Planning a party or an event can be a lot of fun. But it can also be a stressful undertaking.

Before you start sending off invitations and ordering decorations, it’s important to create an event planning checklist. An event planning checklist will ensure you remember to take care of all of the details for the big day, and it’ll ensure your event goes off without a hitch.

Check out this event planning checklist to learn how to throw a party.

Choose the Date and Venue

Before you start brainstorming themes and food options, you need to choose a date and venue for your event. These details need to be taken care of early, as venues tend to fill up quickly. Plus, people will need plenty of time to RSVP to your event.

This will also give you plenty of time to communicate with your guests about the details of your event and keep them in the loop about what to bring, wear, etc. You may want to send out a questionnaire to figure out what date works best for the majority of your guests.

If the date is flexible, you can shop for the venue first. While going out to venues can be a hassle, we recommend visiting each one in person so you can get a feel for the space.

Send Out Invitations

Once you have the venue booked, it’s time to send out invitations to your guests. You can send out e-vites if you’d like to save some money and some paper.

In the invite, make sure you request that people RSVP yes or no to the event so you can get a headcount. This will make it easier for you to order food and drinks and set up seating areas. It’s a good idea to choose a date that people need to RSVP by. Otherwise, people will likely keep putting it off.

The invite should also include all important details about your event. This may include the venue location, the start time, the theme, and the dress code. You should also include whether or not transportation will be provided, and include any necessary info about parking.

Arrange the Food and Drinks

Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, anniversary party, or birthday party, no event is complete without food and drinks. While a lot of people choose to have a preset menu for their event, hosting a buffet is also a great idea.

This way, your guests can pick and choose when and what they want to eat. In terms of drinks, make sure you let your guests know whether or not alcohol will be served at the event. If you decide to serve alcohol, keep in mind that this can really drive up the price.

To keep the cost reasonable, you may want to consider offering beer and wine for free and charge for other beverages. If you want to make the drinking a bit more fun, consider putting together wine or bourbon tastings for your event.

Event Planning Checklist: Time to Throw a Party!

Now that you’ve read this event planning checklist, it’s time to throw a party! With this checklist in hand, your party should go off without a hitch.

You can check back in with our blog for more party planning tips!