How to Plan a Car Show Extravaganza and Fundraiser

A car show “extravaganza” is a fantastic opportunity to bring a community or special interest group together – for more than one cause. Planning your car show event is not an easy task but the process can be simplified and efficient. The most important steps to planning your extravaganza are as follows:
The Organizers
You can be the sole show organizer or it can be a joint venture with another group. Whichever way you decide to go, there is a lot of face-to-face coordination involved. Also, it may be inconvenient to get everybody to together at a meeting on the same day. But you will need to make sure that everybody knows what’s going on and be reminded of their role and responsibilities. You’re probably wondering how to accomplish that because coordinating people is a major feat itself. Here’s where Atlanta Antique Car Club comes in with those hard-to-find resources. We recommend staying in contact with helloWorld – Video e-Mail. It is easy, affordable and so much better than phoning.
The Event
Plan a car show with a fun and festive atmosphere for the whole family. Plan a luxury and performance car and bike event dedicated to the automobile industry – featuring the best possible cars, motorcycles, limousines, customs, and art cars available because this is the “attraction”. Varying your selection of automobiles and automotive products is what will give your show the extravagant factor and take it over the top.
The Venue
Location, location, location. This is where your show will go down in history. Because of the nature of your event, selecting a venue that is unique is very important. It must have an acceptable floor plan to accommodate a large crowd, registration, bathrooms, many exhibitors and vendors, and ample parking spaces for visitors and show car trailers.
The Theme
Classic cars, food and old music are the right formula for an old-school theme and goodtime. Dressing in period clothing can add nostalgia and interest, too. And, when the 50’s music starts, your visitors will be taking a trip down memory lane. Check out this 50s party in a box to get your creative juices flowing.
The Attraction
If this is your main event of the year, it should be a festive “extravaganza” representing a vintage and classic car lifestyle. Whether it is one day or held over a few days, it should have a dramatic theme to set the stage for beautiful motorcars and beautiful people. Your car show should be the hottest ticket in town – not the most boring. So pull out all of the stops and go for it!
The Multi-Task Team Building
The people behind your car show are a very important component – especially the creative team. Here’s a tip that will pay dividends. Keep all of your volunteers happy because they comprise the logistical teams to perform the multi-tasks, at no cost. That being said, the creative team is responsible for planning the theme and working with the committees to get it done, under budget and on time.
The Vendors or Us
Buying, cooking and selling foodstuff has its advantages. On the other hand, your event may be so huge that you won’t have enough hands to flip burgers quick enough. Inviting vendors is a good thing as long as they:
Carry insurance
Be liable and on-time
Be very professional
The Fundraising
Make your car show extravaganza make money – without spending a lot. How? Use your church parking lot or a donated venue. Be your own vendor by cooking and selling food and beverage – that’s donated or bought at discount prices. What you spend upfront will make a big difference on your bottom line. Sell tickets for a raffle, special attraction, etc. Charge a small fee for parking lot spaces for swap meet vendors. Or, collect donated sale items from your members for 100% profit. Ask for donated folding tables as well as monetary donations (if you are a nonprofit organization). Write and publish FREE public service announcements to announce your event – giving them at least two weeks lead-time. Tell everyone to tell everyone. Get the word out for FREE.
The Sponsors
Sponsors are companies who wish to be associated with your car show and visitors. A great car show is an event that sponsors would like to be associated with so keep that in mind when building your sponsor relationships.
The Exhibitors
You will want to round off your show with sponsors, food vendors, swap meet vendors, disc jockey, musicians, bands, bike performances, etc. Because when it’s all said and done, it’s all about having a good time so give your visitors variety, thrill and excitement. When they’re happy, they tend to buy from exhibitors.
The Visitors
Vintage and classic car show visitors are unique. They are in a class by themselves. They are a special group of people who live the old-school car lifestyle. They are car collectors, enthusiasts and wannabes – with buying power. They are a group who recognize and respect universal status symbols and the finer things that money can buy. That being said, your car show visitors deserve the very best show you can provide.
The Media
Last but not least, you will want to invite the media to make them your partner for all of your car show extravaganzas. As I’ve stated, you must encourage volunteers to tell everyone but telling the media is your best bet. A public service announcement will cover a greater audience and territory than you will be able to do by word of mouth. Another form of ‘media’ is flyers, banners, your web site where people can visit your site for information about upcoming events. In fact, you should be advertising your car club, group, organization at all times and I.D.IT!PLATES is a great way to drive traffic to your web.
Planning and implementing a car show won’t be easy but if it was it probably wouldn’t be a car show “extravaganza”. Use this outline to get started with your first car show. Having a plan will help you to stay focused and efficient – while keeping it simple. After the show, you will want to see pictures that tell the story about your success. So ask all volunteers to bring a camera to snap lots of pictures of event activities and car enthusiast having fun. Please don’t forget to share your pictures with Atlanta Antique Car Club’s photo gallery – for the entire world to see.

