Event Planning & Marketing That Actually Fills the Room
Most event planners can't market. Most marketers can't plan events. We do both.
We're a marketing and events agency that plans corporate retreats, golf outings, association conferences, and fundraisers—then promotes them so people actually show up.
The Event Industry Has a Marketing Problem (And the Marketing Industry Has an Event Problem)
Here's what usually happens:
You hire an event planner. They book the venue, coordinate the catering, manage the logistics. Beautiful. But when it comes to filling the room? "That's marketing—not our department."
So you go to a marketing agency. They'll build your email campaign, design the flyer, run social ads. Great. But they've never planned an event, so the registration page asks for the wrong information, the promotional timeline is backwards, and the follow-up sequence doesn't exist.
The result? Half-filled events. Scrambling three weeks out. Sponsors who don't renew because nobody tracked their ROI. Staff burnout from doing two agencies' worth of coordination.
Here's the thing: events and marketing aren't separate disciplines. They're two halves of the same outcome—getting the right people in the room and making sure the investment pays off.
Why Organizations Choose
Purple Wave Creative for Events
We Plan Events AND Market Them
No handoffs. No coordination between two vendors who don't talk to each other. One team handling your corporate retreat, charity golf tournament, or annual conference—from concept through promotion through follow-up.
We Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Execution
A well-run event that nobody attends is a failure. A full room with no follow-up is a wasted opportunity. We measure success by what the event produces—registrations, sponsorships, relationships, revenue—not just whether it happened.
We Bring 25 Years of Event Experience
We've planned corporate events for Fortune 500 companies, association conferences, charity fundraisers, and everything in between. We know what goes wrong before it goes wrong. And we know how to market events because we understand what makes people register.
Event Planning & Marketing Services
Corporate Retreat Planning
Get your team out of the office and into alignment:
Venue selection and contract negotiation
Agenda development that balances work and restoration
Logistics coordination and day-of execution
Pre-retreat communication and participant prep
Post-retreat follow-up systems
Strategic retreats that accomplish real business outcomes—not just expensive team vacations.
Golf Outing & Tournament Planning
Tournaments that run smoothly and actually raise money:
Course selection and relationship management
Sponsorship package development and sales support
Player recruitment and registration management
On-course logistics and contest coordination
Awards program and sponsor recognition
Golf outings designed as fundraising vehicles—not just nice days on the course.
Conference & Meeting Planning
Annual conferences, chapter meetings, and educational events:
Venue sourcing and contract negotiation
Program development and speaker coordination
Registration systems and attendee management
Sponsor and exhibitor coordination
On-site execution and logistics
Conferences that deliver member value and justify the investment.
Nonprofit & Fundraising Events
Events that net real money for your mission:
Event strategy aligned to fundraising goals
Budget development focused on net revenue
Sponsorship cultivation and stewardship
Auction and paddle raise optimization
Donor follow-up systems
Fundraisers designed around ROI—not just impressive gross numbers.
Event Marketing & Promotion
Fill your event before the deadline panic:
Email campaign strategy and execution
Social media promotion and content
Graphic design for digital and print materials
Registration page development
Sponsor recruitment marketing
Integrated promotion that builds momentum—not last-minute scrambles.
Sponsor Management & Fulfillment
Sponsors who renew year after year:
Sponsorship package development
Prospect identification and outreach support
Benefit tracking and fulfillment
Post-event reporting with documentation
Renewal cultivation
Sponsor relationships built on delivered value—not just logo placement.
Events We Plan
Corporate Events
Leadership retreats and strategic offsites
Client appreciation events
Team building and company gatherings
Sales meetings and training events
Association Events
Annual conferences and conventions
Chapter meetings and regional gatherings
Board retreats and planning sessions
Member appreciation events
Nonprofit Events
Fundraising galas and dinners
Charity golf tournaments
Donor cultivation events
Awareness and community events
Golf Outings
Charity tournaments
Corporate client entertainment
Association member events
Internal team outings
How We Work Together
1. Discovery
Before we plan anything, we understand:
Your event goals and success metrics
Your audience and what motivates them
Your budget and resource constraints
Your past events—what worked and what didn't
2. Strategy & Planning
We build the foundation:
Event concept and format development
Venue selection and vendor coordination
Budget development and timeline creation
Marketing plan and promotional calendar
3. Promotion & Registration
We fill the room:
Email campaigns that drive registration
Social media promotion and content
Sponsor outreach and cultivation
Registration management and tracking
4. Execution
We run the event:
Day-of coordination and logistics
Vendor and volunteer management
Problem-solving as issues arise
Sponsor fulfillment and recognition
5. Follow-Up & Measurement
We capture the value:
Attendee thank-yous and communication
Sponsor reports and documentation
Results measurement and ROI analysis
Insights for future events
Our Approach to Event Planning
Net Revenue Over Gross
Especially for fundraisers: we care about what you keep, not what you raise. Every expense gets scrutinized against the question: does this increase net revenue or just look impressive?
Marketing Built Into Planning
Promotion isn't an afterthought—it's part of the plan from day one. Registration timelines, sponsor deadlines, and communication cadences get mapped before the venue is booked.
Follow-Through Over Follow-Up
The event isn't over when people leave. Sponsor reports, attendee cultivation, insight capture, and next-year planning happen systematically—not when someone remembers.
Event Planning Guides
Event Planning Michigan Organizations Trust
We're based in Michigan, with deep roots in Chicago and Atlanta.
Our event experience spans:
Fortune 500 corporate retreats
National association conferences
Regional chapter meetings
Charity golf tournaments
Nonprofit galas and fundraisers
Michigan roots. National experience.
Events that actually work.
Dr. Lia Gaggino, MD - Pediatrician - Kalamazoo, MI
“Michael was the guru I was searching for.
He kindly respected my incredible lack of knowledge, walked me through problem solving or just solved the issue for me.”
Is Purple Wave Creative Right for Your Event?
We work best with organizations that:
Need both planning AND marketing (not just one or the other)
Want events that produce measurable outcomes
Value strategy over just logistics
Are tired of half-filled rooms and last-minute scrambles
Need a partner who's done this before
We help:
Associations planning conferences and member events
Nonprofits running fundraisers that need to net real money
Companies planning retreats, client events, and team gatherings
Organizations running golf tournaments for any purpose
Anyone who knows their event needs better marketing
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Let's have an honest conversation.
Ready for Events That Actually Fill?
Your event is an investment. Let's make sure it pays off.
Let's talk about how Purple Wave Creative can plan, promote, and execute your next corporate retreat, golf outing, conference, or fundraiser—so you can focus on the outcomes, not the logistics.