine Shop Owner

While your caterer would likely take care of the bar at your event, there’s still some value in keeping a wine expert on the books.

A good wine shop owner would provide a quality range of wines, both for consumption and to be used as gifts which is a great asset to a private party. A great wine shop owner can also give advice on the best kinds of wine appropriate for different occasions.

For quality wine that won’t break the bank, check out Bnc Anz! www.caternow.com.au/risdon/Cuisines=beverages/BnC-Anz

Chocolatier

Like a wine shop owner, a chocolatier can really make an event planner look good as everyone loves the taste of hand-made chocolate!

There are many gourmet chocolate makers who will ship directly to your event, however it’s best to work with a local chocolatier who uses fresh ingredients. You could event take it up a notch and customize the chocolates, which will be sure to leave your guests with a memory of your event as great as the taste of the chocolate.

Florist

A great floral arrangement will add colour, fragrance and elegance to your event. It’s a great idea to incorporate floral arrangements to the event décor, particularly as a centrepiece for tables.

A great florist can recommend different types of floral arrangements to suit the theme, feel and budget of your event. They can also advise you on what flowers are best suited to hold up in the conditions and throughout the duration of the event.

Party rental supplier

A party rental company will provide decorations, flooring, lighting, audio/visual equipment, props, tents or whatever else would suit your event.

Like the florist, a party rental company is a valuable resource as with their input and expertise they can help you capture the essence of your event.