What Makes an Event Detail Feel Personal vs. Just Decorative?
You pour your heart and soul into planning your client’s events. They end up looking incredible! They are also totally forgettable. It’s a common trap that even the best NYC event planners can fall into. It’s not a design or talent issue. You didn't focus enough on the attendees of the event. As we start 2026, it’s time to focus on the high expectations of guests. Decor needs to change how the venue lands.
Decorative Details Are About Completion
Despite NYC having plenty of stunning event venues, they are still a canvas for an event. It is the decorative details that turn a venue into a space that feels finished. The decor helps align the venue with the event’s theme and tone.
Top event planners know that decor isn’t passive. It’s meant to be seen. Guests who attend events have expectations. They know the difference between great decor and lazy decor. They are also familiar with trends, as they see popular designs and trends repeatedly.
For event planners, it isn’t enough to have beautiful run-of-the-mill event decor. After a week, it will blend together in their memories with other generic, beautiful decor.
Personal Details Are About Recognition
The personal details you include in an event don’t scream for attention. They should be subtle reminders that the guest is the priority. It’s these small details that signal awareness and thoughtfulness.
Event planners can create what feel like personal details from the information they already have. Guests include information during their registration. This gives clues to the event’s demographics. Conversations with the client can also provide insight. Ask about values, preferences, and potential pain points.
A Fast Gut Check Event Planners Should Use
There is an easy way to tell if event decor is just generically pretty or personal to the guests. Ask yourself if the decor elements chosen could be randomly dropped into any of the other events you are currently planning. If you could do so without changing anything, then you have generically beautiful event decor.
If the answer is no, then you are on the right track. It’s the personal elements that make the decor only make sense when you have the additional context of the event. Strip that context away, and the decor loses its impact.
Where Personalization Usually Breaks Down
Most planners don’t miss personalization because they don’t care. They miss it because decorative choices feel faster under pressure. Rentals are predictable. Trends are easy to reference. Personalization asks you to pause and think.
But speed isn’t what guests remember. They remember how the event made them feel once the novelty wore off. And that’s where personal details do the heavy lifting.
Personal Doesn’t Mean Literal
This is where personalizing decorations can go sideways. Event planners attempt personalization but end up taking it too literally. They plaster guests' names on everything. They get very specific with call-outs and recognitions. While it’s ok to use names for some things, it isn’t helpful to do it everywhere.
Being hyper-specific and personalized can come off as creepy and awkward. Don’t make guests uncomfortable by being overly personal.
Select music that resonates with the target audience. It could be something they actively enjoy or are nostalgic about. Make seating choices that are comfortable for the people in the room. The longer you make them sit, the more ergonomic it needs to be.
Guests Feel the Intention Before They Can Explain It
Let’s face it, the majority of guests are not going to point at specific details and say, “That’s personal!” That’s okay. Instead, you will hear them say
Most guests won’t point to a detail and call it personal. They’ll say the event felt thoughtful, easy, or surprisingly comfortable. That reaction comes from cohesion, not spectacle.
When details are chosen because they mean something, guests sense it immediately. They feel guided instead of managed. And that’s what separates events that look good from events that actually resonate.
Learn More About Making Events Personal
Of all the current event planning trends, personalization is one of the most important. Personalizing the decorations for an event elevates the experience. Guests are more likely to feel like they have “come home” or found their tribe.
For more inspiration, connect with other event planning industry thought leaders. By exhibiting at The Event Planner Expo, you are in the room with NYC’s top professionals. The conversations you have here are what shape what future events look like.
Book your booth at The Event Planner Expo 2026 today.
