I'm not a professional event planner. However, I do have a few successful events under my belt. I can tell you that anyone with a vision, a little organization, and some free time can plan an event. All the steps that I will explain doesn't have to necessarily be in order but I do recommend you do so to stay organized, ensure each step is completed, and to minimize mental chaos. Depending on the date and the type of event you are planning, some events may require a longer planning period. Events such as weddings, vowel renewals, baby showers, etc., may require a lot more time. No specific skills are required to plan an event. You will need a notebook/checklist to stay organized, funds of course as well as a budget if you have one, and access to the internet and/or a phone to make reservations, call caters, to get confirmation of attendance from guests, etc. I would consider myself to be somewhat of an expert event planner so I would like to show you how plan a successful event as well! .
First things first, you should sort out all of the major details about your event. Pick a date. When picking your date, you want to set it far enough into the future to give yourself time to prepare, time to spread the word, and time to allow people to make arrangements to attend your event. Timing is everything. Now, pick a theme. Sometimes your theme and date might go hand in hand, you might throw a Valentine's Day party on Valentine's Day or a Christmas party on Christmas. Essentially your theme is your vision and that is what most of your smaller details will center around. If this is not the case, simply pick a date that best works for you and anyone involved in the planning process. Lastly, pick a venue. Your venue or location, should reflect the amount of people you expect to attend the event and also the type of event you are having. You might throw a baby shower at the Grandparent's house or Wedding might be at a Church.
