When hosting or organizing an event, be it a small, intimate gathering or a huge one, lots of factors are taken into consideration. Personally, I like making a small checklist of things that I would need, depending on the purpose of the event. But regardless of the purpose or theme of the event, here are the essentials when planning.

Date and Location
Of course, this is the first thing that needs to be planned. The event should be scheduled in advance to give ample time for people to fix their calendar. The location should also be easily accessible to everyone attending and should conveniently fit the number of people attending. If the location is not that accessible, you should be able to provide clear instructions on how to get to the venue and give suggestions for transportation.

Theme
Every party or event should have a theme. Themes make an event look well thought out and organized. Think of one that suits the purpose of the event. And make sure that all other particulars, such as decorations, invitations, food, and freebies (if any), will be cohesive with the theme.

Budget
Set an amount that you are willing to spend for an event, while taking note of everything that you will need. If it's a fund-raising benefit event, make sure that what you will spend will be a lot less than the funds that you will be raising. If it's a party, the budget will be entirely up to you, but of course, less cost is always better. For example, use recyclable materials to make DIY decor. This is definitely cheaper than buying decorations. Another example is for viewing parties or game night, it's much more fun if the food is potluck, meaning everyone attending will bring food and drinks to be shared. This will help you save on budget while getting to enjoy a variety of dishes brought by guests.

Invitations
This is another important part of planning a party or an event. Invitations serve as the potential guests' first impressions of the event. The invitations should be catchy enough to tickle the interest of the invitees. They should be detailed but not too wordy so the invitees will definitely read them.

Paperless Post helps you create online and paper stationery that reflects your individual aesthetic. They are easily customizable to fit any theme or color scheme. Be it for a kiddie birthday party, wedding, baby shower, cocktail party, game night - you name it! You can pick from hundreds of different designs, or you can upload your own. And the best thing about them is that since they're online stationery, you don't need to buy actual materials. Just create your invitations with a few clicks here and there and voila!

Apart from invitations, you can also create greeting cards, thank-you notes, and other stationery using Paperless Post. It's very easy. Just sign up first on their website here and start creating! Have fun party-planning!

* This post is created and published in cooperation with Paperless Post.
** All images in this blog post are owned by Paperless Post.