Clients look to event planners for creativity and ingenuity. Event planners look to other professionals for the very same inspiration. There are many detailed accessories that can complement an event. From lighting to music to art, introducing specialized details will allow your client's personality to be expressed in the event.

Just as vendors market themselves to specific events, subvendors do the same in the event-planning world. These subvendors are by no means subpar; they offer specialized services to the elite event planner. These vendors may include:

Calligraphers

Exquisite penmanship on an invitation will add Old-World style to any event. If your event is more modern and trendy, some calligraphers have added more fonts to their handwriting to keep up with trends. Avoid impersonal computer-generated labels.

Interior Decorators

Not too long ago, interior decorators were hired by only the very wealthy. Much like the increasing popularity of gourmet cooking television shows, interior design programs have also found a bit of celebrity in recent years. Interior designers are migrating outside of the habitat of the home and into event planning. As part of the creative team, interior designers work alongside the lighting, staging, and production crew. Offering advice from linen colors to stage design, an interior decorator can add a stylish element to your event.

Food Stylists

Food stylists work on commercials, television shows, and print media to enhance the appearance of edible props. Because some food products do not film well, a food stylist may work with different products to get the best shot, for example, substituting milk in a cereal commercial (a glue mixture, by the way is what you see in most cereal advertisements, not milk). A stylist may also create dozens of replicas of the same dish to be served on the set of a television program. Each dish must be exactly the same to avoid discrepancy in future shots.

When designing an elaborate buffet table or centerpiece, who better to have on your team than a food stylist? For an event where food is the main focus, enlist the expertise of a food stylist to create an art installation out of the menu.

Animal Handlers

Exotic animals have long been used as accessories at elaborate events. Whether it is white doves released into the sky or lions on leashes, animals add a wow factor some clients look to add to their events. When researching the possibility of animals at an event, contact your area's gaming commission for the laws governing the import and use of domestic and wild animals. Also check and double-check the background of the animal handler. Your chosen venue may also have regulations regarding animals on premises. Some venues require an additional insurance binder in case of damage caused by the animal.

Trapeze Artists

Broadway shows and movies featuring trapeze artists and contortionists have catapulted this ancient art form into an event entertainment extravaganza. Perfect as a background element for an event or as the main attraction, contortionists can work floor routines as well as on ropes descending from high ceilings. Again, it is a good idea to check with your venue's policies before hiring contortionists.

Musicians

With the boom in technology of recent years, many entertainers have incorporated different forms of media in their performances. DJs of recent years have turned to plasma screen televisions with live simultaneous broadcasts of the event around the venue. Light shows, fireworks displays, and laser performances occur at events in sync with the DJ extraordinaire.

Bakers

Baking has always been something of an art form. Nowadays, cakes can be created of any image imaginable. Replicas of antique cars, 3-D images of cartoons, and life-size portraits of masterpieces can be created using flour and sugar. Local bakers have expanded their clientele with the advent of the Internet and overnight shipping.

Researching your city's greater business bureau or business alliance is a great way to find these high-end professionals. You may want to ask other event planners as well. For more obscure services, such as artist installations, get involved in the artist community or art school in your area.