The Growing Trend of Planning a Wedding Online

Congratulations on your pending nuptials! You have a ring, a date has been set, and all is right with the world. If you are just starting to plan out your wedding day, you know that there are many steps you must take on the way to organizing your big event. Sure, you could hire the services of a wedding planner to do much of the grinding legwork for you, but likely you will want to be involved in making most of the arrangements yourself with the assistance of your future spouse, of course. So, where should you start? Online, of course! Yes, there are many terrific benefits in planning a wedding online. Let’s explore what they are and how you and your intended can harness the internet to your advantage.

Savvy couples have discovered that an important part of successfully planning a wedding online involves doing some research. Click on Google, enter certain search words such as “wedding dj” or “wedding photographer” and numerous results will pop up. By searching within these same results you can further narrow down the list by entering in your city and state. The final Google produced list should be much more manageable to sort through.

Those wedding vendors who really want your business will have attractive and easy to navigate web sites listed in the Google results for your perusal. Planning a wedding online has never been easier as you can review a photographer’s portfolio; listen to sample music clips; watch video clips; tour reception sites; uncover valuable honeymoon information; and much more. Contact those vendors who strike your fancy and ask them for price information, availability, and references. Most will accept an email message from you or have an easy to fill out form on their site whereby you can receive additional information. Planning a wedding online can help you to reduce stress by allowing you to weed out vendors ahead of time: you contact them on your own terms to keep everything under your control.

Some couples use email as an important part of planning a wedding online. By sending out “hold that date” notices to invitees, guests can be notified well in advance of the wedding date and reserve that date on their calendars. Later, you can follow up with the formal invitations and, yes, you can order those online too!

Other benefits of planning a wedding online include:

Gift registries can be set up on the internet or at your local retail store and made available to your guests online no matter where they live. Guests will be able to review your list, select the item they want to give to you, order it online, and ship it directly to your home address.

Do you know which stores in your area sell bridal and gown outfits? If you aren’t sure, there is plenty of information online to help you sort all of that out. Even tuxedo rentals can be ordered online, although an in person fitting is still recommended.

Additional online wedding planning can include finding party favors, buying disposable cameras, shopping for bridal gifts, and locating just about everything else related to the event. Some couples create separate web sites loaded with pictures, driving directions, menus, gift registry information, and more. If that sounds like too much work for you, there are sites that will allow you to set up your information with them. Simply enter “planning a wedding online” in your search parameters to get the best results.

Yes, planning a wedding online can be used to your advantage. The end result is time and money saved and stress avoided. Use the internet today to make planning a wedding online a reality for you and your intended.

