Ten Top Tips for Perfect Party Planning

Planning for a small gathering or a house party is something everyone can do quite easily. However, not everyone can organise, or has the spare time and can put in the concerted effort to organise, a big bash such as a wedding or charity ball.

It is in organising these kinds of events that party planning companies can come in to their own. Not only do these party planners ease the administrative burden of the host or hostess in the run up to the event, but they can absolutely take responsibility for the smooth running of every last detail on the night too. Invaluable if you want to enjoy the event yourself!



So, how do you find the perfect party planner? Let's take a look at our list of ten tips to consider when looking for the right party planning company:

1. Type of party planning

Identify what type of party planning is needed. Make a list of the various jobs and responsibilities you want people to look after. Talk with the party planning companies and find out which services they can provide for you. Some party planning companies just offer consultancy for example, or ideas. Then there are others who offer a full service and do all the preparations for the party too. Make sure what you need is clear from the very outset.

2. Budget

Be absolutely sure what you want to spend and on what! If you want to blow the budget on getting your event planned to perfection, but you want the food to be a fish and chip van, then make sure your party planner knows where to apportion your spend!

3. References

Always request references or a list of the company's previous clients and their contact details. Contact them and ask for relevant feedback. If the party planning company refuses to give you references, don't waste any more time and move on to the next company on your list.

4. Arrange a meeting with the party planner

Once you have chosen a party planner who can provide the services that you are looking for, in budget, and with recommendations, meet with the prospective planner. Make sure you get on – you may be speaking to each other ten or 15 times a day in the weeks to come so you need to get on!



5. List of services

Make sure your party planner sets up a list of services that you will need and get them to get to grips with the terms and conditions of all of them. Are they planning on using a caterer that needs to be paid 90% up front for example? Find out what payment schedule the planner has and of course find out what happens if you (or your guests) aren't satisfied.

6. Value for money?

If your goal is to get the best value for money from your party planning company, then always avoid planners, which have to contract certain establishments or vendors for the party's needs. Often it can be a bit like paying the planner twice.

7. Leadership

Always check that the party planner assigned to your event has enough leadership ability and is competent enough to coordinate the event itself. It may be a huge team of hundreds of staff on the night - can they run things how you want them to be run?

8. Food tasting

Make sure your party planner lets you taste the food! Whilst they can book the caterers and order the wine, you need to make sure you like what is being provided. Good catering companies like Alison Price, Moving Venue Penni Black and "rhubarb", should invite you for a client tasting. Remember it's your party not the planners!


9. Communication

Always encourage first class communication with your planner at all times. If you haven't worked with them before they may not make quite the decisions you would. If on the other hand you know they will make every detail as you would like it, then you can just sit back and plan your outfit.


10. Pick the right party planner

And finally, just remember that planning for an event is as important as the event itself. While hiring a professional party planner might be a wise step to make the gathering flow smoothly, it is important that the client also maximizes his money's worth by selecting one that best suits his needs and specifications. In short make sure you pick the right party planner for you.


- Author Sara Allom

View Source: Rhubarb Food Design - event caterers

Party Venues in London and Further Afield

What makes a party? The guests certainly, the food and drinks undoubtedly, the weather (sometimes)…however, perhaps one of the most crucial ingredients for a really good party is the venue.

Whether it's in a private house or garden, a village field or at a famous and awe-inspiring landmark, a venue can make or break a party. Party venues don't have to be expensive, and if your house or home is suitable, that can make life much easier, but of course a large company, a corporate organisation, or someone simply with a bigger than average number of guests, will all need a proper venue.


Lots of party venues have other uses – a church or town hall, a public garden or country house. Museums and monuments often make great venues, and of course lots of London attractions double up as great party venues too, with their own events teams and lists of preferred suppliers.

Popular London party venues include the Natural History Museum and The Science Museum, Madame Tussauds or The London Aquarium, Guildhall, Two Temple and Chelsea Hospital - the list is endless.

These venues often work with a list of preferred suppliers – the florists, party planners, caterers, DJs, bands and lighting & production companies that they feel do the best job of creating parties in their party venues. Some of the best catering companies for example, such as Rocket, Alison Price and Create are all experienced in working at the country's biggest and best venues. In fact they are pretty adept at turning any location at all into the perfect party!

