Is this supposed to be about letting your hair down or tearing your hair out?
Almost everyone who has thrown a party, pulled off a get-together or planned a fat wedding must have pondered this question at some point during the ‘celebration’- when everyone but them was celebrating!
Catastrophes at events date back to Biblical times when wedding guests ran out of wine at Cana, and only a miracle could save the day. Today, the modern miracle worker is the event manager or party planner - a ubiquitous fixture at events in metros, slowly making a mark in smaller cities like Tiruchi. People are dialling the professionals to help them plan their big day and not just for weddings, we hear.
When Shireen Samson wanted to surprise her father on his 60th birthday and toast his retirement, she knew it called in for a memorable celebration. But being a doctor on call didn’t help with planning a stylish surprise. “I wanted the celebration to be extra special - something he wouldn’t forget. But I realised I wouldn't have the time to do it myself.” Hiring a party planner was the best way to go, she says. “Event planners have a lot of contacts which comes in handy in a place like Tiruchi where finding specific requirements would be difficult if you didn't know the right people.”
A moment to breathe
By offering solutions for everything from invitation cards to photographs and food to party favours, professional planners do save time, notes Shirley Deepak who founded Touchstone Events, that organises birthday parties, baby showers, school reunions and special anniversaries. “But more than that, I believe people hire event planners because they want ‘to breathe’ and avoid the stress leading up to the occasion.”
While a decade back, families and friends could have pulled it off, the dream wedding or hip party of today requires more hands or rather a single point of contact, as Vasanth Azhagappan, founder, Niche Wedding and Events, puts it. “Neither the couples nor their families have enough time for elaborate planning or flawless execution, for the kind of event they expect,” he says. “No one wants to be on the phone running after the florist or checking on the caterer when they are supposed to be enjoying the moment,” he grins.
“There has been a substantial change in people’s tastes with exposure to the media and internet,” says Mala Venkatesh, who runs La Libra - The Idea Factory that specialises in corporate events, fund-raisers and product launches. “Their expectations are also high.”
Budget celebrations
But how did a city known for its firm grip on its purse strings, plump for spending good money on parties? “Some people decide if they’re going to spend on an event anyway, they might as well avail the services of a professional and get the best of things,” explains Mala. Those who approach a professional planner expect them to get the most out of a given budget, says Vasanth. “We spend a lot of time researching the best options and we have the advantage of having established relationships with various service providers like florists, decorators and photographers. That way we steer clear of committing a costly mistake.”
Yet, in a place where lavishness is not the norm, expectations run high. The internet has churned a flurry of ideas that people expect planners to bring to life with a limited budget. There is a lot of emphasis on novelty and uniqueness, which dictates the choice of theme, invitations and return gifts for guests. “The groom’s side asks us for suggestions but the bride’s party usually has plenty to give,” jokes Vasanth. “Everyone is keen on surprising the guests and creating a lasting memory. We try to keep what is realistic within the budget or suggest alternatives that can work.”
New brides like Shivani who hired an event management team from Chennai feel the city could do with more wedding planners. The present generation that is running short on time but high on expectations has created a market that is yet to be exhausted. It is this demand that drove a lecturer like Shirley Deepak to turn her penchant for planning celebrations into a full-time career. “It is a job that requires giving up weekends and acknowledging the importance of pleasing others more than oneself. But seeing a project all the way through from an idea on paper to a memory that people take back is what makes it exciting.”