10 Tips For Bringing Your Event To Life

Your job as an event planner doesn’t stop with the meeting in the company boardroom. You may be call upon to organize an employee appreciation event, an awards dinner, a product launch, the celebration of a company milestone, a gala recognizing a longtime employee’s retirement, an incentive event for the company’s sales force, a fundraising event, a holiday celebration…the list goes on and on.
These types of affairs differ from your typical corporate business meeting, and you face unique issues and pitfalls when planning them. Rave program reviews are generally the result of the blood, sweat, and tears you devote to the project. A well-designed and well-orchestrated event is analogous to a good stage production. It’s all about getting your act together and performing the right show for the right audience.
The following are 10 tips that zero in on the nitty gritty elements that can help earn your efforts glowing reviews (and make your mom really proud of you). As you begin each planning program, a key question to ask yourself is, “how can each activity engage the participant’s interest?”
Tip #1: Decide When To Stage Your Event
Timing is everything. The decision about when to hold your event is determined in large part by what type of event it is. Ask yourself, is the event better suited for the day or evening? Do you want to hold it during the week or on a weekend? If your event doesn’t have a deadline, would it be best to hold it during a specific season or time of year? Make sure to check that your event doesn’t overlap with any religious holidays, and it’s probably best to avoid scheduling during major sporting events.
Tip #2: Map Out A Location
The first order of business is to decide whether to hold your event indoors or outdoors. However, outdoor events have several major considerations, the elements being number one on the list. Think tents, portable flooring, electric generators, and space heaters, in addition to a well thought out contingency plan. Also, be aware that speeches and audiovisual presentations are notoriously difficult to stage outdoors.
Tip #3: Consider Unique Environments
Hotel meeting rooms can get old very quickly and the thought of a unique environment can immediately add interest and excitement. Consider retreat centers, cruise ships or yachts, museums, stately home, sporting venues, and theaters. Realize that many of these venues work well for special functions, but they don’t necessarily have adequate meeting facilities and equipment. Make sure you do your homework beforehand and abide by the “Meeting Planner’s Golden Rule” – never select a venue without having seen it in person!
Tip #4: Set The Stage
The program plan you choose stems from the purpose and participants. Your four main considerations include:
What is the main emphasis of the program – educational, business or social?
What are your financial criteria – generate revenue, break even, or be a company expense?
What are your participants’ expectations?
What is the optimum ration of educational, business, and social programming?
Tip #5: Create The Right Atmosphere
One key to a successful special event is to seek out entertainment or decorations that are unique and fun to spark excitement and add the right ambiance. Think outside the box and consider all sorts of amusements – strolling musicians, magicians, chefs’ demonstrations, palm readers…anything out of the ordinary. Novelty is the key to your success. Keep in mind that entertainment that rave about can also come in the form of an elaborate coffee bar or startlingly beautiful champagne fountain. Remember to check all decorating plans with the venue in advance because many have restrictions on what they allow. For example, many establishments forbid helium balloons.
Tip #6: Create A Memorable Theme
Creating a theme for your event helps make it easier to organize food, décor, and other accessories, such as giveaway items. Select a theme that fits your participants. Consider choosing from the following categories:
Fashion: The Roaring Twenties or An Evening at Ascot
History: The Garden of Eden or A Renaissance Fair
Politics: Fourth of July Celebrations or Women’s Lib (political and historical)
Popular culture: Wizard of Ox or An Evening with Dr. Seuss
The arts: An Italian Affair or A Night at the Oscars
Tip #7: Integrate The Theme
Don’t consider a theme unless you are prepared to follow it through your entire event. Don’t limit it to a few posters on the walls, which just add lip service rather than real ambiance. For the most impact, integrate it before, during and after the event. Reflect your theme in your invitations and in any party favors that guests take home. Your theme should complement the tone and content of your event. Advise speakers and discuss with them how they can incorporate, but not overuse it in their remarks. A few extras to consider when integrating your theme:
Make sure the theme is general enough that it is unlikely to offend anyone, and that it is meaningful to your group.
Develop a meaningful slogan or message to go along with the theme to add a little extra when you promote the event.
Consider having a special logo designed to enhance the theme and its possible message.
Tip #8: Hire A Professional Photographer
A photographer is a great addition to almost any event. Guests appreciate a visual reminder of the fun time they had at your affair. Arranging to have family portraits taken at an employee appreciation event shows your employees that you care about them as individuals. Guests at more formal affairs enjoy having their pictures taken while they’re dressed up for a night out. Decide whether you want a photographer to roam among your guests taking candid shots, to set up in a central location to take posed shots, or both.
Tip #9: Entertain The Group
Participants look forward to the entertainment segment of a program. They want to have fun, enjoy themselves, and let their hair down, particularly after stressful and demanding sessions. So guess what? Your participants’ stress reliever now becomes your stress maker. You have a true responsibility to choose the right entertainment for your group. Some options include the following:
Music: Your choices include a band with or without singers, a soloist (instrumental or vocal), a disc jockey, or even karaoke.
Spectacle: Consider hiring a magician, juggler, comedian, mime or hypnotist.
Theater: Arrange a dinner theater performance, a one-person act, a murder-mystery experience, or corporate theater (which involves using professional or amateur actors to dramatize a company’s image, a new product, or the history of an organization).
Games: Involve your participants by planning individual games, such as a treasure hunt, or an event with a game show format, such as “Jeopardy” or “Hollywood Squares.”
Video or slide show: A picture is worth a thousand words. For a retirement dinner, consider creating a slide show featuring the guest of honor’s accomplishments. For a sales meeting, provide a video demonstration of a new product.
Tip #10: Hire The Right Talent
As you think about hiring your entertainment talent, find out where and for whom they’ve previously performed. Make certain that you view a demo video. Watch for the quality of their performance and the audience reaction. Check out their references and ask some pertinent questions:
Would you hire them again?
How flexible, reliable, and easy to work with were they?
How would you rate their act?
What do they do well?
What part of their act could use improvement?
What were the demographics of your audience? (You want to make sure that this act would be a good fit for your participants.)

