Ever wondered what an Event Stylist actually does? Have you considered booking a stylist but aren’t sure if it would suit your type of event?
Today we chat to the talented Lopa of Pumpkin Carriage Events in Sydney and find out about the inner workings of an Event Stylist!
Why engage an event stylist?
If you want to have flawless decor to give that WOW factor to your celebration, then you need to engage an event stylist. But…. that’s not the entire package that an event stylist brings to your party. We save you time, money and bring you a pool of resources, knowledge and experience.
In our busy days and lives, we have to master our to-do lists and excel at prioritising. Sometimes having huge work and family commitments means that you can’t be completely committed to designing a fabulous event that will make memories forever. Now imagine an individual or a business whose bread and butter is solely to prioritise your event and give it the full and undivided attention that it needs. Bringing an event stylist on board for your event means that not a single detail is missed and no effort is spared in bringing your theme and your style to life.
Apart from saving you time, an event stylist will also save you a lot of money. Stylists are not inexpensive, but they are very efficient with their costs. On your budget spreadsheet, it may seem like it is an extra cost, but in reality engaging a stylist will bring you massive savings. A good stylist will know how to set the scene for a stylish and memorable celebration whilst maximising your budget. A stylist knows where to cut back without compromising the style and where to splash out to create that WOW factor for your celebration, bringing you value for money.
Finally, an event stylist brings a wealth of experience and a pool of expertise to your event. Whether you are planning your child’s first birthday or an upcoming wedding, remember a stylist would have styled and organised numerous of them in the same year. Every stylist has their own database of experienced and skilled vendors, and the stylist knows which of those vendor’s knowledge and expertise will bring the best value to your event.
As an event stylist, what aspects of the event do you coordinate?
As a stylist, our focus is on the décor and style of your event, including venue styling, dessert tables, bar and drink stations, entrance styling and guestbooks and much more. Your event is unique to you and we believe that it should tell your story.
Our focus is getting to know you and what you want to achieve from your event, so that we can set the scene and add your personal touches in designing the perfect celebration. People come together to celebrate a milestone or a happy occasion and it is always a delight for the host and guests to walk into a party space that is styled to heighten the mood for celebration.
Can you talk us through the process of what happens if I was to book with you for an event?
Once you receive a quote and are happy with it, you can book us by paying a deposit, which locks in the date of your event in our calendar.
During the quoting process, we ask a lot of questions about your event so that we can provide you with a tailored quotation to suit what you need for your event. For example, you don’t need to be quoted for a marquee if you don’t need it!
By the booking stage we have a fair idea of the kind of look, feel and style you may want for your event. Once booked, we ask for your preferred colour palette, and then we buzz away behind the scenes planning, coordinating, organising all that is required to design and set up a mesmerising party space. Yes, it is a lot of work, but we love it!
Our team will design, create and set up the party space at your venue before your party begins so all that’s left for you to do is pick your fabulous outfit and host your party!
How should someone decide whether to DIY or book an event stylist?
The key deciding factor in DIY vs hiring an stylist is time and expertise. Do you have the time to design and create styling pieces, source unique décor features, cakes, desserts, personalised items, source props, pick up and drop offs from multiple locations to and from the event venue, and the list could continue on.
As an event styling company our team’s time and expertise is dedicated to doing all of those things for you, so that you can dedicate your time to work and family commitments.
It’s like doing your taxes on your own as opposed to engaging an accountant. Sure, its easy enough to lodge taxes online on our own, but an experienced accountant has the expertise to find you creative ways to get more bang for your buck!
What happens if someone doesn’t know if they can afford an event planner? Do stylists have a range of packages they can tailor to suit various budgets?
There is a range of event stylists in the market with a wide spectrum of pricing and inclusions. There are those who provide stock standard pricing and inclusions, and those who provide tailored pricing to suit what the client needs. Essentially, what you need to consider is firstly what is your budget and what is your expectation from that budget in terms of the style you want to achieve. As with all products and services, style and quality go hand-in-hand with price.
Approximately how many hours of work would go into an event such as a first birthday ?
