How much would you charge to assist someone in throwing an engagement party?!
How much would you charge to assist someone in throwing an engagement party?
THEY will be buying everything; having it at THEIR house; and have already sent out invitations. The guest list was a total of 80 people. They wanted me to help come up with ideas; contact/correspond w/ caterer; help set up/break down decoration; and monitor the progress of the party on the big day so they can enjoy it.
Answers:
This is a lot of work, especially if you know what you are doing. If you do understand catering contracts, how to order for a group, and to estimate a head count so that you can take advantage of the caterer's overage guarantee (usually 3 - 5%) that's an invaluable asset and will assist them in actually saving money in the long run. In addition, if you know where to buy props, decorations, etc that will also help them with the bottom line.
The other way you can charge them is to add on a percentage to the overall bill. (as was previously mentioned, you HAVE to tell them up front if you are doing this).
In other words (hypothetical example):
Decorations - your cost - $100 - theirs $120
Catering charges - $6000 - theirs $6600 - $7200
so on and so forth.
If these people are friends of yours and you don't really have the experience but you still want to be paid for your services, I would limit it at $200 - $250. This could lead to other referrals for a job well done!!
Good luck!
If they are friends do it as a wedding gift.
If they are close friends and you are invited to the party, charge nothing and call it your GIFT to them.
If they are acquaintances the charge is $100.
Ask for at least $15 a head. Not a flat fee. I know you're doing a lot of work, the only thing you aren't doing is serving. If they trust you with all this, get good money. I'd actually ask for $20 a head since you're jumping through a lot of hoops and doing set up and break down and being a gofer during the party.
Have fun, catering's a blast!
if they are close friends consider making your time agift.
if not, plot out approx. the number of hours you intend to take up with this project and then an hourly rate you can ask. $10-$20 an hour depending on your experience.
They are asking a lot of you -- try and make an educated guess as to how many hours all of this is going to take you then multiple by $20 per hour. You work for 10 hrs, you should get $200.
No more than $150 because they are doing mostly everything!
Basically, you are the event coordinator. They have come up with what needs to be done and are contracting you to handle the particulars. FRIENDS OR NOT, set ground rules, because if it doesn't go off exactly the way they envision it, its on your head, especially if they are interested in your creativity. If it is a friend, use your best judgement on charging them or not, but keep in mind, event coordination is a business and its hard work, and one slip up will make their day less, well, enjoyable. See if you can come up with an outline and a timeline for each task involved with the event and then you can price it two ways (for yourself, only present one way to your friend)...one way could be priced out by task, the other way could be priced out by the hour depending upon what you think your time may be worth to handle such a task. What a nice compliment that they have asked you to take care of a personal family event. Its not unheard of to charge, even family or friends, for such a responsibility. Just don't go nuts...
although i like most of the answers, i have one comment to add. if you do decide to charge the for the wedding, please make sure you spell it out to them in plain english up front don't assume that they know. i have seen this happen too many times not necessarily in a wedding situation but in situations in general where some is asking a fee & did not clarify it & it can get ugly good luck
I wouldnt charge them.
you have to think how good of friend THEY are and if you asked that of them how much you would be prepared to pay or would you expect them to do for nothing .........good luck