The New York Institute of Art and Design offers an online event planning course and because we do, we like to provide free tips for event planners. Enjoy!
When working with families and friends to coordinate any important event, the budget is often a touchy topic of which an event planner can effectively serve as a much appreciated mediator while discussing. Whether pairs of siblings are organizing an anniversary dinner for their parents or a large fundraising committee is planning an event for a non-profit organization, it is likely than whenever more than one person is involved in the planning process, arguments regarding budget will naturally arise at some point.
As the event planner, it is important for you to step in during these awkward moments to serve as an objective, reasonable third party. Within any group, family or not, budget-related conflict can lead to very strong feelings and it’s crucial for you to help members of any planning group reach a pleasant compromise before this happens.
For example, maybe one sibling in the aforementioned duo has attached a very sentimental meaning to a certain type of very expensive flower, and they want them lavishly displayed around a special event honoring their parents. It’s important for you to listen to any underlying reasons for this nostalgic attachment so that you can develop a better understanding of why said client is adamantly clinging to an effort of spending a large portion of budget on something so specific.
Then, respectfully try to think of a negotiation that leaves the client happy and the finances intact. Maybe the florist could display one large spray of the expensive flowers at the main event table, then display similar, less costly choices elsewhere. The more suggestions you can offer your clients, the more autonomy (and likely fulfillment) they’ll then feel in reaching a satisfying compromise.
Want to learn more? Learn how to become an event planner with NYIAD’s online event planning courses. Request your free course catalog today!