Getting Married? Try These Wedding Planning Tips!

Hearing wedding bells in your near future and need some great planning ideas? Well, you have come to the right place! This article provides a variety of helpful tricks to make your wedding planning sail smoothly and help you prepare an event that everyone will remember for years to come!

Rather than break the bank for a towering wedding cake, opt for multiple tiers of decadent, sweet cupcakes or mini-tarts. These arrangements are beloved for their affordable price range, versatility, and convenience. Guests can simply pick up a cupcake or two as they leave, placing them in a takeout-inspired, embellished cardboard container.

It’s not a bad idea to hire some form of children’s entertainment if there will be a gaggle of youngsters attending the event. This will keep them entertained while the adults are permitted to enjoy the evening in peace, saving you from listening to screaming babies and crying toddlers all night.

Even if a wedding photograph looks like it isn’t what you intended, keep it, at least in digital form. Sometimes the bride and groom will see a shot that they love even if the photographic composition is lacking. The couple are the final say, so leave it up to them to pick and choose their favorites.

Include your fiance in planning your wedding or he’ll end up feeling like it wasn’t really his day at all. If he says he doesn’t care what you do he might just be saying that to keep you happy, so try to include him in the catering or cake choice so he has a yummy way to get involved.

Choose your reception venue with the guests in mind. If your family is mostly elderly then you aren’t likely to choose a location with a lot of stairs, or a big dance floor. If you have anyone in your family who is handicapped then you should ensure that the venue knows they’re coming and will make everything accessible to them.

Your venue should not only support your guest count but more importantly it should make you want to get married there. If you have a dream or hope for the look of your wedding, make sure that your venue fills that need. By doing the appropriate research and investing a bit of time, you will create an environment that is the foundation of your wedding.

This may seem like common sense, but make sure that the wedding dress you plan on wearing actually fits. Too many times, the dress is too long, too tight, or just a poor fit. If you are planning on a train, make sure that it isn’t too long as to make you trip, fall, or catch on something.

Now that you have so many great wedding planning ideas, the only thing left is to put your plan into action and hope for some great weather! Hopefully you will be able to sit back and relax on your wedding day, and enjoy all of the wonderful planning you accomplished as well as your new spouse.

Planning For A Baby Shower

Who doesn’t get excited when a baby is on its way? Aside from their caring mothers, everyone in the family gets that certain thrill. Welcoming yet another being in this beautiful world comes with a certain joy. So how else can you celebrate a soon-to-be-child arrival? Have a blast with a baby shower party.

Planning a baby shower can be really fun. You can create your own party as you wish. You can either go traditional or put a little humor to your event. You can choose whatever theme you want. Unleash your creativity. The main goal is simply to have your baby shower unforgettable and fun for everyone.

To get you started, the tips below can absolutely help you with the steps of creating that perfect baby shower party for you.

Be prepared

Plan ahead of time. It is best to hold baby showers either on the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy.

Look for a perfect location.

You can opt to have your house or the backyard as your event area. If you have an extravagant budget you can scout for convenient party places which can hold your guests.

