Centerpieces are an important thing for any event or party planner to think about. Whether it’s for a birthday bash, a retirement party, a wedding reception or any other memorable event, just about every event calls for a centerpiece of some sort. Feather centerpieces are one of the best kinds to get because they are very beautiful, interesting, and memorable. You can do a number of things to make them complement the rest of your decorations and reflect what a beautiful event you are putting together.

Photos by @Jorg Hempel and Wholesale Event Solutions

Photos by @Jorg Hempel and Wholesale Event Solutions

Here are some tips for great feather party centerpieces:

• One of the most beautiful feathers in the world is the amazing tail feather from the peacock. The ones that have a beautiful dot that looks like an eye are especially gorgeous and make wonderful centerpieces. They are large plumes that can be arranged in all sorts of ways to accentuate the beauty of the feather and really complement the rest of your decorations.
• Pay attention to the colors in the feathers that you use. For example, the peacock feather has a number of brilliant, shimmering colors that can act as wonderful highlights to your other decorations. The bright blue could fit in with bright blue balloons of the same color, while the green could be highlighted with streamers stretched across the room and off the ceiling that are the same color of green. When you put it all together, it will all look very well put together and very striking.
• You can also buy dyed feathers to highlight and complement your other decorations. For example, think of the types of feathers you might get in a child’s toy Native American headdress, or in the tail of an arrow in an archery set. These can be very interesting features and can be found in very muted or bright colors if you wish. This includes colors like hot pink, lime green, gold, purple, red, black, white and so on. Basically any color you can imagine, you can find dyed feathers in that color.
• Ostrich feathers are another interesting feather to be used in centerpieces, as are the beautiful feathers of the pheasant. Other birds such as roosters, ducks, and other birds are often used to help complete the arrangement of feather party centerpieces.
• Feathers can be ordered online and you can browse through a site’s online catalog of many different examples feathers. There can be many types of even the same kinds of feathers – such as the peacock’s eye feather or ostrich feathers – so it is good to have a look at exactly what you want. Fake or real feathers can also often be found in craft stores or home décor outlets.
• For some examples of how feathers can be used, try this: Make a feather tree. Get a tall vase with built-in lighting and fill it with huge beautiful feathers, like those from an ostrich or peacock, or perhaps tall fake white ones. When lit, the centerpiece will have a very interesting glow to it. Feather trees are very popular feather party centerpieces.

All hosts of a get together, celebration, reunion or any other kind of party want to throw a great party. These are some of the essential things you need to think about for your big bash.

Food

The food is often one of everyone’s favorite and most memorable parts of a great party. You might choose to have a full sit down meal, or a buffet, a potluck, a barbecue or just some tasty goodies available throughout the evening. Potlucks are great because everyone will have at least one dish they enjoy and they can try other peoples’ favorite dishes too. Barbecues can be a lot of fun too, as everyone can stand around and see and smell the great food cooking, which builds anticipation and appreciation of the food.

Invitations

You can choose to either do paper or digital invites but whatever you do, make it interesting! E-vites can be customized to be quite humorous or stylish, just like old-fashioned handmade ones. If you make the invitations interesting, people will know that the party is going to be something to remember!

Theme

Themes for parties make them much easier and more fun to plan, throw, and remember. If you have a good theme for your party you can plan all your food dishes, decorations and activities around that theme. For example, if you do a Mexican fiesta theme you can serve enchiladas and burritos, seven-layer dip, chips and salsa, etc. You can decorate with sombreros and saguaro cacti, and play Mexican music. Other ideas include an Italian night, ugly sweater parties, costume party, backyard barbecue, etc.

Activities

Fun activities to have at a party include things like group-friendly games such as Pictionary or Win, Lose or Draw, Charades, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, or Dance Dance Revolution. You might also try an adult version of Truth or Dare, which with the right group can become quite entertaining and enlightening. You could have several musical instruments available like guitars and bongos so people can make music together and entertain each other. Or if it’s chilly out, you could roast marshmallows together over a small backyard campfire (if it’s legal where you live), and then make use of hot tub if you have one. Don’t forget the sparklers!

Date and Time

Be sure to pick a date and time when the most people can come. Depending on how far in advance you plan your event and what peoples’ schedules are like with family obligations, planning your event around a holiday or other occasion that many people will be in the same place for, such a school’s Homecoming or something of the like, that could be a good time to host your party. On the other hand, it may be the worst time to try to plan it because everyone might be too busy with their other activities. You may want to send out a feeler ahead of time and see who could make it if you hold it on a certain day and time, and perhaps offer 3 different options for people to say which would work best. Then choose the date and time that will work for the majority of people.

Venue

Parties can be held in a variety of places. You can hold it at your home or a friend’s house if they are interested in helping you host it and have a more party-friendly house. Houses that make especially good party houses often have features such as a ping pong or pool table, swimming pool or large, nicely landscaped backyard. Other options for venues to hold your party may include a gazebo at a park, a bowling alley, ice skating rink, or community clubhouse or room.

What’s an essential piece to planning your perfect party? Share with us in the comments below!

