#Collaborative post
Three fashionable women at party – Image Courtesy of Pixabay
You can keep costs down when planning an event in numerous ways. However, it can be challenging to figure out where to cut and how to do it. Here are some tips.
Book Well in Advance for a Better Deal
Many venues will want your business, and most will go out of their way to get it. However, even with a pandemic going on, it helps if you are flexible with dates. Try not to be too specific with your date unless it means something to you. Instead, book in advance for the best deal, and ask about offers for on and off-peak seasonal dates. If you are lucky, you might be able to book a prestigious location. Such as a castle wedding venue, at a reasonable cost compared to a standard hotel or public hall. Typically the further you reserve, the better deal you can request.
Get as Much Free Help as You Can
No matter the event you are planning, you always need help. Even a child’s birthday party needs a lot of work. Cakes, gifts, invites, catering, dietary planning, entertainment and seating arrangement are just the basics. Talented planners are available to hire, but they are expensive. So unless you have a large budget to work with, ask close friends and family for some help setting things up. Most people are more than happy to assist with an event because it gets them involved. And when you all pull it off together, it’s something to be proud of.
Keep Costs Down with Buffets Instead of Meals
When planning an event, you are likely to go over budget. For instance, most weddings go over budget by an average of 12%. Most events are the same, and a considerable chunk of your budget goes on food and catering, which can be staggering for large events. This is because you are charged per person for each meal, and you pay for skilled service. However, you can save money by hiring a buffet rather than individual meals. Buffet caterers charge differently, and you can usually get a far better deal than with individual meals since they cater en masse.
Keep Travel to a Minimum
In addition to food and service, travel costs are also one of the largest when planning an event. For most patriots, people will make their own way to a location. However, if you require people to travel to distant places or use multiple forms of transport, it can be expensive. Therefore, it isn’t polite to expect guests to come to an event at their own expense. For this reason, try to keep travel to a minimum by planning an easy to reach destination with public transport links and good road access. Or you might find yourself with requests for travel expenses.
Communicate via Social Media
Everyone needs to know about your event, or nobody will come. Unfortunately, professional invitation services are expensive, and there’s no guarantee they will all make it to their intended recipient. Of course, you could personally call everyone, which is a nice touch. But that will also cost money and take up a lot of time. Fortunately, social media can be your friend. With platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, you can contact multiple people quickly and for free. Additionally, you can make groups so everyone can make arrangements and stay informed.
Summary
Planning an event can be stressful and costly. But you can keep costs down by booking in advance, enlisting volunteers and serving a buffet rather than expensive individual meals.