Life is all about milestones. Whether it is taking your first step or finally retiring after decades of working, life is a long journey marked by events that represent a significant transition or achievement in one’s journey. Unfortunately, the stress resulting from planning an event to celebrate such milestones can quickly overshadow the joy they brought in the first place. As such, it is not surprising that event planning services like those offered by Curated Events have become indispensable to making special occasions truly memorable.
Originally offering the rental of chairs and equipment to event organizers, Curated Events was founded back in 1952 as “CE Rentals”. Over the following decades, the company quickly became one of the biggest players in the industry by continuously expanding its services portfolio. In 2022, the company consolidated its brand to further solidify its presence on the east coast.
Curated Events has been led by CEO Al Dyess, one of the most notable names in the event industry, since 2020. With more than 30 years of experience planning events, there are few people who know the ins and outs of creating memorable events better than Dyess. He sat with us to share what he thinks are the five most important things to consider if you want to plan an unforgettable event.
Have a Backup Plan
“Most people think that planning an event is all about making sure nothing goes wrong, which couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, effective planning is all about being ready for as many curveballs as possible. This means having a Plan B in place in case there are major disruptions, of course, but it is also all about having the right mindset, tools, and team to deal with any hiccups you may encounter.”
Find the Right Partners
“Collaboration is the secret to event planning and as such, finding the right partners is essential if you are to succeed in your efforts. While your first impulse might be to look for those with the most experience and skills, you should also make sure they truly understand your vision for the event. This goes for those taking care of the catering, decor, entertainment, transportation, or any other aspect you are planning to include in your event. If these partners aren't aligned with your vision, you're setting the stage for potential problems down the road. At Curated Events, we are grateful to work with some of the best event professionals in the country. The right vendor relationships and partnerships makes all the difference in the success of your events.”
Give Yourself Space
“Whether you choose to work with a professional event planner or not, and depending on your level of involvement, bringing your event into reality will demand your energy, time, and attention. If you let these demands get the best of you, your vision for the event will be compromised as creativity, planning, and morale stifle. Hire professionals to take things off of your hands so you can enjoy the process.”
Be Flexible
“It is not unusual for event planners to fall in love with their original vision. Trust me, your vision for the event will change as you continue to plan it, which is why you should think of your original vision as a guideline instead of a script. Leaning into the advice of and sage wisdom of your event planner and trusting their expertise is the most effective way to get what you’re dreaming of and have it executed perfectly!”
Centralize Your Planning
“Centralization is any event planner’s best friend, which is why you see the most experienced of them carrying a huge binder, laptop, or tablet everywhere they go. By having all your planning in one place, you will always know exactly where to turn when decisions or adjustments need to be made. As you will surely be collaborating with other people, making this information easily available to other parties will not only help you all collaborate more effectively but also be on the same page at all times.”
Curated Events’ mission is to inspire, enhance and elevate the human need to gather, and make those notable occasions unforgettable. Curated Events specializes in providing a wide variety of high quality and unique event rental equipment- everything from the place setting on the table to the dancefloor and tent!
Photography by: Courtesy of Curated Events
