With proper planning and thinking, arranging a business event may be simple and uncomplicated. While you may feel overwhelmed, dividing your procedure into steps will allow you to handle your event one task at a time.
Whether it’s thinking about catering or seating, it’s not easy to plan a corporate event all by yourself, especially if it’s your first time doing so. To help get you started, here are a few tips for planning an event for your company.
Understand the Specifics
Before you can start preparing, you must first understand the finer points. What time of day is it? What is the date? How many people are there? What is the event?
Once you have all of these pieces, you may begin to piece together the rest. You can’t organise an event unless you know the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why!
Establish a Budget
Ask the higher-ups how much they want to spend, or determine for yourself, if it’s your company, how much you’re willing to pay. If your budget is $15,000, strive to spend around $10,000 to account for any unforeseen expenses.
If you attempt to stay within your budget, you risk going over if anything unexpected occurs. Something is bound to come up at any event – a guest list increase, a food request, you name it. Make a cash reserve so you may rest comfortably.
Choose a Theme
Is it cocktails and nibbles? A formal sitting? What about a buffet? What about some light refreshments? You must first define your goal before looking for a venue and a caterer. The more you know, the better your caterer and vendor can assist you in planning.
You’ll also need to know what kind of equipment, tables, and chairs you’ll need, which may vary depending on the type of event you’re having.
Find a Location
Finding a location can be challenging because navigating the fees, bids, and what’s included necessitates numerous meetings and negotiating. Allow plenty of time for this section. Bring your questions: How many people will work the event? Are you allowed to bring your own caterer? If not, could you meet with the caterer? How late are you permitted to remain? Are any special event permissions required? Are a table, chairs, and other equipment included?
Make sure your inquiries are detailed, and don’t worry about bothering them; they’re used to having to answer everything and anything.
Locate a Caterer
Finding a caterer can be difficult, but this phase also includes taste testing and deciding what your guests will eat. Some think that, aside from the venue, the most significant aspect is the cuisine, so choose wisely.
You can select a caterer based on the subject of your event. Cocktails require appetisers and hors d’oeuvres. But do you want platters on the table or servants carrying trays around? Is your dinner served at a table or served buffet-style? If you prefer light refreshments, do you want sandwiches and salads or a hot meal?
A buffet format is usually the best option for conferences. The meal is set up at the start of the event so that attendees can graze the tables and bring their food to their seats. Empty plates will be collected by waiters and waitresses. It’s a simple, fail-safe strategy for large gatherings!