A ribbon cutting ceremony is intended to mark the start of an event or the opening of a new business or location. It's such an exciting occasion! Here at CeremonialSupplies.com we love celebrations and enjoy supporting you in the establishment of your venture with items such as ribbons, banners, gifts, oversized scissors and bows. Even if your audience is a small group of community members, it's still as important as if the entire world were watching. Don't worry, we offer a guide to everything you will need and everything you will need to know!
While often seen as a formality, a ribbon cutting ceremony is a milestone for a business or organization and should be treated with enthusiasm and pride. This requires systematic planning and the right materials. Ribbon cutting ceremonies are traditionally held approximately 12 months after the relocation, startup or beginning of a company/organization. Communication with your local government and/or chamber of commerce to ensure all regulations are followed and all permits are obtained is highly recommended. This also serves the purpose of putting your ribbon cutting ceremony on the map. Inviting members of the local government and other officials the event not only adds prestige, but opens the door to future business relationships and other networks. Being on good standing with the community and its officials is significant to the success of your business or new location.
Planning your Ceremonial Slice
As for the event itself, be sure to send out invitations for the ribbon cutting ceremony no later than three weeks ahead of time. These invitations should include all key information (date, time, place, etc.). If planning a for a luncheon, refreshments or hor d'oeuvre and cocktail hour, be sure to state this on the invitations. It is important to for your guests to feel comfortable and prepared for the type of ribbon cutting ceremony they are attending. This is also why including any attire requirements on the invitation is wise. For example, business casual, black tie, no shorts, etc. are a way to let the attendees know what type of tone you wish to set with your event. Consider that media, press or your own hired photographer will be in attendance and dress to impress!
Obtaining the materials and resources for your ribbon cutting event a few months in advance is recommended. Ceremonialsupplies.com ships all over the world so it's important to consider the shipping services available in your country. The time frame for shipping within the US is according to the service provider and the method chosen by the customer. Give yourself a large span of time to allow for any changes or adjustments that can be managed without cutting it too close to the actual date. Researching and early booking of venue and catering will be helpful for effective price-comparison as well as to properly choose the right details of the ribbon cutting event. You may choose to have a Master of Ceremonies for the event to keep the itinerary on track. Being that the actual ceremony is kept to approximately one-half hour, things will move quickly and a Master of Ceremonies can help to stay organized and keep guests’ attention.
A Big Day For Big Scissors
Once your day arrives, you still have work to do! Arriving at the location early to ensure all materials and staff are present and properly set up for the event avoids confusion during the event itself. The ribbon cutting ceremony should allow time for attendees to arrive, mingle and be introduced to other guests. This part is usually scheduled for 30 minutes during which the hosts mingle, acknowledge and shake hands to thank guests for coming, answer questions, and network. This is also a great time for photographs to be taken around the room. Try to keep this part under 30 minutes and ask the MC or whomever is leading, to announce the ribbon cutting with a 5 minute lapse. It is customary during a ribbon cutting ceremony to give a short speech recognizing and thanking those involved, introducing board members and key personnel and, of course, everyone for attending this special milestone for your company.
Time for cutting the ribbon! For this occasion, customizable ceremonial ribbons and oversized scissors are a must. Depending on the size of the organization, multiple pairs of scissors and a longer spool of ribbon are available and best when dealing with a larger crowd or location. One person to cut the ribbon, multiple people cutting multiple times or a team working together to cut once- there is no wrong way to go about the actual cutting of the ribbon. Just do not forget to declare the location open or event begun once your complete the cut!
After the official cut, guests will have a chance to eat, talk and get to know you and our company. It is suggested to keep this concluding part of the ribbon cutting ceremony organic and low key. Continue to get to know your guests- introduce yourself and shake hands, be sure to let them know how appreciated their support is on your big day. Unlike grand openings, ribbon cutting ceremonies are often only a couple hours long at most and have an exact start and end time. People will start wrapping up their conversations and leaving at the end so it is important to thank them all individually for attending before they do. Be sure to leave your guests with a great impression of your ribbon cutting ceremony, your company, and most importantly- you! Often it is suggested to send a follow up note to certain guests the following week after your ribbon cutting to thank them once again for their support. Including a business card, a redeemable token of appreciate for your company or a photograph from the event is nice to include with this note. Photographs are a great way to preserve memories for future enjoyment. We offer several different display cases and plaques- all can be customized for you.
Overall, this is a momentous occasion that will go down in the history of your business or organization. Setting the right tone early is significant and CeremonialSupplies.com can help you do just that. We offer guidance, materials and all you will need to ensure a successful ribbon cutting ceremony. In a world where first impressions are everything, we love helping your business make a good one!