Event styling can be the thing that sets your venue apart from the competition in the events industry.
While you can’t change the structure of your venue, you can style it in different ways. If your venue styling is diverse and thoughtful, you’ll be able to create compelling events, attract a wider range of clients, and cater to a greater variety of events. This is an incredibly valuable skill for venue owners to get right. You don’t need to be a certified event designer to get it right.
Thinking of doing an event design certificate program? Before you do, make the most of your event space with these venue styling tips.
Understanding Client Needs
The first essential step to effective event design is understanding exactly what your client wants. This is the top focus of any event design course. After all, event design can only be a success if the client is happy.
Understanding your client's vision involves diving deep into their expectations and desires for the event. Beyond just surface preferences, ask probing questions about their ideal atmosphere, the emotions they wish to evoke, and specific elements they envision around the event.
Pay attention to their communication style and cues during your consultations. Develop a detailed questionnaire or checklist to ensure you cover all aspects of their requirements.
Active listening and open communication lay the groundwork for a successful collaboration.
Staying Updated with Trends
Event trends are always changing. If you want to keep your event planning interesting and exciting, then you’ll want to be on top of these trends.
To stay current with trends, dive into various sources of inspiration. Follow leading event stylists, design sites, and social media platforms showcasing the latest trends in décor, color palettes, and themes.
Attend industry conferences, workshops, and trade shows to gain firsthand insights into emerging trends. Try to attend as many events as you can too, to see what kind of styling and inspiration you can get ideas from.
However, don't just mimic trends blindly. Instead, analyze and adapt them creatively to suit your style and the unique needs of each client. By blending trends with your originality, you'll offer distinctive event designs.
Following trends also gives you new ideas to use with each event, which can help you constantly discover new ways to use your venue.
Developing a Signature Style
Sure, each client is different and each event has unique needs. However, offering a signature style that your venue becomes famous for is something you should try to achieve.
Cultivating a signature style involves honing in on what sets your work apart. Experiment with different design elements, techniques, and materials to discover what resonates with your creativity. You should also use the unique aspects of your venue and amenities to help you discover these things.
Assess your past events and identify recurring themes or unique touches that define your style. Your signature might be characterized by a specific use of colors, a preference for minimalism, or expertise in using food and catering as a focal point of your event design.
Continuously refining and evolving this signature style adds depth and consistency to your work, making it instantly recognizable. Developing a signature style also makes your venue a more exciting and desirable place for people to book their events.
Networking is Key
An enormous part of the way you style events comes down to the different vendors you use. Ultimately, the better your vendor network is, the greater your event styling opportunities will be.
Building a robust network in the event industry goes beyond just collecting business cards. You’ll want to create genuine relationships with vendors, suppliers, fellow event designer teams, event planners, and other professionals.
Attend industry mixers, collaborate on styled shoots, and participate in online forums or groups to help grow your event planning business. Networking isn’t just about gaining access to resources; it’s about creating a supportive community where you can share insights, exchange ideas, and even refer clients to one another. These connections can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
Mastering Time Management
Your event design program may be important, but you don't want to spend too long doing it. After all, it’s only one of the many different things you’ll be doing to prepare your venue for events.
Efficient time management begins with meticulous planning. Break down the event preparation into smaller, manageable tasks and create a detailed timeline. Factor in enough time for unforeseen challenges or revisions.
Try to use event management tools to keep track of deadlines, appointments, and vendor communications. Effective time management not only ensures a seamless execution of the event but also allows for flexibility to handle any unexpected hiccups that may arise along the way.
Attention to Detail
The magic of event styling often lies in the intricate details.
Experiment with various lighting setups, textures, fabrics, and decorative elements to add depth and character to your designs. Pay attention to the sensory experience by considering how different elements - such as scents, textures, and lighting - can evoke emotions and create a memorable ambiance.
Remember, small, thoughtful details can leave a lasting impression on event attendees and play a big role in elevating the overall experience.
Flexibility & Adaptability
A good venue and event stylist should be able to adapt to all kinds of needs and challenges.
Events can be unpredictable, and being flexible in your approach is crucial. Anticipate potential challenges and have contingency plans in place if certain elements of your event don’t work out.
Whether it's sudden weather changes, last-minute alterations in the venue layout, or unexpected delays, being able to remain calm and swiftly adapt is essential for successful event styling.
Budgeting Skills
Event styling requires a budget. Being able to stick to your budget is essential for keeping the event running smoothly. This is a core skill for any event planner or wedding planner.
Effective budget management is more than just working within your financial constraints - it's about maximizing value within those limits.
Understand your client's budget and deliver creative solutions without compromising the quality of your venue’s styling. Utilize your network to find cost-effective alternatives for décor, materials, and rentals.
Great venue styling doesn't have to be expensive at all. By using your venue smartly and understanding exactly what your client wants to experience, you can make an enormous styling impact with a minimal budget.
Develop a Portfolio
Your venue will need to have a portfolio showcasing the different types of events you’ve run. If this portfolio is diverse, showcasing a range of different event styling options, then you’ll be in a good position to attract a wider range of clients.
Creating an impressive portfolio is an ongoing process that showcases your expertise and style. Capture high-quality images that highlight the diversity of your venue and styling offerings, emphasizing different themes, design elements, and types of events.
It’s also a great idea to create a video portfolio of your venue and the different events it’s hosted. This helps to give prospective clients a better understanding of what they could expect from your venue styling.
Continuous Learning
The event styling industry is constantly evolving. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning to stay ahead.
Attend workshops, enroll in courses, and seek mentorship or guidance from seasoned event professionals. You might also want to explore industries like interior design, fashion, or art to draw inspiration and fresh perspectives.
Stay updated on emerging technologies, sustainable practices, and innovative design techniques, such as the event canvas methodology. This will help to enhance your skills and make you a sought-after event stylist in a competitive market.
two smiling female barista working together behind bar counter in coffeehouse.
Conclusion
Actively working on venue styling and improving your skills can make an enormous difference to client satisfaction and venue bookings. By showing versatile event styling skills, you’ll be able to adjust your venue to match a greater variety of event types and improve any existing event schedule you have.
You must use the right venue management solution to help you stay organized during the planning process. Watch a demo of Perfect Venue to see how the platform can revolutionize your event management.
