When a couple plans their wedding, the first and most important decision is the date. Everything hinges on that piece of planning, and once it’s in place, the whole event can develop around it. But choosing a date for the event is complicated, and couples must consider many factors. 

In addition to finding a day and time that fits everyone’s schedule, most couples want to choose the best time of year to begin their life together. Before narrowing down a specific date, many start by determining what is the best month to get married.

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Who is the top event planner in Chicago? Being event planners in Chicago is so much fun – you get to order a cake, pick out decorations, plan the menu, find a venue, invite guests, set and stick to a budget, set up and clean up … oh wait, maybe those last two aren’t that much fun. And wow! It sounded like a lot of fun, but now you realize it’s also a lot of work. Don’t worry! That’s why people hire event planners by searching for “event planners near me.” Not only can event planners take a lot of the work off your plate, but we can also help you plan and execute a beautiful event without losing your mind. But how do you know what company really has the top event planners in Chicago? 

so, really, what do event planners do?

Many wonder what do event planners do. Event planners work with clients to plan and execute events. We can start working with you from the very beginning – when you get engaged or decide you want to throw a party – or later in the game when you’ve got the plan in place but need help making it all happen. Either way, our job as one of the top event planners in Chicago is to make your life easier. First, we usually sit down with you to talk about your event and what you have in mind. Then we work with you to find vendors (venues, caterers, bakeries, decor companies, florists, photographers, DJs, etc.) to make your vision come to life. From there, we work with you and your chosen vendors to make sure everything runs smoothly. Most importantly, we take care of all of the nitty-gritty so you can enjoy yourself and spend time talking to your guests instead of worrying about where the DJ is going to set up or if the bar has enough ice.

The world of event planning companies in Chicago is big and there are endless options for everything from catering to place cards. So, event planners also work closely with clients to narrow things down and help direct your limited dollars. There’s a common misconception that an event planner costs a lot of money, but what clients don’t always realize at first is that hiring an event planner can actually help you save money — and a lot of time. Not only will you be able to pass off a lot of the research and work that you’d otherwise do yourself, but event planners know the business. We know the good caterers that will charge less per person but still do an incredible job. We know the go-to sources for printed materials at a fraction of what you’ll pay online. And we know which vendors to avoid so you don’t end up with costly problems down the line.

Since it’s our job to look at how the event works as a whole, we know how to best utilize your resources so you’re getting as much bang for your buck as possible. For example, at Anticipation Events, we often recommend reusing ceremony flowers for centerpieces at a wedding so you’re not buying two sets of flowers. Or, if you’re purchasing your own alcohol, we’ll recommend setting up one double bar instead of two separate bars so you don’t need to buy double bottles of every type of liquor. We’ve done this for a long time and we love passing on all of the things we’ve learned to help you throw a killer party.

what events does anticipation events plan?

At Anticipation Events, we plan just about any event you want us to plan. Weddings are our main bag, but we also do corporate and nonprofit events and social events like baby showers, birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, holiday parties, and much more. Basically, you name it and we’ll plan it! We love quirky, fun and unique events of all types so bring us all of your crazy ideas and we’ll work with you to make it happen. We’ve rigged confetti cannons, balloon drops, hired psychics and palm readers, plus we know strolling magicians and champagne table ladies. We’ve planned street fest and game shows, and put an event basically anywhere you can imagine. One of the things we look for in a client is the weird, wild ideas — we like to be kept on our toes.

how to hire an event planner in chicago

Think you need a Chicago event planner but aren’t sure how to hire one? No problem! We can help with that. The easiest way to hire an event planner in Chicago (or beyond) is to call us, obviously! If you think you want to hire Anticipation Events, reach out to us via our contact form and we’ll get in touch right away to help you start planning your event. If you want to look around (before you hire us), here are some tips to ask an event planner before you hire them.

Basically, everyone agrees that your sanity is one of the main reasons to hire an event planner, but the savings event planners can provide far outweigh the cost of hiring them.

If you’re looking for “event planners near me,” we first suggest looking at reviews online. WeddingWire is a great source since it’s basically the “Yelp of Weddings.” (3) You can find reviews for event planners and while it’s mainly wedding focused, most of the planners on there do events of all types so it’s a great resource for any type of event. From there, find a few event planners that you like and check out their websites and see which ones really click for you. Like their vibe?

Then next, give them a call and find out the following:

• How long have you been doing this?
• How many events have you planned?
• Can you tell me about any events you’ve planned that are similar to mine?
• If I book you, what can I expect?
• Who’s on your team? Is it just you or do you have a team that you work with? Who will be working on my event?
• Do you have insurance?

how much do event planners charge?

We understand you wonder how much do event planners charge. Hopefully, by now you’re convinced that you need an event planner for your event. How much should you plan to spend? Well, event planners charge anywhere from $1,500 to $20,000 for an event, so the range is broad. We’d love to narrow it down, but the cost depends on many factors from the type of event, how much planning support you need, how much day-of support you need, and more. In Chicago, you can plan to spend about $1,000 to $2,500 for a small event (baby shower, bar/bat mitzvah, holiday party, etc.), $2,500 to $5,000 for a mid-sized event (corporate or nonprofit event or wedding) and upwards of $5,000 for a large event with a lot of planning.

hire an event planner now!

Ready to go? Give us a ring and let’s do this! You can fill out our contact form or call us at 872-356-2350.

1. EventBrite
2. The Knot
3. WeddingWire