guide
LESS EVENT STRESS
Mistakes are ugly in real time. Looking back at them after you've learned and grown from them - that's beautiful.
It took me lots of trial and error to get to this point in my career. The confidence and skillset I have is unique to only me. But don't worry, I'm not about to gatekeep all my event planning secrets.
In this guide, you will find 4 tips I wish my younger self knew. Tips that would have saved me time, headaches and rework. I encourage you to grab a drink, get cozy and take all that free advice in. When you reach the end and are left wanting more - head over to my DIY Guides or Hire Us pages to learn how we help you have less event stress.
4 tips for less event stress
If I could go back in time, these are the event tips I would share. They're applicable for all event types - from intimate VIP dinners to arena-size events and everything in between.
- UTILIZE DIGITAL REGISTRATION AND INVITATION PLATFORMS
- BRIEF AND BUDGET BEFORE ANYTHING
- simplify your line of communication with vendors
- create and share a timeline checklist for the day-of
top ways my attendees
REGISTER
Paperless Post Digital Invite
For aesthetically pleasing and sustainable invitations.
Eventbrite Ticketing
For simpler events that require selling a ticket.
Splash Registration
For complex events that require marketing and printed badges.
I don't know who needs to hear this, but STOP USING YOUR TEXTS AND EXCEL to manage attendees. There are digital platforms that simplify and automate your event registration process. Depending on the platform, you can: design custom branded invites, track RSVPs, send reminders, sell tickets, use marketing templates, analyze reports, check attendees in, print badges on site and so much more. If you're heart is set on the physical invitation - you can still benefit! Just add a QR code on the RSVP card that links to your registration site. You're welcome.
Why Brief and Budget Before Anything?
01
determine event goals
Developing your "WHY" for hosting your event will provide clarity to vendors and help them bring ideas to the table. More importantly, it will create the foundation to the content and experience of an event that attracts your ideal audience.
02
prioritize budget categories
Use your event goals to allocate your budget effectively and avoid wasting money on low-impact expenses.
IE: If you host a retreat for your influencer affiliate team, we will allocate more money towards a scenic venue and professional photographer. In this scenario, we could offset costs one night with a private dining dinner at a restaurant instead of private chef.
03
build a strategy for your return on investment
Spoiler Alert: Unless you define measurable goals for your event, it's highly unlikely you'll reach them. Is your goal to build loyalty, revenue, new product sales or new customers? What's a realistic numerical value that you can achieve with this goal? Create a goal-specific strategy to implement DURING the event, budget for it and plan your event backwards from your end goal.
8
16
80
32
The Power of Single Line
Communication
Imagine it's event day and you realize the extra table and chairs you requested in a zoom call a month ago are nowhere to be found. You then revert to your invoice to show the vendor, but it doesn't reflect it there either. FML.
As much as we want this to only be the vendor's fault, it's a shared responsibility. To avoid this in the future - use email as your single line of communication. Email edits and ask the vendor to send an updated invoice within a week. Even if it was a phone call, text or video call - recap the edit via email. Four months of communication piles up and can leave requests buried.
TIMELINE CHECKLIST
Murphy's law is real. He crashes the party every damn time. The best part? It's always during the most inconvenient moments.
Your timeline checklist is your party's security guard keeping Murphy out.
Build your list no later than two weeks before the event:
- Estimate timeframes for each task so you can see where some have the chance of overlapping. This occurs the most during vendor load-in since most provide ranges instead of an exact time.
- Add your name to all tasks that are non-negotiable to you.
- Start adding names of reliable teammates to the remaining unassigned tasks.
- Book a team video call, screen share the checklist, answer their questions, and create a team thread via text.
Now go show that Murphy who's boss.
If you're into culinary experiences, sustainable styling, event backdrops, planning tips, and probably way too many photos of my Great Dane puppies. You've come to the right place.
Follow along →
Eye candy →