Set the right date and time

Be sure to check out your guests’ availability, from there schedule where most of your expected guests can be free. Set a date that could easily fit to their other engagements.

Think of the perfect theme

There are hundreds of baby shower themes that you can choose from. Popular choices are teddies, cartoon themes, or balloons. The possibilities are endless.

Surprise her

To make the party more momentous, you can make a surprise baby shower for the guest of honor. Consult her close and relatives when preparing your guest list.

Impress with invitations

Send out invitations at least three weeks before the event. Match your invitations with the theme of the party itself with the theme of the party itself. Be sure that the invitations contain all vital information like date, time and sketched- up location. Be creative in designing your invitations.

Tips For Creating A Joyous Wedding To Remember!

Beautiful wedding ceremonies never happen by accident. The best weddings are also the best-planned weddings. The amount of effort that goes into planning a wedding can be monumental and overwhelming, but the experience doesn’t have to be stressful. Follow these tips for making sure your wedding is as great as your love for your partner.

It’s not a bad idea to hire some form of children’s entertainment if there will be a gaggle of youngsters attending the event. This will keep them entertained while the adults are permitted to enjoy the evening in peace, saving you from listening to screaming babies and crying toddlers all night.

Start early with your wedding preparations. If you are able to begin planning well before your chosen date, you will have a much larger selection of wedding venues and related services to choose from. That means you can choose the vendors that meet both your budget and your needs.

Get married in an unusual location. The most popular venues in town will book early and will be very expensive. Consider going to an aquarium or a museum and seeing what they charge for a reception. Their packages usually include almost everything that you will need, and they cost less than other traditional venues.

Be considerate of your guests and their travel arrangements when planning a destination wedding. You may have guests who will make vacation plans around this day and they should have adequate time to prepare. Sending out save the date cards or invitations, if possible, at least 8 months in advance will allow for just about any arrangements your guests will need to make.

You may want to consider not planning your wedding for a Saturday. There are a lot of weddings planned on Saturdays, normally because most everyone already has the day off. The issue with planning your wedding for that day is that most every church and reception hall is booked far in advance for each Saturday. By changing the day, you may find that the venue you genuinely want is available.

Create a social media page for your guests to easily RSVP. These online resources are a great way to not only keep up with your guest list, it will also create a source of communication focused on your special day that can build excitement or even allow you to find suggestions in regards to your wedding day needs.

Though the idea may not appeal to you at first, a “like new” wedding dress can really cut your dress budget. Most of the dresses you will find have only been worn once and some sellers require this. You can find and afford much grander options for your dress that you would not have originally considered trying to buy.

Yes, planning a wedding is a huge task, akin to planning a theater production or a big sports event, but the above tips should help you keep the complications to a minimum. That, of course, will help you enjoy that magical day even more, which is the best way to start a marriage.

Right Words for a Baby Shower

Baby showers are a prelude to miracle which is the birth of a newborn baby. It is this occasion where friends, family and other people who know the parents to be, are gathered together to give gifts and make this occasion memorable to everyone present.

This baby shower usually happens a month or 2 in advance and making the right invitation can be just as challenging as planning the entire event.

There are many ideas and themes one can think of to make the invitation a good preview of what is to come during the baby shower itself. The important thing is that the invitation should set the mood for the occasion and with the proper planning and a little imagination with friends or professionals, it will surely make this baby shower stand out over others that people have gone to.

The one who will host this event is usually a very close friend of future mother. That person can start by talking to the mother and other members of the family what kind of theme will be appropriate for the party.

The proper words should express the love and anticipation that the future mother has for the newborn baby. The host must do it by putting oneself in the shoes of the mother. If that person has had children in the past, it will be quite easy to relate to that situation. If this person has not had any children yet, then it is best to ask the help of those who have so that person can help empathize what the future mother is experiencing.

Just like any other invitation, it should have the name of the person to be invited, when and where the event will take place, the contact number of the one hosting the event, the gender of the baby and the theme of the party.

If the newborn baby is a boy, a good example for a theme is a sailboat. The invitation can be shaped into a little sailboat then on the inside; it can start off with the “row the boat” nursery rhyme before inviting the people to the shower party.

On the other hand, if it is a girl, an example of a good theme is a cookie. The theme is based on the poem that tells how little girls are made which usually come from sugar and spice and everything nice.