During Summer, you may be looking for a party venue with outside space, and there are plenty of extraordinary places to choose from. The Silver Fleet in London for example is a fleet of luxury vessels available for hire for a party – a party that then cruises the River Thames! Your guests are offered impressive panoramic river views, superb food by one of the UK's top caterers - "rhubarb" food design – and some perfect party memories.


If you prefer a land-based venue in London, you could also consider The Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. This venue is situated in the old Duke of York's Barracks and couldn't be a better space for West London events.

As for the process of finding a perfect venue, the Internet has made that much easier. There are now a variety of event-led venue-hiring websites and organisations, which allow you to browse through all the venues located in a city. And good catering companies will also help you find the perfect venue when you have your date in mind.

Companies such as London Launch can help you find London party venues, in fact they split up their venue searches into useful sub sections such as hotels, restaurants and bars, away day venues, marquee venues, and boats, yachts and moving venues –don't forget you can party on an old routemaster bus too! All making the job of finding a party venue much easier.

Wherever you are looking to hold your party or event, and whatever that event might be - product launch, wedding or corporate gala dinner - once you've found the perfect party venue you are halfway there.

- Author Sara Allom

View Source: Rhubarb Food Design – London Party Venues

Using the Best Corporate Events Caterers for Maximum Business Impact

There are hundreds of corporate events caterers in the UK, and a huge variety of services offered by them. Some event caterers may just supply fresh sandwiches, salads and cakes for lunches in the office or at offsite meetings. Other companies specialise in director’s lunches, in offices or headquarters. And even more high end corporate caterers design and deliver every aspect of glamorous canapé receptions, lavish five course banquets, and cool corporate garden parties, all aimed at wowing clients and colleagues alike.

The best corporate event caterers can of course deliver everything from one end of the spectrum to the other – a delicious freshly toasted sandwich for a clients’ driver and personal assistant? Not a problem. Stunning seafood ice bars in designer marquees or remote French chateaus? Easily done. The finest vintage champagnes, the most incredible caviars, the freshest oysters and the rarest cuts of Kobe beef? All possible if your corporate organisation can afford it!

Corporate events (and indeed corporate events budgets) are now absolutely crucial to the world’s big corporate hitters, and as the industry gets more and more competitive, the companies that really wow their clients are the ones that stand out from the pack.

The very best corporate event catering companies – such as The Admirable Crichton, Alison Price, deWintons and “rhubarb” – can make every corporate event a real theatrical production, with the best glasses and china, the most professional uniformed and corporate logo-ed staff, and of course the best, freshest and most seasonal food, served in the most stunning ways. If you work in events for a big corporate company, and if your corporate events budget fits the bill, then using this kind of event catering company means you can be sure your business strikes exactly the right notes. If you want perfectionism and professionalism, if you want to impress with attention to every little detail, if you want your corporate event catering to reflect and mirror your company’s business image and reputation, then this is the way to go!

Of course if your event catering ensures maximum impact for your company, then every single one of your guests leaves your event feeling that they have been looked after in the very best of ways. Not only will they have eaten the most fabulous food and sampled the finest wines, but most importantly they will have been impressed. A memorable corporate event like this, with superb catering, can simply make or break the biggest international business deals.

Event catering companies such as Food Show, “rhubarb” and Alison Price have catered for numerous events for some of the UK’s biggest corporate hitters, such as HSBC, Barclays Capital, De Beers, KPMG, Royal Bank of Scotland, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Deutsche Bank, Sotheby’s, Citibank and Rolls Royce. And events for these kinds of companies can take place in some of the most amazing venues such as The Royal Courts of Justice, The Natural History Museum or The Design Museum. And of course with the best corporate caterers being accredited and recommended at certain venues, there is always fierce competition for the best corporate jobs. The companies that win are those with the very best product, the very best service and the most impeccable reputation – just like the corporate companies that win in business too!

- Author Sara Allom

View Source: Rhubarb Food Design – Corporate Events