Tips for Planning Your Event

marketing events planning

First Steps

Consider why you are having the event and what you hope to achieve.
What is the goal of your event: to honor someone, present information, raise funds?
What is your budget?
Who is your audience?
What is the appropriate size of the guest list?
Should the group be small or large? Who must be invited according to protocol?
What is the appropriate venue: indoors or outdoors, on- or off-campus, lecture hall, dining room?
What is the appropriate time of day: breakfast, mid-morning, cocktail hour?
What message do you want attendees to receive?
How elaborate will the event be?
Will guests need formal attire?
Will admission tickets be needed? If so, assigned seating or general admission?
Will the event conflict with or be held in conjunction with other campus or unit events?

Read through our Event Planning Checklist for a step-by-step countdown to your event.

Determine key players, such as potential speakers, honorees, hosts, and university, campus, or government dignitaries.
Contact all key players to determine as many potential dates and times for your event as possible.
Be mindful of religious holidays and other university and community events that may draw the same audience.

Will you need to decorate the room with plants or flowers, stage backdrop or lighting?
Are keys needed, or will the room be unlocked?

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