Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, corporate events—whatever and whenever your occasion is, there is a right way and yes, even a wrong way to decorate. Here are a few do’s and don’ts on how to decorate for a party or a special event the right way.

Do get your homework done beforehand

Thinking about the occasion before deciding on how best to decorate for it can make all the difference in making it run smoothly. Doing your homework on the special event beforehand will help you answer all sorts of questions, like these ones to start:

• Who or what is being celebrated?
• When is the event taking place?
• Where is the event taking place?
• What kind of budget do you have for decorating?
• If it’s a birthday or anniversary or reunion, how many years are being celebrated?
• How many people are you expecting to attend? (This one’s especially important!)
• Are you on your own to decorate for the event?

Decorating for the event will go a lot (repeat, a lot) more smoothly once you’ve answered all of these questions.

Don’t make assumptions about the celebration

This is why the previous tip matters so much, because there are so many things that could happen before and during the celebration. Dates can be switched around; guests may have RSVP’d as attending, but then never show up; the number of tables may increase if guests who said ‘maybe’ end up attending after all. 

In all of these cases and more, it’s best to not make any assumptions about the success behind your celebration. Be prepared beforehand and ensure that solid communication exists between all vendors (whether that’s you and/or your team, or the vendors you’ve hired). If you assume more people are going to show up than you initially realized, then make sure the number of tables, chairs, etc. match that number. Remember, it’s always better to have too much of something than not enough (especially when it comes to seating and party food).

Do try to spend within your budget

Decor is not the only thing to spend on for an event. You also may have to consider food, renting the venue space, paying staff and vendors, gifts and/or prizes—the list goes on. 

With all this in mind, decor may be the last thing you’re thinking about, but it can add to the mood and atmosphere so do plan your budget around this too! You may want to consider DIY’ing the decor if you find that the budget is already being eaten up by all of the other expenses, or if you don’t have time to DIY, consider renting the decor instead (we have an article all about why this might help your budget). 

Don’t go crazy with the decorations

Like we said, we know you’re trying to stay within a budget, so financially it does make sense to not go too crazy on the decor. Too little or too much decor in the room can have a negative effect on the party; too little makes the event look cheap and slapped together at the last minute, and too much can make the room seem over the top.

Do consider party decoration rentals when planning

This may seem like an expensive option, but it’s really not. Compared to the price you have to pay for decor that is only ever used once, renting makes a lot more fiscal sense. Not to mention if you hire a professional decor team, you’ll really have help nailing the look and feel of the event.

Don’t forget to have fun afterwards!

You may be in charge of planning, but everyone needs a break! Grab yourself a snack or some cake, talk to some guests, and enjoy the end result of your hard work and dedication.

You’re ready to party! Call us if you’ve decided that renting decor is the best option for your event. We’re happy to help!

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