| Booking or reserving
For most events, the site should be booked at least four months to a year in advance. Because the site will affect other aspects of your event, you need to be aware of all their policies.
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| Catering
Arranging the catering can be one of the most challenging parts of event planning. The best way to begin is by identifying your budget, and how many guests you expect.
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| Corporate event planning
Due to the size and complexity of most corporate events, you'll require the assistance of caterers and other professionals to pull them off, and may want to hire an event planner to oversee the entire process.
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| Entertainment
The most important factor in choosing entertainment is to match it with your audience, and your event. A clown wouldn't seem right at a formal dinner; a symphony orchestra would be out of place at a barbeque.
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| How much space will I need?
In calculating the space required, you'll need to consider the number of guests, the type of event, method of seating, and what activities are planned.
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| How to estimate costs
The best advice when developing a budget is to be conservative: assume that unexpected expenses will arise, and allow an extra 20% or so to cover them.
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| Music
Other than the site itself, music can be one of the most important elements of your event. If you're hosting a dance, then needless to say, a good band or DJ is essential.
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| Professional lighting and sound
While professional lighting and sound can improve the quality of any event, for some activities, they're absolutely essential. Live music, plays, comedians, magic acts, and other performers require top-notch lighting and sound, to properly showcase their talents.
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| Reunions
Reunions are similar to other types of event planning: you'll need invitations, a location, refreshments, entertainment, and possibly lodging. The amount of work involved depends on what kind of reunion you're planning: is this a small family get-together, a large-scale reunion with several branches of the family, or a high school class reunion? How many people are invited? Do they have to travel from far away? These are all important considerations.
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| Themed parties and events
A well-executed theme turns an ordinary gathering into an exciting event. Depending on the subject matter, themes can be equally successful for elegant parties or casual outdoor get-togethers.
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