There is no panic like the panic of having your events organiser cancel on you last minute. Trust me, I know. 

Having spent weeks planning a surprise birthday party for my friend, I had made sure everything would be Instagram and Pinterest worthy. From hiring an events organiser to hiring caterers, I had obsessed over the details far longer than I probably should have. I was already imagining the oohs and ahhs as our guests walked in and saw the party decor. Everything was on track — well that is, until it wasn’t.

Exactly one week before the big day, I received a message that sent my heart plummeting straight to my stomach: “Hi, sorry to inform you, but I’ll have to cancel the event decor for your party. Unforeseen circumstances. Sorry for the inconvenience.” Inconvenience?  What about all my weeks and sleepless nights of planning? This was like a disaster of epic proportions.

Cue the five stages of party planning grief: denial (this isn’t happening), anger (why me?!), bargaining (what if I offer them double the payment?), depression (maybe I should just cancel the whole thing, it was a surprise so the said friend will just never know I guess ), and finally, acceptance (okay, I need to figure this out NOW).

After about an hour of wallowing in self pity and having a meltdown episode, I realised there was no time to waste. I had to find affordable yet stunning event decor — and fast. And then another problem- where do you even start when you’re suddenly thrust into the world of DIY party planning with zero experience?

The internet became my best friend (and also my worst enemy) as I tried to go through countless websites for luxury but budget-friendly decor. Most options were either overpriced or required delivery timelines that might as well have been measured in centuries. I needed something now.

In a mad panic, I paid outrageous prices for frames just so that they would be delivered within time for the party.  Then followed having to find affordable luxury florals and drapes for the backdrops. Everything had different delivery times and the prices were sky high. If only there was a website that could provide everything all at once at a reasonable price. Was that too much to ask for?

As my deliveries came scattered on different days and times, I got to work. Armed with cable ties and sheer determination, I turned my living room into a makeshift event workshop. The floral arch, which had initially seemed like a daunting task, slowly came to life as I cable tied lush blooms across its frame. Channelling every ounce of creativity I didn’t even know I had, I layered greenery and florals until the arch looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. (I impressed myself if I do say so.) And though I realised I could do something new, I realised how easy it actually was. With a bit of determination and help from YouTube, my floral arch was all nice and ready for the surprise party.

Then the big day finally came and the party absolutely rocked. The arch stood tall and elegant, adorned with vibrant florals that gleamed under the soft party lights that I picked up as an extra feature- because why not? Guests gushed over the decor. My friend? Speechless — in the best way.

As we posed for photos in front of the floral masterpiece created by yours truly, I realised something important- having the event organiser cancel last minute felt like a disaster but then creating the decor myself had made the event feel deeply personal. It was a labour of love, a testament to friendship, and proof that with a little creativity (and a lot of florals and cable ties), you can turn a potential disaster into a dazzling success. Not only did I pull off a stunning party setup, but I also saved a small fortune compared to hiring a professional decorator. The quality of the artificial florals, arches, and frames was top-notch, and knowing I could reuse these pieces for future events was the cherry on top.

And if you’re wondering where you can buy everything in one place- you’re in the right place and won’t have to struggle the way I did. Marking Memories has everything right here- from affordable luxury artificial flowers to wedding and party arches that can cover all your event displays at amazing prices. Take a browse and try to resist the temptation to find an excuse to throw a party just so you can use our fabulous event decor.

Happy decorating!