lola Event Productions

TIPS FROM LOLA PROS

Green Events

The Event Industry can be very unfriendly to the environment, but your event doesn’t have to be that way. Let the LOLA Pro’s guide you in making choices that are going to be beautiful for your event as well as the world we live in. Some simple ideas include asking your hotel or caterer if they can recycle at your event, using locally grown floral, recycled paper for your invitations, menus and programs, and deciding on a local organic menu. Just remember, in the long run the extra costs involved in your ‘green’ event will be worth it!

Budgeting for your Event
One of the most daunting tasks of planning an event of any kind can be getting started and creating a budget. Whether your personal event budget is $5000 or $500,000, it is important to be consistent in your choices and conscious of the overall bottom line. While a LOLA budgeting session is going to give you estimates and projections for each specific category of spending, a good rule of thumb is not to spend more than 50% of your overall budget on venue, food and beverage costs. Since these are usually the largest and biggest chunk of any social event budget, it is hard to bounce back from initially overspending in this single area.

Booking a Venue
Popular venues in the city of Chicago book up over a year in advance. Book early to get a Saturday. Consider the alternate days of Friday and Sunday if your venue is booked for Saturdays. LOLA has planned some fantastic events on these alternate days of the week. Friday nights are great for cocktail style events, and Sundays are perfect for a chic brunch or early evening event.

Gratuities
One of the most confusing parts of your last minute event expenses can be tipping. Make sure you set money aside in your budget to thank the people that made your event a success. Rule of thumb is 10-20% of the food and beverage subtotal (before tax and service charges) for caterers, 20% for transportation (limo, trolley drivers), and 10-20% for other vendors that are on-site at your event. Remember, gratuities are for vendors that have gone above and beyond for you in your planning process. Vendors should be committed to executing flawlessly regardless of gratuity, and should NEVER ask for one.