It’s a new year and everyone is excited for what’s in store. The freshly unwrapped calendars are starting to fill up with save the dates and celebrations, commencements and weddings, baby showers and bachelor parties, conventions and conferences.

Here are six event planning trends that are hot and fresh for 2011:

Photos by @digitaljournal.com @Matt Hamm @TheTruthAbout

1. Go Social.

In 2011, you must have the ability to communicate easily and openly with everyone at the event, even while the event is going on. For example, a screen with a running bunch of real-time Tweets about the event, feedback on what a speaker has said or the topic at hand.

2. Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways!

Better giveaways, keepsakes and souvenirs from an event. Everyone loves free swag, and now that it’s easier than ever to customize a huge number of items for a company or event, a lot of people are getting in on bigger and better souvenirs and giveaways than the old pen and pad of paper. Things to watch out for in 2011 include fun and useful goodies like blankets, backpacks, sport and water bottles, high quality coffee mugs, first aid kits, hand sanitizer, digital photo frames, and more.

3. Forums and meet ups.

Instead of the old model of one person talking in front of hundreds from a one-way communication road, a lot of events are going to be designed around the idea that people are very used to being able to interact with everyone on a more personal level. This includes the “big wigs” of companies and events that were previously less accessible. Expect more round table events, informal meet ups instead of lectures, and other ways that gatherings can be more interactive and less static.

4. Greener decorations.

No, not the color! Happily, a lot of people are becoming increasingly more aware of the needs of the environment and how we can directly affect and preserve it. The streamers will be more likely to be made of recycled paper, the balloons less likely to be let out into the sky to float away and ultimately end up in our waterways and fields. Many decorations will be saved to be re-used, like flameless candles, by the event planner later, or passed along to a friend who can use it instead. And worst case scenario, the ones that are thrown away will likely be put into the recycling bin instead of just trashed.

5. Everything will be mobilized and digitized.

From the announcement and invitation on Twitter, Facebook, and on the event planner’s personal blog to the follow up posting of photos and videos from the event, everything will be found in digitized form and easily carried with you on your mobile phone. You’ll be able to find and save all the details you need to know including time and place as well as maps from your phone, laptop, iPod or iPad.

6. Analytics.

Because everything is digitized, it will be easy to keep track of the analytics of the event. Who came, who became friends afterward because of the event, what are their likes and interests, what other events have they gone to and where will they go next, and so on. Great help for event planners to plan accordingly for events in the future!

Have any predictions for event planning in 2011? Share in the comments below!

Whether you’re planning a wedding, a ten year class reunion, a family reunion, a mega birthday party, a retirement party, a going away party, or any other big event, budget considerations are always a major part of event planning. Many people mistakenly think that they have to pay an arm and a leg to put on a great event, that the best decorations have to be expensive decorations, or the venue has to cost a fortune. But none of this is true!

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to put on a truly fantastic event. Great events can be had on a budget, and here are some tips to help you stretch your event money further and be able to have a really wonderful, memorable occasion.

Photos by @puamelia @Seaners4real @kristin_a (Meringue Bake Shop)

Make Lists

List everything you would like to do, have, and serve at your event, including where you would like to hold the event. Make a rough estimate how much each of these things will cost and how much the total will be. Is this amount reasonable for your budget?

Know the necessities

If the total amount of your ideal list is greatly higher than what you can afford, start taking out the things that you don’t absolutely actually need to hold the event. Maybe you can add them back in later if cost allows.

Brainstorm your options

Instead of spending money to rent out a special facility, such as an entire bar, restaurant, nightclub, etc., brainstorm some alternatives. Could you hold your event at your house or a friend’s house? Do any of your friends have a really awesome home that could be a great venue for a gathering, such as one with a large backyard, a basketball or tennis court, ping pong table, pool table, swimming pool, backyard fire pit, etc.? Offer to pay them some money, take them out to dinner or spot them some of their favorite beers to host your event at their place.

Rethink catering

Bring your own food and beverages instead of using a catering service. You could make it a potluck, or a barbecue where you provide all the sides and others bring their own meats, or the other way around.

Buy in bulk

Buy supplies such as food, decorations, and invitations in bulk. Purchasing things in bulk may result in wholesale prices.  It’s totally the way to go, especially if you’re having a large event.  You can even purchase things like wholesale tablecloths, party favors and candles in large quantities.

Think within your circle of friends

Hire friends or offer an exchange of service to friends that have special talents such as playing an instrument or who have a band. This will save you money on entertainment instead of hiring an outside group. Also recruit friends or family that have unusual talents or interest such as making balloon animals, decorating for a living, or has access to a big rig truck that could be used for hauling bulky items to your venue.

Rent when you can

Instead of buying expensive and awkward helium-filled balloons from the store and having to get them in the car and to your event, you could rent your own helium tank and balloons for simple and economical decorations.

Ask for donations when appropriate

If appropriate, ask any local schools or churches if they have things like tables and chairs that you can borrow for free or a small donation.  If you are putting on an event for a charity, people may be more than willing to donate services or money. Community centers are also a good place to check. You can also ask about things like lights, display items, serving items, etc.

Did we miss some essential budget planning tips? Feel free to add them in the comments below!