Event Planning

 
 

The Spring Equinox Ball

Quick Stats: 80 ticket holders, 10 event staff, 10 volunteers, 5 vendors hired, +11k in revenue

In March of 2023 my business, The Wandering Realm, hosted a fantasy-themed ball at The Gaston Boutique B & B in Dallas, TX. The objective of this event was to curate a cohesive experience that felt whimsical and elevated where femme-identifying folk based in DFW could get to know one another. Ticket holders were asked to fill out a form that would partner them with individuals who they were most likely to get along with based on their response leading to a higher likelihood of engagement within the community and attendance of future events. The event was attended by 80 ticket holders, 10 event staff, and 10 volunteers. We hired the following vendors to enhance the experience of our attendees: Hawthorne’s Floral Co. tasked with floral installation, 8 table bouquets, and floor installations; Auras All Around to photograph all attendees auras and provide detailed explanation on what your aura color means; Honey Bee & Boards tasked with creating multiple food stations including a dessert station, a charcuterie station, and a finger foods station; Wyldcosmia to photograph the event and take portraits of each ticket holder; The Gaston employees to bartend the event. Ticket holder stats: 73 ticket holders were registered members; 32 ticket holders were first-time attendees; all 80 guests attended at least one more event following the ball. Total revenue earned $11,045.85. The event was marketed via our website, monthly emails sent to subscribers, and TikTok and Instagram content. Overall guests reported they were pleased with the event, liked the personalization created with the forms and aura photographers, and felt the value for the money spent was fair. Following the ball there was an influx of new followers to all social channels and subscribers to the website thanks to user-generated content from the event. The 4 days after our Spring Equinox Ball we saw 294 unique website visits and 27 new subscribers to the website.

Engagement Party

Quick Stats: 50 guests, 6 vendors, 5 event staff, 5k budget

While an engagement party may not qualify as a resume-worthy event, I would disagree. In October 2024 I planned and hosted my fiance’s and mine engagement party. The brief (aka my vision) was to curate an elevated southwestern feel while avoiding a “stereotypical” western aesthetic. This included designing our own personal logo to feature on custom cups and coozies, deciding florals and decor, and selecting the right food vendors that would contribute to the overall tone of the event. When planning an event for others or yourself it is incredibly important to ensure a cohesive vision and truly understand the importance of what works and what does not. The process of event planning is tedious and requires a specific eye and understanding of what your client wants and knowing how to deliver. You will see in the examples below how my vision came to life through interviews with the right vendors followed by several meetings where I shared specific and ambiguous examples and expectations to ensure everyone was aligned. Following this event I was asked by 3 others to help plan two birthday events and a halloween party.

Florals by Hawthorne’s Floral Co.

The Wandering Realm Events Quick Stats

All Wandering Realm events require a membership to attend; events were promoted in the monthly newsletter via email and through our social media channels on TikTok and Instagram; events require forms to be filled out so that I could group those who I felt would get along best with one another, I would then take the time to make goodie-bags (costs were included in ticket prices) which included trinkets that guests would match with other attendees (trinket groups were created based on form responses). All events were created, planned, and coordinated by myself.

  • Forming the Fellowship October 2022: Our first event consisted of 40 guests and a brunch. Thanks to a viral TikTok and my knowledge on how to build a website, I was able to capitalize on the brief social-media fame and set up a form for interested parties to fill out where they shared hobbies and interests. This helped the guests feel more comfortable and lead to a 100% return rate for each attendee. All of those who attended this first event returned for at least one more event with The Wandering Realm.

  • Bookish Bestie Book Swap No. 1 November 2022: 40 attendees dressed as their favorite book character and filled out a form regarding their preferred book tropes, genres, themes, etc. Each attendee was paired with another person and was then tasked to purchase a book for their partner Secret Santa style. It is important when creating a brand or hosting an event to ensure your members/customers/clients/attendees feel relatively confident in their ability to enjoy themselves (especially if they are attending this event solo), I have found to do so is to create a level of personalization.

  • Winter Solstice Dinner December 2022: 50 attendees dressed in formal ball gowns and attended a formal dinner in Downtown Dallas

  • Axes and Assassins No. 1 January 2023: 60 attendees dressed as assassins and attended Lone Star Axe Throwing

  • Weekend in the Woods February 2023: 10 attendees rented a cabin in Broken Bow Oklahoma for the weekend where we hired a private chef, had a photoshoot, and got to know one another

  • Spring Equinox Ball March 2023: stats mentioned above

  • Scarborough Faire April 2023: 50 attendees went to Waxahachie, TX to attend the Scarborough Faire together

  • May Day Picnic May 2023: 30 attendees dressed as fairies, made flower crowns, and painted candles together

  • Pottery Goblins June 2023: 30 attendees dressed as goblins and made pottery at Quiggly’s Clay House

  • Bookish Bestie Book Swap No. 2 July 2023: 40 attendees dressed as their favorite book character and attended the book swap hosted at Houndstooth Coffee

  • Feyre’s Painting Class August 2023: 65 attendees dressed as the main characters from A Court of Thorns and Roses and rented out Painting with a Twist in Plano

  • Hideaway on the Hill September 2023: 20 attendees rented a house in Austin, TX where we went to a brewery, hired a private chef, and hosted a pool party

  • Rainbow Disco Mixer October 2023: 50 attendees dressed in their disco best and went to the Sweet Tooth Hotel in Dallas, TX

  • Witches and Wreaths November 2023: 15 attendees dressed as witches to make half moon wreaths and witches brooms (hosted by Hawthorne’s Floral Co.)

  • For the Future December 2023: This event hosted 30 guests and included three activities: creating intention candles, a tarot session, and a group life coaching session. Our members were encouraged to journal their revelations throughout the activities; creating a physical record honoring the version of themselves that showed up ready to embrace the truths the day would reveal.

  • Axes & Assassins January 2024

  • Crescent City 3 Reading Retreat February 2024