After styling many first birthdays, it now takes us an average of 15 to 20 hours from concept and development to coordination, to styling and setting up an event. Of course every event is different and exact timings depend on the event however this is a rough estimate.
On average 4 to 5 hours of this is spent in styling, setting up the scene for the event at the venue with a team of 3 to 4 staff, and at least 1 to 2 hours packing up after the event.
The pre-event preparations such as design briefs and proofs for vendors, sourcing and booking of props, cakes, and desserts take up almost 6 to 8 hours depending on the style and complexity required. For example, when we are creating a unique and innovative prop or accessory for an event, it takes longer in design and testing process, before we include it for your event.
Travel time can take up almost 6 to 8 hours depending on the event requirements, as we travel all over Sydney to source the appropriate vendors to match the skills required for your event. This involves picking up, delivering to the venue and returning items such as props, signage, printed items, cakes and desserts, flowers, decorative items and much more.
These time estimates are only rough guides as each event is unique and therefore timing will depend on the specific requirements you need.
Tell us about the day in the life of an event planner /stylist/!
A day in my life absolutely has to start with a strong cup of ‘chai’ made the traditional way, which I sip while packing lunch and serving breakfast for my cherubs.
Then begins the school routine and drop offs. Once the kids are in their happy place, I get into mine.
This includes providing design briefs, booking vendors for upcoming events, sourcing props (mostly on the road), going to see clients for consults, and so on until close of business, with the evenings free to enjoy some time with my gorgeous family.
What doesn’t an event stylist do?
A stylist is responsible for the décor and style of the event, mainly setting the scene for your celebration. As an event stylist we usually don’t stay for the duration of the event to ensure everything runs smoothly and coordinate with venue staff and guests. This is usually what an event planner would do.
Thank you Lopa of The Pumpkin Carriage events for providing us more insight into the services of an event stylist!
All the beautiful events showcased in this blog post were styled by The Pumpkin Carriage events with photography by Captured by Kirri.
If you want to discuss your event further with The Pumpkin Carriage events you can find their website here
An American Indian theme has become so popular this last year and I love this gorgeous party we are showcasing today as the colours are bright and vibrant and the theme has really come to life through the props and styling from Sydney based Sweet Heavenly Events Hire!
As Mary from Sweet Heavenly Events explains: “Vicky came to us and told us what she had in mind for her daughter Valentina’s Birthday. We jumped at the chance of styling something unique and amazing. We got to work with our crazy and talented bunch of vendors to design something gorgeous. Using our Marble timber stands and our copper table ware it was a true masterpiece.”
Enjoy the incredible images and details and you will find all the vendor credits at the end of this post with many vendors you can find on our Directory!:
If you need some amazing props or gorgeous styling for your kids or adult celebration in Sydney, be sure to visit Sweet Heavenly Events & Party Hire to see their amazing work and range!
Vendors:
Styling , design & concept and props by Sweet Heavenly Events & Party Hire
Pallet Backdrop & Teepees by Petite Events Hire
Cake , cakepops, cupcakes & cookies by Stella Bella Cupcakes
Strawberry Tower by Dom’s Strawberries Delight
Macaron Tower by One Bite
Milestone Sign by Jo’s Signs by Design
Stationery by Edge House Design – Graphic Design & Event Paperie
Balloons by Bubble Moo Balloons
Balloon Feather Tassels by ELK Prints
Photography by Captured By Kirri
A rainbow party theme is always popular – beautiful and bright for any children’s event! So when it came time for a special Life’s Little Celebrations collaborative shoot for our friends at Lenzo this theme was chosen with the challenge to bring a new twist on this well loved theme – view the Lenzo feature here.
Chantelle from Tiny Tots Events in Melbourne coordinated and styled the shoot and worked with many vendors from Life’s Little Celebrations (vendor credits at the end of this post) to create this truly stunning and unique rainbow party setting.
The balloons featuring in this party from the rainbow arch, to the gold confetti balloons to the gorgeous grey balloon backdrop are totally mind blowing and the work of talented Boutique Balloons in Melbourne:
I love the uniqueness of the 3D backdrop with a little girl painting a rainbow in soft colours with the ribbons flowing down !
