Before the discovery of the balloon, it was thought that the only essentials for a party were friendly guests and a CD of whale screams. Get ready for a modern get-together with today's Groupon to Pretty Perfect Events, valid in either San Francisco or the East Bay.

• For $750, you get a special-event-coordination package (a $1,500 value).
• For $999, you get a wedding-coordination package (a $2,000 value).

Helmed by skilled event planner Erica Ota, Pretty Perfect Events helps impending aisle walkers and party hostesses organize and design the wedding, anniversary, birthday party, or special event of their dreams. Overwhelmed party throwers can enlist their help by choosing the day-of-coordination package, which includes an initial consultation, a site walk-through, a details meeting to gather information and review plans, vendor confirmations, day-of assistant, and unlimited communication via phone, email, fax, and smoke signal. On the day of the event, a multitasking event planner will provide eight hours of coverage, managing tasks such as setup and takedown, troubleshooting, and last minute details, while providing general assistance and direction.

The day-of-coordination wedding package similarly preps brides and grooms with an initial consultation, a site walk-through, and a details meeting to gather information and review plans, timelines, and layout diagrams. The wedding-coordination package further ensures hitch-free hitching with two hours of rehearsal coverage and direction, eight hours of coverage on the day of the wedding, a day-of assistant, unlimited electronic communication, and a complimentary wedding-survival kit to be used in the event that Dustin Hoffman crashes your nuptials. Groupon holders for both packages will also receive a complimentary bottle of champagne.