Planning an event or thinking about planning one? We've got you! Check out our checklist to help make your event a great success.
Event Checklist
GROCERIES – TURKEY
Salt and ground pepper
Ginger
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Vanilla extract
Herbs
White sugar
Brown sugar
Corn syrup
Flour
Pecan halves
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Canned pumpkin
Canned dark cherries
Raisins
Dried apricots
Nuts
Vegetable oil
Cider vinegar
Steak sauce
Mustard
Salad dressing
Cranberry sauce
Gravy mix
Beef or chicken stock
Stuffing mix
Crackers
Chips
Soda
Seltzer water
Coffee
Tea
BAKERY
Dinner rolls
Bread
Pie
Cake
Cookies
PRODUCE
Onions
Garlic
Salad greens
Mushrooms
Carrots
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Green beans
Apples
Navel oranges
Cranberries
Lemons and limes
Fresh parsley
Fresh thyme
Crudités platter
Dip
REFRIGERATED/FROZEN
Milk
Butter or margarine
Eggs
Orange juice
Apple cider
Refrigerated pie crust
Whipped topping
Pie crust
Ice cream
Cream
Egg nog
Cheese
BEER AND WINE
Cooking wine or dry sherry
Red wine
White wine
Beer
PAPER AND CLEANING SUPPLIES
Dishwashing liquid
Garbage bags
Plastic wrap
Aluminum foil
Garbage can for recyclables
Plenty of containers for leftovers
Disposable containers for guests
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Napkins
Tissues
Guest hand towels
Hand soap
PARTY SUPPLIES
Extra ice cubes
Serving utensils
Carving knives
Coolers to keep beverages cold (this will save refrigerator space)
Extra tables and chairs
Candles
Floral centerpieces
Place cards
Holiday music
FUN
Camera and film
Colored pencils and crayons
Coloring books
Craft supplies
Holiday stickers
Playing cards
Board games
Football
Holiday videos
Tips for Planning an Event
Planning an event can have you pulling your hair out! To try to avoid any unnecessary stress, take a look at our event planning tips.
Start planning in advance. If you plan for an event last-minute, it'll leave you rushing to get everything done. You'll end up stressed, cutting corners, and exhausted by the time the actual event comes. Give yourself adequate time to figure out how you want the event to go, who you want to come, and what supplies you'll need.
Ask everyone for an RSVP. Often, a successful event is partially reliant on you knowing how many people are coming. This is especially true if you're hiring a caterer or similar for your event. Make sure you ask for an RSVP from everyone you invite. If you haven't received an RSVP after a couple of weeks, reach out to those people and inquire about whether they're coming. If they don't respond, make sure you have the right contact information. If so, assume they aren't coming.
Set a budget. Planning an event can be expensive. It's important to take care of your wallet while planning any event. Set a budget for yourself that allows you to get everything you need, but not much more. If you find that an event is putting too much pressure on your wallet, consider asking for financial help from others or postponing the event until you have more money.
Plan a loose itinerary. If you have games or other activities planned for your event, structure them into an itinerary. Don't be too strict about it, but have a plan for what times each activity will start. Begin your itinerary with a rough estimation of when food will be served, and go from there.
If your event involves outdoor activities, have back-ups. Sometimes, the weather doesn't like to cooperate with the events we plan. If your event involves outdoor activities, have back-up activities that you and your guests can do if the weather isn't in your favor. If your entire event is outdoors, consider including a rain check date in the invitation, or an alternative location that the event will be hosted at in the event of bad weather.