If during the discussion with the future mother one has learned that the sex of the baby is to be kept a secret until the shower party itself; one can make an invitation with a cute drawing of a baby wrapped inside a blanket carried by a stork. This should keep everyone guessing and make the party a fun one.

A challenging invitation is when the parents have not decided on the name of the baby yet. One can make an invitation that has various letters of the alphabet that will give people an idea that this occasion is to help out decide on the baby’s name.

There are other ideas and themes to make the shower a memorable occasion. It just takes some planning and little imagination to make this baby shower stand out over others that people have gone to.

The host can do alone, plan it with other friends or get a professional to help out.

Barbecue Party Tips For A Truly Amazing Event

Barbecue party tips can help a host put together an extraordinary event for family and friends. Eating outdoors is a favorite pastime enjoyed by everyone and planning the event can help make it more memorable and stress-free for the host. Big or small, a barbecue party requires an adequate amount of planning and preparation to ensure that everything is laid out properly.

It is advisable to plan the event around a theme in order to create a focal point for the barbecue party. This way, all aspects of the party such as the food, games and decorations can be fashioned around a central theme. Favorite themes for barbecue parties include a Hawaiian motif, nostalgic seventies get-together, or, if you are near the sea, opt for a beach bbq party!

Planning the menu is perhaps the most important part of any get-together especially for a barbecue party as most guests will be looking forward to an array of lip-smacking roasted meats dripping in bbq sauce.

Barbecue on the Beach Anyone?

Ah, what can be better than a great barbecue on the beach? The beach is definitely one of the best locations to have a barbecue. After all, the nature of grilling and barbecuing as a cooking technique is that it’s fun, exciting and very rewarding. Similarly, the beach pretty much exudes the same atmosphere. There are a lot of fun and exciting activities to do at the beach. It’s a place where people can be themselves in their ‘bare essentials’ and the relaxation factor is definitely rewarding. Putting these two wonderful concepts together, a barbecue on the beach is pretty much a recipe for a great time!

But before you pack your stuff, gear up your grill and hit the sand for one hell of a barbecue on the beach party, bear in mind that there are various safety procedures and other rules governing beach areas so it would be best to consult authorities and secure the proper permissions before you even think about organizing a beach barbecue party.

Assuming you’ve done that and you’ve already picked a nice spot, next would be preparing for your barbecue on the beach. There are various grill types that you may use for barbecuing on the beach – you have the wood or charcoal grill, gas grill or you may also use a campfire tripod. Be sure to station your grill in a stable spot, away from any flammable material and safe from people possibly bumping into it.

Bring your marinated meat, poultry or seafood in a cooler and take them out only when you’re ready to start barbecuing to avoid spoilage. Further, the last seasoning you would want on your barbecue on the beach is sand right? So keep them covered!

And of course, don’t forget to pack those barbecue sauces and hot sauces to spice up your barbecue dishes. If you’re looking for something insanely different to give your barbecue that extra punch, visit www.InsaneChicken.com for their wide array of barbecue sauces, marinades and dry rubs. Treat yourself and your friends’ taste buds to their line of extremely hot products; they would definitely go well with a good beer. Now that’s what I call one unforgettable barbecue on the beach party!

