Event professionals are finding innovative ways to enhance their services by creatively using AI tools
By Rachael Soete, managing director of Culinary Canvas
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in countless industries for years, but only recently have event professionals faced the reality and impact of the tool within their profession. Since COVID, clients are looking to reevaluate how and where they spend their money. Weddings and events have shifted toward DIY crafts and budgeting hacks, and AI has played a vital role in the process.
While there’s not much event pros can do to stop clients from seeking AI hacks for planning, there are ways to embrace the evolution. Following are four ways to say “I do” to AI.
Brainstorming Wedding Party and Bachelorette Themes
Brides are looking for more creative party themes for their bridal gatherings. AI can help curate a theme based on the party destination, vibe and personality of the bride. Event professionals in full-service consultation roles can use AI to help brainstorm theme execution, from destination bachelorette and bridal showers to welcome parties and rehearsal dinners—like an “Oysters and Pearls” shower in Charleston, South Carolina, or an “Avant-Garde Wedding” farewell brunch in Aspen, Colorado.
Pro Tip: Try typing in qualities of the bride and the wedding event to start with, adding details in subsequent asks as the AI system gets a feel for what you want, such as “Give me a farewell brunch theme for a bride who loves champagne for a destination wedding set in Aspen, Colorado.”
How to Incorporate: Event pros can use the direction that AI gives as a starting point to perfectly plan the themed event. For example, caterers can easily incorporate the theme of “Oysters and Pearls” throughout a brunch menu, including a raw oyster bar with DIY topping options like “Bloody Mary,” lemon zest, ginger scallion, etc.; a tiered cake made from mini cupcakes, decorated with a vintage icing design and topped with edible pearls; and Champagne flutes with pearlescent edible glitter mixed in and stems tied with bows.
Honeymoon Planning
Some planners are adding honeymoon planning to their growing list of specialties, and AI can help tackle the hours of research that go into travel preparation—from finding the perfect destination to nailing down the tastiest spots to eat and best-rated excursions.
Pro Tip: To personalize the travel experience, add a few suggestions to your AI prompt that you think the couple might especially enjoy. For example, add personal notes to itinerary searches, such as “This is Rachael’s top pick for Rome hotels! She and her husband stayed at this property on their honeymoon and watched the sunset atop the rooftop every night.”
How to Incorporate: For event professionals working with venues and caterers to plan details of the big day, suggest ways to incorporate the couple’s honeymoon into the food and drink. For a couple traveling to Thailand, a menu could include a build-your-own pad Thai station; a mango sticky rice bar with options like a passion fruit jam topping or plated with Thai chili oil; and a Thai basil lemonade cocktail or coconut milk and mango margarita.
Wedding Playlists
Music streaming platforms have been tinkering with hyper-personalized playlists recently, but industry professionals can take it a step further and use an AI tool to help curate the perfect musical ambiance. (Bonus points for leaving out the entire “do not play at all costs” list!) It’s one less thing for a client to worry about and is an easy hand-off to the DJ or band hired to play.
Pro Tip: Help clients find the perfect soundtracks for all their wedding needs. Try asking the following: “Give me the top five instrumental versions of popular 2023 songs to walk down the aisle to.”
How to Incorporate: Event pros can use the AI suggestions to outline the music schedule from start to finish. Pros can work with the couple to plan what songs fit their most important moments, like walking down the aisle, the first kiss and the father-daughter dance. A full timeline of the wedding could include notes suggesting when a slow song should accompany more intimate moments and when a pick-me-up tune is needed to energize the crowd, like post-dinner.
Personalization
AI can help event pros find ways to incorporate a couple’s favorite things into the wedding, such as a palette that features their favorite colors and signature drink names from stops on their favorite European vacation.
Pro Tip: Get to know clients to understand their personalities, and their likes and dislikes. This will aid AI brainstorming sessions and help develop fully baked ideas after AI’s initial feedback.
How to Incorporate: Professionals can suggest where to add personal touches in the wedding design. Examples include a palette that’s based on the place the couple got engaged; for Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona, for example, colors such as dusty blue, desert beige, rustic reds, sunset yellows, rust, golden hues and metals. The couple’s hometowns and states can be reflected in the florals, such as irises representing Missouri.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachael Soete is the managing director of Culinary Canvas, a company seeking to fill the innovation gap in St. Louis’ catering scene. She is the brain behind some of St. Louis’ most sought-after event venues, including The Noble, the historically rehabilitated space in the South Grand neighborhood, featured on The Knot as a premier wedding venue in the city; and the recently renovated Smith & Company.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Rachael is currently renovating The Ferdinand Herold Mansion in Benton Park alongside her husband Rob Soete. When she isn’t exploring interior design or caring for her first child, Sawyer, she is playing with her dogs Juniper, Murdough and Porkchop.
For more information, visit culinarycanvasstl.com.
