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Key Takeaways
- Stress usually comes from trying to do everything at once.
- Give yourself "buffer time" – things always take longer than you think.
- Keep all your planning in one place, not scattered across sticky notes and texts.
- Take a 10-minute break before guests arrive to reset.
Why We Freak Out
We've all been there. It's 30 minutes before the party starts, you're still in your sweatpants, the ice hasn't arrived, and you're frantically texting your partner to pick up napkins. We blame ourselves ("I'm just not organized!"), but the truth is, we just underestimate how many moving parts there are.
The "Calm Host" Strategy
- The 1.3x Rule: If you think it takes 10 minutes to set up the bar, give yourself 13. That extra buffer is where your sanity lives.
- One Source of Truth: Stop using three different notebooks and a WhatsApp group. Put everything in one place.
- The Pre-Party Pause: Schedule a hard stop 15 minutes before the start time. Pour yourself a drink, sit down, and breathe. If the napkins aren't folded perfectly, nobody will care.
How LOMAevents Helps
We built LOMAevents because we were tired of the chaos too.
- All Your Vendors in One Place: Drag and drop your caterer, DJ, and florist into categories so you can see who's doing what.
- Smart Questionnaires: Don't know where to start? Our app asks you the right questions to get your plan moving.
- RSVP Tracking: See exactly who's coming (and who's ghosting you) in one dashboard.
Pro Tip: Assign "owners" to tasks in your notes. Instead of "someone needs to get ice," write "Mike gets ice." Ambiguity is the enemy.
Your Next Move
Download LOMAevents and start your next event. Even if it's just a small dinner party, putting it in the app gets it out of your head.