How to Plan Banquets
Planning a banquet, whether large or small, requires you to cover quite a few bases. While it may seem overwhelming, proper planning will ensure that your event goes smoothly. The best way to start is to make a list of questions you have about the event and get answers to them. Once you have answers, begin working on the logistics of the banquet. Use this guide to help you deal with the most important parts of banquet planning in order to plan a successful event.
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Instructions
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Solidify a theme for your banquet celebration. Is it a wedding, an anniversary celebration, an organizational dinner or some type of awards ceremony? This will help you determine how many people will be in attendance and the type of hall to rent.
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Set a budget. Allot money for entertainment, food, facility rental fees and decorations.
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Prepare a prospective guest list or estimate how many people will be in attendance. This number determines how large a facility is necessary, and how much food you will need.
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Brainstorm a list of possible dates for the banquet. Settle on a date that won't conflict with holidays or other previous engagements of key persons attending the banquet.
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Decide on the banquet's location, which is an important issue. Your guests will not want to travel more than a certain distance to attend the festivities.
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Set a ticket price, if applicable. Will your banquet be free or is there an admission price? If your banquet requires attendees to purchase tickets, set a reasonable price per ticket that will cover some of the costs associated with food, drink and entertainment.
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Decide on dining arrangements. Most rental hall facilities have their own in-house or contracted caterers who are available upon request or are required to be used when renting the facility. Make sure you understand these rules. If you have a choice regarding who provides the food, find a caterer who can feed your entire guest list.
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Choose a menu. Banquets typically offer more than one dinner choice. If you are selecting a meat dish, be sure to select a fish or vegetarian dish, as well, for non-meat eaters.
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Set up an agenda or schedule for your banquet. Leave time for socializing, speeches, dining, entertainment and any other important activities.
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Plan the seating for guests. Will there be arranged seating or will guests be able to pick and choose their table? Set aside a special area for guests of honor.
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Plan the decorations accordingly. Don't overlook small details, such as centerpieces, balloons, chair covers and tablecloths, as these items play a role in the decor and overall theme of your banquet.
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Decide who will supply the entertainment. Most banquets involve some sort of music, whether a live band or recordings, in order to create the mood and provide a time for guests to dance. Be sure to cover all of bases when it comes to keeping your guests entertained.
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Put together an advertising plan. Decide if the banquet will be open to the public or if it will include only a select group of people. Your advertising should include drafting invitations, selling tickets, and creating fliers and mailers to notify potential attendees of the event.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit www.law.washington.edu
