5 Challenges to Event Planning

Smarty Solutions to Event Planning Challenges Parties are all about fun! However, planning for big events can be anything but. We’ve heard plenty of event planning horror stories over the years, and lucky for you, we have some great solutions to the most common challenges.   Challenge #1: Your ideas are bigger than your budget. The Smarty Solution: Inspired ideas are what drive memorable events, but budgets are an inevitable reality. Whether your theme is grandiose, your menu is elaborate, or your decor is beyond fabulous, you don’t have to sacrifice your grand plans in order to make ends meet. You just have to identify areas where you can save big, so that you can allocate more funds to the costlier components. May we introduce you to our partyware? :)   Challenge #2: And being environmentally friendly is a (costly) priority. The Smarty Solution: The notion that environmentally friendly parties cost more to produce is a myth. In fact, if you’re doing it right, you’re reducing, recycling and reusing...which should save you money. Some of our favorite green ideas include creating centerpiece displays out of low-cost fruit, subbing succulents for fresh-cut flowers in table decor, and using compostable dinnerware. You can find more solutions in our most recent article on throwing a green party.   Challenge #3: Your tablecloths don’t fit your tables. The Smarty Solution: Choosing the right tablecloths for your tables are more than a matter of round, square or rectangular. You have to make sure they hang at the proper length, otherwise you run the risk of either a “high-water” look or guests tripping on the pools of fabric at their feet. Tablecloths do come in standard sizes, but they’re by no means one-size-fits-all. To find the perfect tablecloth length for your tables, read our troubleshooting article or use the handy calculator found at the bottom of all our tablecloth pages.   Challenge #4: Everyone eats differently these days. The Smarty Solution: Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free...there are all kinds of preferences and allergies to cater to these days. You don’t have to strip down your menu to the meet everyone’s needs, just make sure there are delicious options for everyone. In our experience, fruit and veggies are friendly to nearly any diet, so make room at the table for some creative produce-centric dishes and present them on our stylish serving trays.   Challenge #5: You planned a killer party, but you forgot about clean-up. The Smarty Solution: With all the build-up to the big event, you’re more than ready to blow off some steam on the dance floor. You’ve planned every detail to perfection, and now it’s time to kick back and be the hostess with the mostess. But eventually midnight strikes, the guests go home, and you’re returned to the reality that is clean-up. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today? With Smarty’s elegant disposable dinnerware, dirty dishes disappear in an instant, clean-up is a breeze, and you can take a (very) well-deserved day off tomorrow!