The Event Planning Checklist Used By Top Event Planners

Are you new to planning events and want a little help? Or are you looking for an easy process for your team to follow while planning an event? Whether you’re running an in-person, hybrid or virtual event, you’re in the right place. This blog post will help you figure out everything you need to plan and execute for your next event. And if you want to learn how to plan an event from start to finish, check out our entire guide here. Want a printable copy of this event planning checklist? Fill in the form below!

Download Your Copy of the Event Planning Checklist
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Make planning your next event a breeze with this ultimate event planning checklist. Simply fill out the form below to download your copy.

What does an event checklist include?

• Date
• Location
• Type of event
• Goals
• Budget

Of course, there’ll be some parts of your event that won’t fall exactly into these categories, but these must-haves are an important jumping off point. Which leads us to my next point…

What are the 10 steps to plan an event?

The top ten most important steps in planning any event are:

1. Set your event goals and objectives.
2. Select your event’s date.
3. Develop an event master plan.
4. Create an event budget.
5. Brand your event and begin publicity.
6. Arrange sponsorships and speakers for your event.
7. Launch ticket sales.
8. Coordinate with event suppliers (catering, equipment, etc).
9. Manage event day set up and execution.
10. Evaluate the success of your event!

To help you out every step of the way, I’ve broken down these steps into a few different sections by date, which you can see in the table of contents to the side. This will help you figure out when to do certain tasks. Of course, the earlier you can start working on your event, the better — that way you’ll be as prepared as possible when any issues come up (as they probably will).

And remember: your event can range from a small workshop to a gala fundraising event. Whatever your event may be, this checklist is the perfect place to start your event planning.

The First Steps in Your Event Checklist: 4-6 Months Ahead of Event

The further in advance you can start planning, the better — but I’ve noticed that most organizations we work with start planning their big events like galas and fundraisers about 6 months in advance.

Here’s what you need to do to get started:

• Establish your event goals and objectives. Did you want to raise money or awareness? How many attendees are you hoping to get? Establishing it up front will make it easier to gauge the success of your event. (For tips on getting more event attendees, click here.)
• Select the date. And make sure it doesn’t conflict with any other events taking place in your area, or any major holidays.
• Identify venue and negotiate details. What kind of insurance does the venue require? Can you serve alcohol? Determine the requirements before committing.
• Develop an event master plan. Ironing out every detail will help ensure you don’t miss a thing.
• Get cost estimates. Some costs you might need to consider are:
  • Room rental
  • Food and beverages
  • Equipment
  • Speaker fees
  • Travel for staff
  • Insurance
  • Start building out an event website or pages on your website that describe the event.
  • Develop an event logo and tagline.

  

  3-4 Months Ahead of Event: Starting to Ramp Up

  Now that you have some of the foundational parts of your event figured out, it’s time to start executing!

  If your event is coming up in a few months, you’ll need to start communicating with all the stakeholders outside your organization and continue coordinating with them.

  Here’s everything you need covered at this point:

  • Build out required documents for your team.
    • General to-do lists
    • Event goals, objectives, and KPIs
    • Budget docs
    • Design requirements
    • Finalize presentation/speech topics
    • Get bio information, photo
    • Travel & accommodation arrangements
    • Have contracts signed if appropriate
    • Ask speakers to start promoting and sharing it with their network
    • Determine registration fees
    • Set up and enable online registration
    • Finalize sponsor levels and amounts
    • Identify items to be underwritten and accounting tracking details
    • Determine and arrange all details re menu, A/V equipment, registration set-up, parking, signage, etc. If virtual, check registration pages, do tech check-ins with speakers, test virtual experiences, etc.
    • Review security needs/plan for the event with venue manager
    • Investigate need for any special permits, licenses, insurance, etc.
    • Assess accessibility requirements (e.g. all-gender restrooms, wheelchair accessibility, etc). If virtual, this may include live captioning, platforms that work with assistive technology, inclusive design on pages, etc.
    • Communicate accessibility requirements to staff.
    • Develop draft program
    • Create draft event script (e.g., MC, speaker introductions, thanks, closing, etc.)
    • Develop publicity pieces — e.g., newsletter articles and/or ads, radio spots, print blog posts articles for submission to other publications and/or ads, etc.
    • Request logos from corporate sponsors for online and printed materials
    • Develop and produce invitations, programs, posters, tickets, etc.
    • Develop media list & prepare News Release, Media Advisory, Backgrounder and all media kit materials (e.g., speaker info, photos, etc.)
    • Create event page on your website
    • Enable/create email event notifications
    • Create a Facebook event page
    • Develop a promo video and post on YouTube and your Facebook page
    • Register your event on a variety of online event calendars
    • Create some buzz on your blog or member forums
    • Determine VIPs and create invitation & tracking document (e.g., spreadsheet)
    • Order any desired event swag

    1-2 Months Prior To Event: Keep on Going

    You’re getting there! At this point, you’re probably spending more and more time focusing on the event and finalizing some details.

