The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Outdoor events are no longer a thing of the past. The weather is finally on everyone’s side, and planning the next event is right around the corner. As you run through the steps of organizing, you’ll more than likely have a to-do list that includes all the big tasks. After completing that list, check out the small but important details to remember when throwing an event.
Dietary Restrictions
You can bet there will be people with dietary restrictions. They may have allergies or make personal choices that prohibit them from eating certain foods. Therefore, the event needs multiple food and beverage options. For instance, think about vegetarians and vegans and have some food options for them.
If there’s food that contains some of the common allergy ingredients, notify everyone on site. Require the vendors or caterers to place signage near these meals so that guests can be fully aware of what they’re eating. This also ensures you won’t be liable if an incident occurs.
Next, your event needs sanitation stations. No one really forgets about the portable bathrooms, especially if indoor plumbing isn’t close. But a hand sanitizing station might slip your mind. Place one of these stations near the portable restrooms.
But also keep them throughout various locations in the event. You need a couple near the food station and maybe a few near the tables. There can never be too many sanitizing stations because the moment when guests need to clean their hands could happen at any time. Plus, this gesture shows how considerate you are of the guests attending.
Waste Collectors
Of course, you won’t forget to rent a dumpster, but you might underestimate how many you need for your event. You need to rent several dumpsters for special events. It makes a world of difference having them compared to just one dumpster.
You want to make the event easier for guests, volunteers, and staff. Plus, having multiple waste collectors on site is always a positive for the environment. And outdoor events generate lots of waste, especially if the occasion is a festival or block party.
Wi-Fi Accessibility
Yes, everyone is outside. But Wi-Fi is beneficial in all settings. For example, the location of your event might not be the best spot for reception. If that’s the case, you want to give everyone a chance to access the internet and any other apps they may need while attending.
Furthermore, having free Wi-Fi at the event gives everyone a chance to lower the data rates on their phone bills. This might be one of the most considerate things you can provide them. You may not hear people saying thank you, but they’ll definitely appreciate this.
