There is a multitude of decisions to make when planning a party. If you are not very keen on managing your time, as you barely have any, or paying attention to minute details that will make the whole party experience unequaled and customized, you probably can’t handle the stress that comes with party planning. Your obvious move would be to hire a party planner.
But if you are the highly organized type—meaning you don’t get frazzled by the nitty-gritty hours spent on party legwork like gathering and choosing materials for the decor. Cutting and circling are not at all a bother to you given your manual dexterousness with scissors.
Being in charge of budgeting and preparing food and other ad hoc necessities are all part of your party process. If this sounds like you, then you probably don’t need a party planner. You can go full DIY at every party that you host.
Either way, a party is a party, and nothing should stop you from throwing the best one yet. If you’ve already tried both—doing it on your own and having a planner—but still can’t decide on which option is the best for your upcoming one, then you need to go over this pros and cons list before making a decision.
Costwise
Having a professional party organizer to get the show on the road will always cost you, but planners are worth their weight in gold as they already have a system in place. They’ve done this a million times already, so they know what works and what doesn’t. They take off loads of stress that you don’t need, and you are actually paying for their expertise to make everything smooth sailing.
However, doing it yourself can also reduce a lot of bumps on the road in terms of cost. You don’t have to have a type-A personality to lower expenses. You can plan as you please—it’s going to be all you this time.
It helps a lot if you have a dog-like nose for party supplies on clearance, on-sale partyware, and favor items. When it comes to festive ideas, they usually take root from your inner creativity, and they come out naturally when you’re in a pinch.
Necessity, after all, is the mother of invention. In this economy, you always want to save more than spend. Taking out the party planner on your line item will give you a bigger budget for the other party stuff
Preparation Time
The real enemy of parties is time. Whether it’s a birthday party, a bachelorette or bachelor party, a going-away party, a baby shower, or any other kind of party you’re planning, the execution is what makes it memorable to the attendees.
If you have a knack for keeping track of everything and problem-solving, then you have what it takes to be a party planner.
The advantage of professional party planners in this area is the experience. Because they did it over and over, they’ve probably solved a bunch of tricky situations that you have yet to hear or you’re just getting yourself into.
They know the critical questions to ask first and what you need to prioritize. They are more aware of the things that you may forget or may not be aware of. Having a professional can help you navigate all the options available when you get stuck with something. And this allows you to save more time.
Party Vendors
Professionals have the right connections and wisdom when it comes to dealing with vendors. Although you probably have a clear vision of how you want the party you’re planning to go down, you won’t know which vendor can best serve your needs.
You need someone reliable and willing to go the extra mile for you. And you won’t know that much about vendors unless you’ve already completed a transaction with them.
When and where to have the party are crucial points to consider. If you have a friend or a family member who can point you to the right direction and recommend vendors they’ve worked with previously, then you have an excellent place to start with. Word of mouth is always the leading proponent for businesses.
But if not, then you’ll need a professional to guide you on what to expect from a specific vendor. They’ll connect you to the right people, with whom they’ve built relationships over the years. And you’ll get the best quote from them considering they’ve already worked together previously. They can compare prices on your behalf and help you make an informed decision on whom to go for, one who will not cause that much a dent to your bank account.