The sweet rainbow colours work beautifully with the metallics in the shoot along with the greys/blacks showing how a rainbow does not have to be strictly only about rainbow colours:
The kids setting is just stunning with florals in various colours and a setting any child or adult would love!:
The dessert table was adorned with an array of colourful rainbow inspired desserts. Rather than going with rainbow shaped desserts , the desserts were inspired by the pastel watercolour shades of the rainbow featured in the backdrop:
This sweet invitation which coordinated with the backdrop set the scene for the event with it’s beautiful watercolour rainbow and gold foil:
The design was carried through into the sweet favour tags:
I hope this colourful rainbow party has left you with a smile on your face and feeling inspired for your next celebration you are planning!
Vendor Credits:
This shoot was a collaboration of Life’s Little Celebrations vendors who you can find on the Directory. All credit goes to these talented vendors who brought this rainbow party to life! Ensure you contact them when planning your next event:
Stylist and planner: Tiny Tots Events Melbourne
Balloons: Boutique Balloons Melbourne
Flowers: Forget me not Floret
Stationery: Emma Smith Event Stationery
Venue: The Stables of Como Melbourne
Photographer: Eleanor Conduit Photography
Strawberry Tower: Chocobon Melbourne
Macarons & individual dessert jars/verrines: Sweet Petite Creations Melbourne
Cookies and cupcakes: Frosted by Nicci Melbourne
Partyware: Favor Lane Party Boutique
Tablecloths: Saffy & May
Foam name: Foamtastic Party Décor
Cake & cake pops: Fantasy Cakes
Kids tables and ghost chairs: Mini party people
It’s hard to miss the beautiful event set ups on Facebook and Instagram, but have you ever wondered who and what it takes to create such a memorable event?
Today we are chatting to Jo’s Signs by Design who share with us that they are “just one cog in the wheel of the party world”. Hear from them below about the important elements they can bring to any event along with some tips for your party styling and planning:
We print all things party for individuals wanting to create a unique DIY event and talented event stylists. From weddings to birthdays to christenings to baby showers to anything that’s worth celebrating, we have seen it all.
Although we’re a small piece of the party puzzle, we’ve got some tips to make your next party memorable.
First Impressions
The first thing your guests see at your event sets the tone for the entire party. Welcome signs are the perfect way to greet guests and give them an idea as to what the day holds.
Printed by us, this welcome sign was designed by Eve & Co Stationery, who also applied the gold foil for a Sweet Heavenly Events and Party Hire event:
The Big Picture
There’s so much that goes into making the big picture look perfect, but when you take the time and effort to put things together, the end result will leave your guests stunned. Make sure your decor compliment each other!
We printed this banner for Tiny Tots Events. Design and gold foil application by Eve & Co Stationery.
Personality
Adding a personal touch to your event can make it go from good to great. Guests love when an event reflects the personality and taste of the loved one’s their celebrating. After all, they’re the ones that know you the best
This sign was printed by us for Mary Ronis Events and designed by Edge House Design:
Memories
A picture lasts forever and parties are the perfect place to snap those memories. Giving your guests something fun to take photos with will make your event stand out and allows for guests to interact and have a laugh. Personalised prop frames are the perfect way to leave a lasting impression.
Party planning can have its ups and downs, but if you remember these important elements when preparing for your next event, we assure you it’ll leave people talking.
About Jo’s Signs by Design:
Jo’s Signs by Design specialises in professional custom designs and high quality event printing with a personal touch. Whether you’re an event stylist, a small business owner, or a mum planning an upcoming celebration for family or friends, Jo’s Signs can assist you in creating unique and personalised products that will make your special day memorable.
With all the Christmas preparations happening it is easy to leave NYE planning until last minute…but now is the time to organise what you need – so to help you get organised I’m sharing some NYE party supplies early to ensure they will arrive in time!
New Year’s Eve celebrations are one of my favourite – there is something special about a new year beginning and celebrating with close family or friends!
