Social events come in all shapes and sizes, so we wanted to provide you with the basic necessities to plan a successful social event that you can tailor and custom to your needs specifically. Whether your social event planning entails a birthday party event, a blind date mixer, a charity event or a bridal shower, we have you covered. If you find yourself asking what a social event is, you came to the right place. A social event is a gathering of people usually in relation to mingling with one another in the form of entertainment.

How to Organize a Social Event?

1. Set a Budget

The first thing you will want to do is set a budget. We always recommend an overall budget that you would like to stick within, and then breaking that budget down into smaller categories to make it more manageable and trackable. This will ensure you don’t overspend and if you do, you can better plan for your next event for the category that needed higher spend investment. 

2. Choose a Venue

Next, you will want to choose an event space rental now that you have set your budget. When it comes to venues for social events, you will want to have an idea of how big or small your event will be. You may be looking for small event venues for a more intimate setting, or you may be looking for a ballroom or banquet hall type of space for a large event. Make sure the venue is up to your standards when it comes to aesthetics so you can see your event come to life within the space.

3. Decide on Décor

Now that you have chosen a venue, you will want to decide on the décor and theme of your event. One of the best benefits of social events is making them your own by creating a unique theme and aesthetic for your event that makes it that much more fun for guests. Using the venue to bring your décor to life is a great way to make sure your event looks seamless and comes together in a breath-taking way.

4. Select Your Guest List

You will now want to select the guest list and decide who is coming to your event. It is important to know who your audience is when it comes to demographics and psychographics so you can create an event that is tailored to your guest specifically. You will want to make sure your invitations are sent out well in advance so that guests can prepare and add the event to their calendars.

5. Create Food and Drink Menus

One thing any event cannot go without is food and drinks. Have some fun with creating the menus and have your options revolve around the theme of your event. Do you want to have a bartender who creates craft cocktails or pre-made drinks that guests help themselves to? Do you want to do hors d’oeuvres and appetizers or a buffet style table for food? These are the details you will want to decide on based on the event you’re hosting.

6. Book Entertainment

You will also want to make sure you plan out the entertainment for the evening. Will you have a live band or DJ that performs? Will you have games and activities planned throughout the night for guests to partake in? Will you have speeches or presentations throughout the night? All of these require thought out details to make sure your event is a success.

7. Form a Master Plan Document

Finally, you will want to form a masterplan document to keep all your details organized and in one place. This makes it easy for anyone on your team to refer to one document for answers they are seeking. This document will also be a great tool and resource for future event planning so you can go back and refer to it for what went well and what needs to be revisited.

At Piovra Group, we have endless options for you to choose from when it comes to venues in Los Angeles and Orange County. We are more than happy to help you plan any social event, and with a big portfolio to pull from, we can ensure any event we help you plan will be a success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q: What type of details should go into the masterplan?
A: We like to think of the masterplan as a blueprint, so you will want to include any pertinent information that would be helpful for you and your team when it comes to planning and executing the event.

Q: If I need a smaller venue, but I have a certain aesthetic in mind, can you help me find what I’m looking for?
A: Of course! With our extensive network of venues, we can definitely find a smaller venue that still has a great vibe and aesthetic to match what you’re looking for.

Q: What kind of categories should I break my budget down into?
A: We recommend buckets such as the venue, décor, food and drinks, entertainment and so forth so it makes it more manageable, and easier to plan and revisit in the future.