    • Send reminders to your contact list regarding registration and participation.
      • Schedule email reminders the week before, day before, and day of registration closing and event day
      • Schedule social media posts promoting registration and participation (frequency may vary depending on channel and audience)
      • Confirming travel and accommodation details
      • Request copy of speeches and/or presentations
      • Make sure they have key promotion dates in place
      • Follow up to confirm sponsorships and underwriting
      • Get any promotional materials you’ll be sharing at the event
      • Ask sponsors to share event on their promotional channels
      • Release press announcements about keynote speakers, celebrities, VIPs attending, honourees, etc.
      • Post your initial event news release on your website and circulate to all partners, affiliated organizations, etc.
      • Post more details about your event on social media
      • Release standard pricing on your event management platform.
      • Check for copy errors including spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Look out for any brand discrepancies.

      1 Week Prior to the Event: The Home Stretch

      You’re getting so close!

      By this point, the majority of the event details should be confirmed and all that’s left will be final touches, such as:

      • Have all committee chairs meet and confirm all details against Master Plan.
        • You should also ensure back-up plans are developed for any situation (e.g., back-up volunteers as VIP greeters, additional volunteers for registration or set-up, etc).
        • Assign practice sessions for anyone who has a speaking slot.
        • Ensure it includes wheelchair-accessible areas and has clear paths through the venue.
        • Depending on when your registration closes, this may not be possible until a few days in advance, but try to finish it as early as possible.

        1 Day Before the Event: Almost There

        Here are a few last-minute details you might want to remember:

        • Confirm media attendance.
        • Ensure all signage is in place
          • Both around the venue and any other areas in which it’s needed.
          • Stock with necessary items (such as blank name badges, paper, pens, tape, stapler, etc.)
          • Ensure there are enough outlets. If not, consider bringing power bars for attendees and your team.

          Event Day: Your Time to Shine

          

          The big day has arrived! Here’s what you have to remember:

          • Take a few deep breaths — you got this!
            • Schedule time for self care before event starts, whether that be going for a run, getting some quiet time or meditating
            • Instructions, directions, phone numbers, keys, extra parking permits for VIP guests, seating charts and guest lists with you
            • Also check in with catering and any sponsor teams that are attending.

            Immediately Following Event:

            Post-Event Follow-Up

            While you should conduct a thorough evaluation and update your budget, there are other post-event items you should take care of. This includes publicity, fundraising and member development opportunities that you can take advantage of with just a little pre-event planning.

            Here’s all the activities you should complete after the event is over:

            • Check in with venue. Ensure nothing important was left behind and maintain your relationship with the venue!
            • Financial status:
              • Gather all receipts and documentation, final registration data, etc.
              • Update budget
              • Sponsors
              • Volunteers
              • Speakers/presenters
              • Donors
              • The media

              In your thank-you notes, be sure to remind the recipients of the event’s success – and how they contributed (e.g., dollars raised, awareness – number of participants, etc.

              • Post-event publicity:
                • Send out an email to your subscriber base with highlights from the event
                • Make a publicity reel video to share how it went (and as a bonus, you can use it as publicity next year!)
                • Share highlights on social media
                • Update website page to reflect that it’s a past event.

                Post-Event Analysis

                While it’s still fresh in your mind, it’s time to get all the information you can from your event. That includes data from your attendees and your team. There’s a lot you can learn that can help you for your next event.

                • Conduct a post-event survey.
                  • Learn what people enjoyed about your event
                  • Identify what elements attendees didn’t like
                  • What went well?
                  • What could you do better next time?
                  • Did you hit your goals, objectives, and KPIs?

                  The Event Registration Software You Need To Try

                  Sick of processing event registrations and payments by hand? There’s software that can completely automate the process for you online.

                  Membership Management Software lets you:

                  • Instantly create online registration forms
                  • Put a calendar of events on your website
                  • Automatically update your website with upcoming events
                  • Deposit event payments directly into your account
                  • Dump event attendee data directly into your contact base
                  • Send automatic invoices and event reminders

                  Membership Management Software takes care of all event logistics AND makes running any sort of membership organization easier. It automates administrative tasks such as managing your contacts, website, finances, and email communication

                  If you’d like to see if this kind of software is right for your organization, try WildApricot, the #1 Membership Management Software on the market. The best part is that WildApricot is free to try for 30 days. Click here to start your free trial now.

                  

                  As a small non-profit, this software has made organizing and communicating with our membership SO much easier. Membership is now automatic and registering for our events is easy for our guests and much less work for us.

                  —DeeDee LaBaron, Oregon Employment and Training Association

                  Planning Your Event Sets You Up For Success

                  I hope you found this checklist helpful in getting started with event planning! Use this as a starting point to identify or assign activities to various volunteers or staff, or print this off so you can literally check off items as they are assigned or accomplished.

                  And if you’re planning a virtual event rather than a traditional in-person one, we have a downloadable Virtual Event Checklist, as well!