If you are just starting off as an event planner then it can be understandable that you get a little nervous when you have been entrusted to help organise any sort of event. There is no need to worry as with a good checklist and a lot of forward planning there is no reason why your event should go off without a hitch.

No matter what type of event you are looking to organise it pays to make a list of things that need to be done. As an example if you are simply planning a birthday party then you might want to draw up a lost of the accessories required for the party to be a success. Remember that the event is only as good as your plan.

Once you have brainstormed a list of accessories then it makes sense to put it into chronological order. This will be of benefit when it comes to buying and arranging the items. When putting together a shopping list it is vital that you decide on a budget and stick to it.

Time is always going to be of the essence and the larger the event the longer you are going to want to need to start planning before the day of the event. If anything you should aim to have all your preparations in place a couple of days before the event is due to take place just incase any unforseen circumstances dictate that you have to make some alterations to your plans.

Throughout the planning process you should maintain contact with the actual hosts of the event. By doing this you will be able to check that all your work fits in with the wishes of the client and that the event is being planned as they intended. It is for this reason that you have excellent communication skills as any breakdown in communication could lead to an incorrect decision being made in the planning process. Constant contact with the client will ensure that your plans go smoothly and that your customer is happy.

Another crucial aspect of the planning process is choosing a suitable venue. This needs to be chosen and booked well in advance of the event as the good venues will often be booked up early. Select your venue by keeping the goal of the event in mind. The seating arrangement should be meticulously planned out and consideration must be taken with regards to potential space required for any entertainment.

Make sure that there is enough space and seating for all the guests you intend to invite and that there is sufficient catering and crockery for everyone. When sending out the invitations it would be advisable to send RSVP cards so that you can predict to a reasonable accuracy the number of people who will be in attendance.

On the day of the event it is important that you enjoy yourself and that you stay relaxed. You will need to be on hand to ensure that all the day runs smoothly and that host and guests alike will be aware of the plan for the day. As a planner it will also benefit you to see what duties the host undertakes as it will help you to get some insight for planning future events.

Author Bio: Dave Matthews is writing on behalf of Owl Event Management, a leading UK event planning company.

Category: Advice
Keywords: event management, event planning, party, plan, PR, events, conference, marketing