Whether you are organising a wedding, a birthday party, a baby shower, or a corporate event, having a clear styling checklist keeps you organised and ensures nothing gets missed. This universal checklist covers every styling consideration, from the first planning session through to pack-down on the day.
8 to 12 Weeks Before: Foundation Planning
Start by defining the core elements that will guide every styling decision:
- Choose your colour palette: Select two to four colours that will carry through every element — balloons, florals, table settings, signage, and backdrop.
- Define your style direction: Are you going for modern and minimal, romantic and soft, rustic and organic, or bold and dramatic? Collect inspiration images from Pinterest's event decoration boards to communicate your vision.
- Book your event stylist: Contact your preferred stylist early, especially for peak season dates. At iDo. Events, we recommend booking at least six to eight weeks ahead for Melbourne events.
- Confirm your venue: Get the floor plan, measurements, and any restrictions from your venue. Share these with your stylist so they can plan to scale.
- Set your styling budget: Be clear about what you can spend on styling, and communicate this to your stylist so they can recommend the best options within your budget.
4 to 6 Weeks Before: Locking In Details
This is when broad plans become specific decisions:
- Select your backdrop: Choose your arch or backdrop style — rustic, modern geometric, moongate, or draped fabric.
- Plan your centrepieces: Decide on table centrepieces — florals, candles, lanterns, or a combination.
- Choose your lighting: Fairy lights, festoon lights, candles, or a combination.
- Plan your signage: Welcome sign, neon sign, table numbers, seating chart.
- Confirm balloon styling: If you are including balloon garlands or a balloon arch, confirm colours and placement.
- Plan the dessert table: A styled dessert table doubles as decor — plan the backdrop, stands, platters, and decorative accents.
1 to 2 Weeks Before: Final Confirmations
The detail-checking phase ensures everything runs smoothly:
- Confirm every hire item: Review your complete list with your stylist — quantities, colours, and styles all locked in.
- Confirm logistics: Delivery time, venue access window, setup duration, and pack-down arrangements.
- Brief your photographer: Share your styling plan so they know which details to capture.
- Prepare personal items: Gather any personal elements — photo frames, guest books, cake toppers — in a labelled box.
- Confirm vendor contacts: Ensure your stylist, venue, photographer, and other vendors have each other's contact details. For public venue events, check City of Melbourne's events page for any permit requirements.
On the Day: Trust the Process
If you have planned well, the day should run smoothly. Your stylist arrives, sets everything up to plan, and you arrive to a beautifully styled space. Here is what to remember:
- Hand over personal items to your stylist with clear placement instructions.
- Do a quick walkthrough once setup is complete and flag any adjustments before guests arrive.
- Enjoy your event — your stylist will handle pack-down afterwards.
Need help checking every box on this list? At iDo. Events, we manage every styling detail from first enquiry to final pack-down across more than 30 Melbourne suburbs. Request a free quote or browse our hire collection to start planning your event.
