Establish a timeline… set your goals… make a plan!
Planning an event is a large task, and we know that you’ll want everything to be perfect! The key to making your event one to remember… is organisation!
Before you start planning, you need to establish a timeline. You can therefore make sure that the goals you set are realistic and can be achieved in the timescale. When setting your goals you need to think about the purpose behind the event, how you want your guests to feel whilst they’re there, and most importantly, the overall outcome!
When putting your plan together there are a few things that you need to consider:
Budget
Once you have a timeline in mind you can now decide on your budget. This needs to be realistic. Throughout your event plan, always keep in the back of your mind if it’s something that you can save on? Or something you want to spend on?
Theme & Décor
Now that you have chosen your budget, you can now look into a theme. This is an important step. The theme you chose will help determine the venue, food, décor and overall atmosphere of the event. You want everything to fit together… unless a miss match style is what your going for! Take a look at our pinterest boards for some theme inspiration here –
Venue
Choose a venue which goes with your theme and is also within your budget. Something that you also need to bear in mind when choosing a venue, is the number of guests you plan to invite and the activities you will organise. Here at the Haybarn we offer exclusive hire of our rustic barn with large outdoor spaces to create outdoor festival weddings, host parties or private or business events!
The Grounds:
Our grounds and gardens extend to over 10 acres, and are bordered by a brook with mature trees including several centennial Oak & Ash trees. The Festival wedding and event field ideal for erecting a tipi, providing ample space to design and layout your festival wedding or event just the way you want.
The Barn:
The wedding barn is a rustic timber barn adjacent to the wedding field with fantastic views with large panoramic by-fold doors. Your guests will left with unforgettable memories for years to come.
People / guest list
When you’ve decided on a venue you can start to put together a guestlist and send out invitations. Your invitations should include the date and time, dress code, and party theme. In addition to paper invitations, you could also create a special event page on social media, such as Facebook.
Food
Did someone say food?! Food and drink can be one of the most important parts of an event, and making sure that you cater for everyone can be a daunting thought. If DIY food and drink isn’t at the top of your list, we have a list of carefully selected caters who can also customise your culinary needs to suit your ideas and any budget.
Vegan, Vegetarian etc.. How about some street food? Why not have Pizzas, Hog roasts, BBQs and much more… If you prefer a formal sit down meal with service, our caterer will do it too!
Entertainment
DJs, bands and photo booths are all popular options for entertainment. Be sure to research Pinterest, blogs and magazines for decoration and party ideas that tie in with your theme.
Above we have gone through the basic steps of planning an event. However every event is different. We therefore recommend that you do your research and put together your own personal event planning checklist!
Top Tips
Party planning is a long process and some things can naturally be missed along the way. Double-check your list and complete any small tasks that might be left over.
Think about an event you attended recently. What do you think their goals were? Did the outcome match those goals?
Now start to think about your own goals. What’s the best way for you to achieve them?
If you want the Haybarn to be a part of your special event, contact us today and we can help you create a day to remember!
