Today, I helped setup for a banquet sponsored by Nashville's "Operation Andrew Group". OAG is a community ministry organization made up of influential volunteers from a wide range of Nashville businesses. They sponsor the annual "National Day of Prayer", "Nashville Community Thanksgiving Service" and other large events. This event was their annual "Honor Banquet" for area pastors and their wives.
As I've alluded to in previous posts, ministries never have budget to do fancy setups, so we had to get creative and resourceful for our decorations - and spend under $5.00 per table!
The banquet theme was "Harvest" - SO - I suggested we do small shocks of wheat in some form for each table.
Janet Slayden (pictured) from Operation Andrew put feet to the idea and rounded up stalks of of wheat to bundle with a ribbon and standup in a flower pot filled with sand. A dowel rod inserted in the sand kept the stalks standing upright. As simple as this was, it looked great when we got 28 tables set with them. We finished the simple setup by standing the programs like table tents at each place setting. The caterer was going to pre-set salads and desserts. (filling in more table space). If we would have had more $$$ and time, I would have painted the clay pots and added a few votive candles.
I share this so very simple idea because the Accidental Event Planner knows that most planners have to make something from nothing more often than not. This is an idea you can put in your "mental blender" for later!
AEP Tip: When your budget is low and you have to use simple items for setup, keep in mind that when you multiply the item in the room, it gains "visual strength".
This is kind of like choosing paint shades for your wall. I've learned to choose the color chip that I want the wall to most look like when completed, and then go 1 shade lighter. Why? - Because when you multiply the color and fill the entire room with it, it intensifies.
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