Styled by Opulenticity Party & Buffet Styling
Our little ones are still quite little however for those of you with slightly older kids it is a perfect chance to organise a gathering that doesn’t centre just around the kids! It’s a chance to get together with friends and family, letting the kids stay up a little longer than usual before having a slumber party on the floor, and then it’s all about letting the adults relax into the New Year with a more adults only style occasion (aka, champagne!).
When I look back at all the many amazing new trends in themes we’ve seen this year, there’s one in particular that I’ve been saving for NYE and just screams sophistication and ‘Happy New Year’ to me, and that’s the classic black and metallics with a touch of marble. Adult opulence at it’s best!
So if like me, you’ve had a big year of parties filled with flamingos, doughnuts and unicorns and are just craving something a little more grown up, I’ve sourced the perfect pieces from our LLC Vendors to pull together the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration for the adults (and kids, until bedtime!) so you can start your planning now, and have something to look forward to after the Christmas ham is finished.
New Year’s Eve Decorations
Whether it’s a backyard BBQ, seafood buffet or canapés after watching the fire works, this theme looks stunning in the evening as the metallics shimmer and glisten when styled with plenty of candles, and black or metallics make a great backdrop for these to pop against in the evening.
So start with black as your base, and build on it with hints of metallic (either gold or silver) and marble accents for depth and interest. Use your marble kitchen bench top, a black trestle table or one covered with a table cloth for a more polished look, and create drama and interest with varying heights of stands and platters to serve your food, or set an opulent dinner table complete with candle light.
DIY Fringed backdrop kit – DD Brand
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
Black and white marble balloons – One Magic Day
Favorlane Party Boutique
Why not take cues from the countdown and incorporate giant helium number balloons.
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
Or mix and match decorations with a mix of black, white, gold
Confetti balloons with tassel – Party Splendour
Gold glitter star garland – Emiko Blue
Gold tissue pom – Hip and Hooray
Gold paper fans decorating kit – The Party Parlour
Fancy decorator kit – The Kit Source
For real wow factor, a gold sequin tablecloth creates the perfect setting for a gorgeous New years eve dessert table!:
Saffy & May
Don’t forget the confetti at midnight! This would also look great scattered down the centre of your dining table.
Love The Occasion
New Year’s Eve Tableware
Whilst it’s always nice to bring out your best dinner set (you know, the one you received for your wedding that’s still in the box ?) no one wants to be washing dishes on New Year’s Day – so opt for some stylish disposables instead!
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
Noir hexagon large plate – The Little Event Company
Meri Meri gold plate – Emiko Blue
Gold foil napkins – Love The Occasion
The Little Event Company
The Little Event Company
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
How gorgeous are these Kate Spade coasters?
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
Ruby Rabbit Partyware
White and silver tassel horns – Love The Occasion
New Year’s Eve Sweet Treats
Finish the year off with a bang and start your diet resolutions the following day – it’s time to eat cake! Nothing beats a glass of champagne and delicious dessert now, does it? Here’s a sample of what LLC partners in the Directory can create for your event!:
Sweetest Jubilee Melbourne
Quincy Lane Sydney
Black and gold chocolate coated strawberry tower – Chocobon (Melbourne)
Sweetest Jubilee
Mini desserts – Velvetier (Queensland)
Custom gold lollipops – Niknaks Sweetest Treats
If the kids are a part of the NYE celebrations – why not setup a cute table setting for them complete with colouring, board games or other activities to keep them entertained? You can hire some stylish children’s table and chairs from LLC partners around Australia – here is a sample!:
Kids gold tiffany chairs for hire – Tiny Tots Toy hire (Sydney)
Kids table and chairs for hire – Enchanted Party Hire (Qld)
How great are these take home bags? Perfect for the kids who would have missed out whilst they were sleeping!
Confectionately Yours
Another fantastic idea are these labels for mini wine or champagne bottles for your friends:
NYE Wine favour bottle labels – Emma Smith Event Stationery
Attach these tags to any take home gift for your NYE guests for instant NYE style!
Cheers gift tag – Emiko Blue
Like all celebrations, New Year’s Eve is a wonderful excuse to get your nearest and dearest together and get creative with your styling. So say farewell to another big year by going bold, and celebrate the prospect of new opportunities, milestones and adventures together in style – cheers!
