Planning an event on a tight timescale is inevitably a stressful task – but it’s one that doesn’t have to be on your plate.

The further ahead that you can plan for your event, the less stress it will be in the time immediately before it takes place. We’ve got three top tips to help you get ahead of the game up to a year in advance.

Create an ideal timeline

Some annual events you can start planning as soon as the previous one is over. With your head in the right space, you’ll be able to think clearly about what went well and what could be improved on. A year ahead of time is a great time to start creating a timeline for your event. When would you like your venue secured? How far ahead of time do you need to sort out catering? When would you like to send out invitations? The sooner you have these dates nailed down, the more warning you have and the more likely you are to be able to meet them.

Book your venue

Venues can book up an insanely long way in advance and be a major source of stress for an event planner. The sooner you’ve got your venue booked, the better, so why not try to secure this at least six months ahead of a major event, or three months before a smaller event?

Once your venue is sorted, you can start to think about the details – which caterers are pragmatic choices? What sort of decor options might work? Are there any logistical problems like parking which need to be taken into account?

Think about entertainment ideas

You’ve probably got a few entertainment ideas in the pipeline by about six months before your event – you can think about the type of entertainment that might fit the occasion and the venue. Celebrities have busy schedules, so if you’re set on a particular after dinner speaker, comedian or artist it’s a good idea to look into hiring them as far ahead of time as possible.

There’s nothing to be lost by being prepared, and having your entertainment sorted will take a real weight off your shoulders, letting you focus on the finer details.

Thinking about things ahead of time

Design your timeline far ahead of time and with lots of time built in for when things don’t quite go to plan, and you’ll find planning even the largest and most complex events will start to seem manageable. Start with your timeline, venue and entertainment, and you’ll be well on the way to a successful event.

Where to Hire a Celebrity

When it comes to entertainment options, MN2S is the top talent agency for speakers, artists and more. If you’re looking for some unique entertainment to help make your event a success, get in touch today.

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