Events to Life: A New Jersey-Based Event Planning Company

This article is sponsored by Events To Life.

It takes the average couple 528 hours, or 66 8-hour days, to plan a wedding, according to Minted. Planning a milestone event is a full-time job, which is why having a full-time professional by your side makes all the difference. Enter Events To Life, a New Jersey-based event planning company founded by Chantelle Wolfe, a seasoned event planner with over 13 years of experience. Chantelle is here to share what makes an event planner crucial for your special day. Keep reading to learn more about planning a wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, graduation, and other celebrations.

Groups + Friends

You will find no shortage of groups on Facebook, Reddit, and WhatsApp; you have friends and family who have planned events; maybe you have a friend who hosts the most beautiful dinners. The people in your life are a great resource when it comes to these special moments, but they aren’t the best people to rely on to bring your vision to life.

What Groups + Friends Won’t Do for You

As an event planner, I am a member of these groups . There is a nonstop barrage of questions and answers, ideas, and contradicting advice.

Everyone wants to tell you who you “have to call.” Nobody wants to call for you, then set an alarm for 12:43 PM to call again because the receptionist said the person you need to speak with is out to lunch and will be back in 30 minutes (real example from a day in my life).

The WhatsApp group won’t pore over your guest list with a fine-tooth comb and make sure you do not mail invitations with envelopes that say “taylor/jordan/kids.” The “2025 North Jersey Brides” won’t be there to answer the questions of family members and vendors, shielding you from stress. Your friend with elegant taste isn’t necessarily the best person to create a floor plan that accounts for the tables, chairs, the dance floor, room for waiters and people to walk around, a stage, bars, and other activities based on the dimensions of them all. Everyone has ideas. Fewer people will do the work.

But What If I Can Do It?

Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it.

Leading up to your event, your time will be stretched thin. It’s not best spent triple-counting chairs on a floor plan. Your priority leading up to an event is to prepare yourself and your family for the transition ahead and the implications of this milestone on your lives.

I can, in theory, cut my own hair. I can watch YouTube tutorials, I have a mirror, and from afar, it doesn’t look that hard. But we all know how that usually ends: uneven layers, regret, and a last-minute call to the salon to fix the damage.

By hiring a professional, you don’t have to choose between being the host and being the glue holding the event together. You get to be fully present because someone else has the clipboard, the timeline, and the backup plan.

Your Celebration is Not Their Celebration

I had a bride request that I not reach out to a well-known band that was my other client’s top choice. The photographer who is “amazing” to Rachel is just “meh” to Samantha. Not all vendors are the right fit for every event, family, or vision. When you work with a planner who actively listens to you and takes the time to get to know you, you rest assured knowing that your event will be a unique one that represents you and does not look or feel like anyone (or everyone) else’s celebration.

A Word on Word of Mouth

I will be the last person to knock word of mouth referrals. I am blessed to have a growing business built on it. The event industry is built on it.

My clients work with me to bring their visions to life. They trust me to make sense of the advice they receive from future in-laws, from groups, from the fabulous local party host, and integrate it with their unique vision, along with my professional expertise.

Behind the Scenes, Ahead of the Curve

Hobbyist “party planners” abound; event planning is a career I take seriously. When you work with a professional, you have in your corner someone with credentials who stays up-to-date on the industry and has years of experience.

Entrust your event to someone worthy of the occasion. Look for a planner who has a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) accreditation, a recognized badge of excellence (I do). Applicants must prove years of professional experience just to qualify for the exam, which covers strategic planning, project management, risk management, financial management, stakeholder management, event design, and site management. I received an Event Planner’s certification. I attend national industry conferences, including Wedding MBA, The Special Event, and the Event Planner Expo. I am an active member of WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) and ILEA (International Live Events Association), which allows me to meet up-and-coming vendors, maintain strong relationships with current partners, and continually learn.

All of this means you have peace of mind throughout the planning process. It means I bring to your radar ideas and concepts you hadn’t thought of. On the day of the event, you get to enjoy the event with your guests as a guest. Imagine having someone on your side who opens doors for you that would not open for other planners or for you going it alone. Most of all, it translates to feelings of relief, calm, and trust because you know that I got it.

Do the Fun Parts; Leave the Rest to a Professional

Feel free to join the groups. Listen to the input of family and friends, as well as their personal experiences and opinions.

Then, put your trust in the capable hands of an established, experienced event professional to bring your vision to life.

Email [email protected] or contact Events To Life on the website.