by Alexander O. Onukwue

It’s a Saturday, and it is flooding in Lagos. Spare a thought for all who have weddings on the Island, especially when the first and second events require a drive through Ozumba Mbadiwe drive. Citizen reports available on social media show that area and many other parts of the Island are virtually impassable by wheels.

Also spare a thought for the Event Planners who convinced couples, celebrants and companies that so and so place would be the best for the occasion. They had spoken the best English, with the most ghen ghen PowerPoint slides, making the case for how convenient the choices they have made would be for the occasion. How inconvenient it must be right now to look each other in the face, while explaining that the scheduled event will still take place perfectly. Many guests will be late, some will give up and not make it.

The average Event Planner’s job really does not go beyond the costs of the spaces and materials used, as against actually making the choices of space and route. Unless those who combine their duties with logistics, your ‘Wedding Party’-type basically has to make sure decorations are spot on and all guests are well served.

But like they say, the best businesses are born in less favourable times. There are inherent challenges that will ultimately frustrate even the best skilled Event Planner who chooses to be adept at logistics, but the challenge of stepping up to the plate will have its rewards. Beyond having an eye for the right colours and a nose for a good dish, better Event Planners may require a head for the weather and a good understanding of the roads.

How many event planners currently consult the Weather Man before agreeing to certain dates for events? And how many have a map of their locality in their offices? It may seem a tough ask and it may not apply for all occasions.
But particular big and boisterous celebrations – specifically those that happen on the Lagos Island – like weddings which usually require moving people from Church to reception should begin to involve a better understanding of the possible natural interventions that may threaten such occasions. They should be accounted for, using new technologies.

Inevitably, costs of planning events will rise but so will the quality on offer.

Editor