‘Party Planners Back In Full Swing’
Caroline of The Party Professionals was asked to contribute to an Irish Times article that discusses the importance of hiring a party planner. Read the full article here: CLICK HERE
Caroline Gardiner is the energetic and creative force behind The Party Professionals. She masterminds celebrations from special christenings to creative business events, looking after all the details from location, focal theme, food catering, wine, waiters and barmen. All the hard work and planning is effectively removed from her clients while she tracks down sensational chefs, delectable cocktails, talented entertainers and elegant tableware. Whether you want a massive marquee with a glamorous wow factor, or an indoor party filled with balloons and music, she will pull out all the stops to make it a night to remember.
Why are private party planners and corporate event managers in big demand once again?
“Our planning service is growing for a number of reasons,” says Gardiner. “In most cases, people who use our services do so because they lack the time and experience to pull the event together on their own. Furthermore, and most importantly, they want to be present for their guests on the day of their event and not end up worrying if a caterer or entertainer are going to arrive. Also, the economy has lifted, and that sense of frugality is disappearing.”
We all know the fear factor of running your own show. The in-house bar runs dry, the wind threatens to blow away your makeshift tent and the toilet gets blocked with a queue of guests outside. All these nightmares can happen if you are not equipped with a trusted professional.
‘Enjoy the experience’
“Putting your trust in a reputable planner allows the hosts to fully enjoy the experience and ensure that the set budget is not exceeded,” Gardiner says. “This coupled with good advice, stronger negotiating power with suppliers and a team dedicated to making everything run smoothly is the main reason that people come to us.”
So, what extravagant bashes have Party Professionals organised?
“In late 2018 we were asked to put together a ‘Priscilla Queen of The Desert’ themed party for a private client. This entailed organising a fully lined black marquee with event furniture and a full lighting show. As the client wanted a large stage production, we flew in the cast of Priscilla Queen of The Desert from the West End show in London. On arrival, the guests dressed in elaborate costumes were treated to an Aperol Spritz reception served by buff waiters in the garden. Anyone who has seen the movie will recall the large pink stage bus, which we recreated for the party. After the drinks reception, we surprised the guests by revealing a secretly erected marquee in the Wicklow Valley and the London performers came on stage after a feast of roasted chicken with all the trimmings. The atmosphere was electric from the moment the guests arrived.”
As well as extravagant ideas, there are simple parties like vintage afternoon tea parties. “For our last vintage party, we dressed the waiting staff in historic costumes to add to the authenticity of the theme because for us, the devil is in the detail. Traditionally, Champagne or popular Prosecco is served throughout the event. We also do Oktoberfest parties for our beer-loving clients. We pull together various musicians to create a German band as well as bartenders who pull lots of pints. Currently, we have two boutique festival garden parties on the map and a burlesque circus party in the summer.
“Generally, our corporate clients want interactive entertainment to get people involved and create a congenial atmosphere. A casino event is a fun idea as it brings out the competitiveness in people and immediately breaks the ice.
“For international companies, we can put together traditional Irish ceilis. They are not only fun but also educational as many foreign visitors to Ireland don’t know about this Irish tradition. Go Fund Me had a great Irish ceili evening with lots of cultural craic.”