Full-Service Event Planning in San Francisco: What to Look For

May 29, 2024 Something Incorporated

Planning an event in San Francisco can pose complexities, particularly due to the extensive level of detail it demands. There are lots of aspects that come with hosting a group of people for a specific goal - how many people will be there, and where will they go when they arrive? How do you set up a venue space, and how do you book one to begin with? What will the entertainment look like? The food? The accommodations? All of this information can be overwhelming.

This is why event planning services exist. A full-service event planner can make sure that your event is smooth and successful using their years of experience and contacts in the industry. Here’s what you need to know about finding a full-service event planner in San Francisco.

What does it mean for event planning to be “full service?”

Event planning services exist to help you set up, host, and review the outcomes of your event with minimal stress and maximum professional support. These services can be used for various events, including personal celebrations like weddings and reunions and professional gatherings such as conferences, conventions, galas, and corporate dinners. For an even planning service to be considered full-service means that you as the host of the event give all of your details, requirements, and requests to an event planner or event manager and they do the rest of the work.

Full-service event planners will

Design the event’s decor
Locate and book an appropriate venue
Interview and hire individual vendors such as caterers, florists, decorators, waitstaff, bartenders, etc.
Devise appropriate crisis and emergency support and contingencies such as first aid or medical response stations, weather alternatives (planning for storms, temperature changes, etc.), and evacuation planning
Manage the logistics of the event including payments, load-in and load-out, cleaning, and troubleshooting during the event
Gather information about and plan for special accommodations for disabilities and other needs for guests
Manage auxiliary events such as pre-event receptions, afterparties, external workshops, or breakout gatherings.

Working with a full-service event planner ensures that your event is logistically and aesthetically consistent; it can be presented as a complete event with one major point of contact for all aspects, making coordination easier. Additionally, hiring a seasoned professional to fully manage your event can mean that they take care of smaller aspects - steaming clothes before a wedding, printing activity sheets for corporate retreats, arranging personalized awards for corporate award galas, etc. - that you might not have factored into your plans. These service providers will also often work with local organizations to make sure your event is supporting the local economy and various small businesses, which is good for both communities and the environment.

How to find full-service event planning in San Francisco

Before you start looking for a full-service event planner, you’ll want to make a list of requirements. Decide the kind of event you’re hoping to host, a rough timeline or date for the event to take place, an estimate for the number of attendees, and a general aesthetic you’d like to opt for. You’ll also want to set a budget - researching the cost of comparable events online can help you determine this - and a list of dealbreakers to help you sort through potential providers.

When looking for a full-service event planner, you have options in terms of finding out what services are available to you, especially in a large and busy city like San Francisco. Online service provider databases can be helpful for researching options, as can local business directories (which can be obtained from Chambers of Commerce). Reaching out to your network for recommendations is also a good idea; word of mouth is a great way to get a full picture of a service’s quality.

Once you’ve made your shortlist of candidates, research the companies. Explore their websites and social media pages. You should also read reviews of previous events they’ve hosted and case studies if they’re available. Be sure that they offer all of the services you’re going to need and make a note of any services that surprise or interest you. When you’ve done that, book consultations with your top options and meet with them to discuss the specifics of the project. Choose the company that offers the most of what you want for the most reasonable price (not necessarily the cheapest, but the price that makes the most sense for the services offered), and with whom you get along the best.

When you’ve chosen your service provider, read the proffered contract carefully. Go over anything you don’t understand or agree with and ensure that all points are settled before you sign.

The best full-service event planning in San Francisco

If you’re looking for a full-service event planner in San Francisco, an excellent option to top your candidate list is Culinary Eye. Created by John Silva in 2010, this event planning and catering business is built on the idea of providing an immersive, memorable and dynamic experience. The team is a broad mix of industry professionals including chefs, designers, and artists, among others, who aim to create a unique, exciting, and quality experience for every event.

Culinary Eye’s extensive catering and event planning services include, but are not limited to:

Creating and serving custom Menus
Venue selection and preparation with florals and decor
Full beverage catering (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) including specialty beverage pairing

Arranging and/or providing entertainment
A/V services, tenting, and valet

Photography

They are open for booking for corporate and social events (including weddings) of all kinds and sizes. They’re fond of going above and beyond for their clients, providing the best possible experience across the board from start to finish.

To book a consultation with Culinary Eye, you can contact them via their website.