Event Planning Tips, Ideas & Local Guides

The holidays are one of the most popular times of year to get engaged, which means two things. Your partner might already be side-eyeing every small box under the tree, and the internet is full of the same ten Christmas proposal ideas. We've been planning proposals and events in Scottsdale since 2018, more than 2,000 events in, so here's the real list: Christmas proposal ideas sorted by vibe, from cozy at home to full production, plus how to pull off a holiday proposal withou

'Tis the season for Friendsgiving, office parties and way too many group chats about who's bringing what. Here's a better plan: let a holiday party planner in Scottsdale take it off your plate. At Girl About Town, we handle the food, decor, DJ, photo booth, staff and cleanup, so you get to actually enjoy your own party. Whether it's 12 friends around one long table or 150 coworkers in a ballroom, we've got it from first idea to last song. Everything we handle We're a full-ser

Your group chat is asking the big question again: beach weekend? Rocky Point (officially Puerto Peñasco, Mexico) is the answer. It's close enough to drive after work, far enough to feel like a real getaway, and there's something to do in every season. Whether it's a school break, a birthday trip, or a girls weekend that's been "on the calendar" since March, here's what to do in Puerto Peñasco, how to get there, and where to stay (and a few ways to make it way easier on yourse

Planning a NOLA bachelorette? Here's our real 3-day itinerary, French Quarter to Garden District, from planners who actually run these trips.

If you just searched "Halloween decorators near me" and landed here, here's the short answer: we're a Scottsdale-based team of professional Halloween decorators, and this post is both a real answer to that search and a full idea list if you want to try building it yourself first. Halloween spending hit a record $13.1 billion this year, and decorations alone accounted for $4.2 billion of that, with 78% of people buying something to dress up their space, so if you're looking in

Football is back this week, which in Scottsdale means one thing: pick your bar wisely or spend three quarters standing behind someone's shoulder trying to see the screen. We've spent a lot of Sundays, and Thursdays, and the occasional Monday night, in these places while building guys trips and watch parties around town, so we know which ones actually deliver. Here are the best sports bars in Scottsdale this season, ranked on the stuff that matters: screens you can actually se

Arizona's heat is no joke, but with that comes the opportunity to throw the best pool party of the summer. A normal pool party might have some floaties and a cooler with drinks outside, but with Girl About Town you can take your pool party to the next level, creating an event your friends will still be talking about next summer! Why settle for a cooler of White Claws when you can have a bartender crafting summer specialty drinks? Why use paper plates and Solo Cups when you ca

Picking the dates is the hardest part of planning a bachelorette. Everyone has a different schedule, half the group wants to "just figure it out later," and you are the one stuck holding the group chat together. Here is a trick that takes the guesswork out of it: pick a weekend when Scottsdale already has something going on, and let the city do half the planning for you. The best Scottsdale bachelorette weekends are almost always the ones built around an event. Anchoring your

You're planning a guys trip to Scottsdale. Maybe it's a bachelor party, a guys' weekend with the crew, or just an excuse to escape. The internet's full of generic "10 things to do" lists that miss the point: you want an itinerary that actually flows, venues that won't bore you, and a plan that doesn't fall apart by Friday night. We've planned hundreds of guys trips in Scottsdale (and New Orleans). Here's what we've learned works, what doesn't, and how to actually pull off a w

Girl About Town × Skin Charm Lounge A fully styled, photo-worthy private wellness lounge for birthdays, showers, corporate days, and any group of 6 or fewer who wants to glow. A Real Private Spa Party, Not a Group Reservation Booking a Scottsdale private spa party usually means showing up to a chain medspa, getting your group split across two rooms, and leaving with photos that look like everyone else's.The space is sterile. There's nothing personal about it. We built somethi

Girl About Town × Skin Charm Private A fully styled, photo-worthy private wellness lounge built for bridal parties who want to recover, glow, and look incredible in every photo. Why Most Scottsdale Bachelorette Spa Days Miss If you've ever planned a bachelorette in Scottsdale, you know the second day is the hardest. Day one is rooftop pools and dinner reservations. Day two is everyone hiding behind sunglasses, ordering room service, and pretending they're fine. The standard f

Get on the Rocky Point Waitlist → Pack a bag. Girl About Town is officially the new Rocky Point event planner on the block, and we're booking trips, picnics, proposals, and full weekend chaos in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. If you've ever come back from Rocky Point sunburned, hungover, and slightly traumatized by the grocery run on day one, this one's for you. Why We Picked Rocky Point as Our Next Event Planning Market Honestly? Our clients made us. For years, every Scottsdale bac

Editor's note: We're posting this between Jazz Fest 2026's two weekends. Weekend two kicks off April 30. If you're reading this in real time, half the advice below is for next year, half is for this Thursday. A New Orleans Jazz Fest bachelorette is one of the few bachelorette weekends where the bride is not the only main character. Stevie Nicks is. Or Lorde. Or whoever is closing the Acura Stage that Saturday. The festival runs over two four-day weekends every year at the Fai

Summer birthdays in Scottsdale have one major advantage over everywhere else: the pool isn't just an amenity; it's the entire personality of the party! While the rest of the country scrambles for venue ideas, you're sitting in one of the best cities in America for a pool party! With 300 days of sunshine and a resort scene that rivals Las Vegas, the only question is how to make it feel like your celebration and not just another Saturday at the dayclub. This guide is for anyone

The most romantic proposal spots in Scottsdale, AZ, from The Sanctuary to El Chorro, plus real tips from a local planner with 2,000+ events under our belt.

If you're planning a bachelorette party in Scottsdale, you're in the right place. I'm a fifth-generation Phoenician and the founder of Girl About Town. We've planned more than 2,000 events here since 2018, and this is the exact weekend itinerary we build for groups, plus the things to do in Scottsdale that are actually worth your time. This isn't a generic list. It's the plan we'd hand our own best friend: one big thing per block, built-in recovery time, and reservations made

Name - Meghan Birthday - July 25 Sign - Leo Fav movie - Overboard (the one with Golide Hawn) TV show you’re binge watching - America’s Sweethearts (DDC) What song always gets you on the dance floor - Blow the Whistle by Too Short What did you want to be when you grew up? - A weather girl Why did you get into event planning? - I love being the planner and bringing people together. My friend group was never as organized unless I stepped in so it just sort of happened natu

So you found the ring, and now you need the spot. Congrats, this is the fun part. We're Girl About Town, and we've been planning proposals and events across Scottsdale and Greater Phoenix since 2018, more than 2,000 events in. We've learned exactly which locations make people stop, gasp, and cry the good kind of tears. We've also learned which ones look amazing on Instagram but turn into a logistical nightmare at sunset. Below are our five favorite places to propose in Arizon

Need a Graduation theme for your soon to be grad? We have you covered!

Turning 21 in Scottsdale is a whole different level. Between the rooftop bars, the nightlife in Old Town, and the pool party scene that basically runs year-round, this city is built for a birthday celebration that actually lives up to the hype. But between picking a theme, finding the right venue, and making sure the night goes smoothly — planning it can feel like a part-time job. That's exactly what we're here for. At Girl About Town, we've helped plan hundreds of Scottsdale