About The Event Planning Guide

Gatherings are about connecting people. Maybe there’s something meaningful to celebrate or acknowledge. Or something to savor. Whatever it is, the way you set the space for individuals to connect can make all the difference.

If you’re going to make a salad nice, don’t toss it — build it.

In the same way, if you’re going to put together an event, don’t throw it — build it. Layer intentionally. Know how the elements interact. After you try it once, you’ll probably never “throw” a party in the same way again.

If you’ve already purchased The Event Planning Guide, you can access its sections here.

Sample

Check out our free sample: a section about working with a chef and choosing a menu.

Get a taste of our style for event logistics.

Free-firty-free

The Full Event Planning Guide

Access all our event guide and any additions we make. You can come back to refer to it for any future events.

$50, one-time fee

If the price goes up later as we continue to add helpful content, you’ll still only pay this one-time fee.

Mise en place for public relations dinner party at Cookhouse - an overhead shot of bowls filled with lemons, oranges, avocados, garlic cloves in oil, nuts and seeds, and flake salt, with a vase of cherry blossoms mixed with pink and yellow flowers.

What’s Included

Table of Contents

Basic Needs

  • Physiological Needs

    • Restrooms

    • Airflow

    • Heating & Cooling

    • Food and Water

    • Light

    • Property and Personhood Security

  • Safety

    • HVAC

    • Fire

    • Space

    • Exits

    • Accessibility

    • Security

    • Transportation and Parking

    • Food Temperature

    • First Aid Kits

    • Broken Items

    • Bathrooms

    • Alcohol

    • Pets and Children

    • Insurance

Experience

  • Event Goals

    • Getting Clear on Your Event Goal

    • Celebrating People

  • Being Present

    • Planning to Enjoy the Event

    • Planning the Event with Others

    • Notes About Photo and Video

  • Caring for Yourself and Your Guests

    • Celebrating with a Small Group

    • Caring for Your Senses

    • Keeping Everyone Safe and Healthy

    • Planning for Success

    • Standing Confident in Your Choices

    • Embracing Imperfection

    • Supporting Your Guests

    • Enjoying the Hosting Process

Venue

  • Gathering RSVPs

  • Privacy

  • Furniture and Space Usage

  • Capacity

  • Light

  • Storage/Auxiliary Room(s)

  • Accessibility Check

  • Technology

  • Venue Services

  • Budget

  • Time

Entertainment

  • Music

  • Classes

  • Performers

  • Expert-Led Tastings

Food and Beverages

  • Meal format

    • Seated, coursed, full meal

    • Seated, family-style, full meal

    • Passed bites or small plates

    • Sustainability notes

  • Chefs

    • Price range

    • Other Fees

    • Style

    • Chef Communications

  • Other Options

    • Drop-off Catering or Take Out

    • DIY

    • Cooking Class

  • Beverages

    • Practicalities

    • Alcohol

  • The Sweet Course

    • Coffee and Tea

    • Dessert

Decor

  • Florals

    • Reaching out to Florists

    • Style Types

    • Sustainability Notes

  • Rentals

    • Linens

    • Furniture

    • Tableware

    • Silverware

    • Sustainability Notes

    • Coffee Service

    • General Rentals Planning

Additional Vendors

  • Event Staffing

  • Valets

  • Sommeliers

  • Photography and Videography

Event Examples

  • Themed Dinner

  • Meeting, Interactive Cooking, and Dinner

  • Cooking Class and Dinner

  • All-Day Meeting

  • Birthday Dinner

Downloads

  • Form Letters

    • Email to Prospective Chef

    • Email to Prospective Florist

    • Email to Prospective Photographer/Videographer

  • Worksheets

    • Event Scenarios

    • Getting Clear on Your Event Intention

  • Spreadsheets

    • Event Toolkit

    • Cost Estimate

    • Venue Considerations

    • Choosing a Venue

    • Choosing a Chef

    • Rentals and Packing List

    • Clean Up and Close

    • Planning Timeline

Get unlimited access to our guides.

We commit 1% of revenue to carbon removal

Events are energy-intensive. To do something out of the ordinary routine requires processes that are usually inefficient. And, because they are infrequent, we often don’t think about the impact. Even if every person were to throw an event only once a year, and with relative efficiency, that adds up to a lot more waste than the usual for food production, material use, and transportation emissions. A fraction of every purchase from Cookhouse helps new carbon removal technologies scale.

Of course, we also offer pragmatic tips for a more sustainable event; we’ve had plenty of practice, as this was written into our mission statement from the start.