4 Ways To Ensure That Your Event Will Go As Planned

When you are trying to plan a great event, you want to everything perfect so that it all goes as planned. This may not always be easy and in fact you will have to work hard at it to make sure that it does go the way that you are hoping. You should not get all worked up about your event. As long as you have the right materials and the work ethic to do it, you will have a great and successful time.
There are four ways to ensure that your event will just as you have planned. You will first want to make a budget. Once you know how much you can afford to spend on this special occasion, you will then be able to plan out all that you have to spend on your purchases. This will give you some kind of start so that you can follow through on it. It is very important to stick to your budget so that you are not forced to go over and have to find ways to pay the extra cost.
Once you have the budget in place you will want to make a list. This is the second way to ensure that everything goes as planned. Once you have the list of all the materials and things that you need to plan out, you will then be on your way to making the most of your special occasion. You will want to figure out the different things that you will need and then go from there. This will be the best way to make sure that you are getting good deals on all the things that you are in need of.
Make sure that you are checking things off of your list as they are done. You will want to do this so that you are not forgetting to take care of something and this will help you leave nothing undone. You will find that planning out the event will go a lot easier and quicker when you have a great plan to move on with. This will be a very good way to stay organized and on track.
The third way to ensure that your event goes as planned is to make sure that you have a lot of help. You do not want to take on all the challenges of running an event yourself. You want to have as much help as you can so that you are able to make the most of your special day. You want to have friends help you out as much as possible as well as even hiring some extra hands to get everything done for you.
They will also be able to keep an eye on things at the event. They can watch over and make sure that all is running smoothly and if there is a problem, they can try and fix it before you even find out about it. This will be a great help and also take some of the stress off of you when the time comes.
The fourth way to make sure that you are succeeding with your planned event is to have a lot of patience. You do not want to get yourself worked up too much. You want to make sure that you are calm and collected so that you can handle any problems that may come up at the event. You will feel better and be able to relax when you are in control of the situation. This is something that a lot of people do not do and they will find that they have no fun at their own party.
You did all this planning and hard work and you should be able to enjoy it as much as you can. Calm down and have patience. Things are going to go wrong and there is nothing that you can do about it. All you can do is work through it and hope for the best.

Baby Shower Planning: Tips, Advice, And Ideas For A Successful Shower

Planning a baby shower is the perfect way of expressing “Congratulations,” or “We’re happy for you,” or “Best wishes” when a newborn has been added to the family.

Aimed at further boosting the parents-to-be’s excitement for the future member of their family, the baby shower is usually hosted by a close friend or relative, at any time during the last months of the pregnancy.

Just like any other party, a baby shower requires careful planning to ensure that it will go as smoothly as possible, and be memorable for everyone. Although there are no rules cast in stone in preparing for a baby shower, there are some helpful tips to follow to help the host organize every aspect of the event.

1) Decide on the location.

Most baby showers are held at the parent-to-be’s house, since the expectant mother’s health needs to be considered. It is recommended for small, intimate parties, with only the closest friends and family members. Guests also tend to be more comfortable if the party’s setting is at home.

If the expectant parents love the outdoors, a barbecue party at their garden, or a local park may also be an option. Naturally, the weather must be considered – baby shower does not literally mean soaking the guests in the rain.

For less complications, the host may reserve a secluded area in a restaurant or bar. It may be more costly, but at least the decoration, food and drinks, as well as the post-party cleanup will already be taken care of.

2) Choose the party’s theme.

For easier decoration ideas, a theme may be decided upon. Consider the expectant parents’ favorite movies or hangouts. Another option is to decorate the party site by re-creating the place where they had their honeymoon, such as a cruise ship, or Paris-inspired café.

Since the party will also be a celebration of the future baby, a childish atmosphere may also be considered. Choose cartoon characters, bright colors, and other designs depending on the baby’s gender.

3) Finalize the menu.

The party’s menu will depend upon the time of the event. In most baby showers, the host serves finger food, pastries and other baked goods for convenience. However, if the event will be held during lunch or dinner time, heavier meals will naturally be served. Alcoholic drinks may also be prepared, depending on the guests’ preference.

4) Design a fun program.

Contrary to what most people believe, a baby shower is not only limited to mingling around, gift giving, eating and drinking. Fun games may also be included, such as charades, or those which will bring back the guests’ childhood memories. Remember that the main point is to make sure everyone will have a good time, and various games will surely liven up the event.

5) Create the guest list and send out invitations.

Prepare a list of the expectant parents’ closest friends and family members. Make sure to seek their approval before sending out invitations, to avoid any embarrassing mistakes later. Bear in mind that it’s the parents’ event, and not the host’s, so their choice of people should matter the most.

Ready-made baby shower invitations are readily available in gift shops and craft stores. However, homemade invitations may also be used to provide the host’s personal touch.

Send out invitations out two to four weeks before the party to give time for the guests to fix their schedule. Baby shower invitations follow the same format as any other invitation — it indicates the date, time, place, attire preferred, gift registry, if any, the host’s contact numbers for RSVP. Just to be organized, prepare a final list of attendees a few days before the baby shower.