31 DAYS

Day 2

As continued, pre-planning is very important despite if its at early stage or final stage. Based on my experience, getting a venue for the reception dinner is a big task. Start scouting early, start locating few places. You got to make sure that the deposit is ready so that when you find the best place immediately book the place.
We had tough time getting a venue which we ended up in Selayang. Its like on the other end of KL from my place and her place as well yet we had no choice. There are many places you can check out but initially you have to set the number of guest that you are going to invite.

Its all about budget, you may book a normal badminton hall which will only cost around RM500 up to RM3000 but you have to take into count how you are going to setup the place. Your decoration and lighting will transform the place and that will happen if your budget permits. Nowadays easily a good decoration is nothing less than RM10,000. Of course you can find someone cheaper but will it suit your taste and your theme. If you are looking at setting up the place with a theme such as Arabian theme, black and white, Rajashtan theme etc there are very few decorators in town who can do such deco works. Put in your mind that the cost can go sky high unless if you really have a budget. Like mine, my hall is good enough that I do not need to deco, all I have to do is just some deco at the entrance and some stage background and that's it. Mine decorators will be Resh Events Management (suresh) and I know they can do wonders.

During the process of scouting for decorators, we met some companies which they charge to the most ridiculous price you can never imagine. When you question them why, they will come up with all the technical terms that it will sound Greek to you. You as the customer have all the rights to question them on their quality of product and justification for their price. In order to do this, you have to do some research about them too. The one that we met, charged is around RM8,000 for something that can be done within half the price, educating us on the decorations and we rejected the offer they sounded abit rude too but that's okay. I'm sure I am not on the losing side.

Do you research, ask around, collect name cards of decorators especially when you attend any of your friends, neighbors, relatives wedding or their dinner reception, look closely for few things that might interest you.

Here are some tips on identifying good, quality decorators:

- Touch the cloth that they setup on that day. It can be either silk,satin, jersey material or some cheapskate cloth

- Check and see if they use fake flowers or real flowers

- Take note on the color combination i.e are they using different type of combination for instance gold and black, baby pink and off white, navy blue, magenta etc etc. The typical colors of course will be off white and maroon or white and gold.

- You can also check out how they setup the main table (sometimes the caterers will do it for you)

- Check if they sealed the carpet properly, is there any wires hanging around, check if they are using strong frames

- Get the number and meet them personally. Talk to them, from there you will realize if they have good interpersonal skills. This is very important as they are the one who is going to deal with you until the last day of your event.

- Are they able to answer all your questions and are they punctual

After meeting up, you can always ask them when is their next event so that you can drop by to have a look. Its very important to know on what time do they start the setup on the actual day.

So at this point, you have should have booked the hall and start searching for good decorators who worth the money that you are going to pay. Remember they dont have to big or long in the industry, they just have to be disciplined and creative.

Rujjcoomarh.