Whether you’re planning a birthday party for 50 teenagers, a gala wedding for 300 guests, or an intimate 10th-anniversary dinner for family and close friends, you need to plan for a successful party or event. Your plan should include five key steps, which we go into detail on below.

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Step 1: Budgeting

Plan your budget and make sure to stick to it. Having a realistic view of what your planned party will cost and staying within your budget is important. Plan what you’ll splurge on and where you can save money. Are you a crafter or a DIY enthusiast? If so, making the memory boards, party favors, and invitations, etc., will save you money and allow you to splurge on a better space or something like a cappuccino cart during dessert.

If you’re planning a party for teenagers, party bus rental is something to consider including in your budget. If you’re planning a lavish sit-down dinner, this allows you to save on other costs i.e., catering, so you can really put on a great dinner. Just make sure you don’t allow your budget to go over five percent of your original plan. If this starts to happen, go back to your vision of your ideal party and make any necessary adjustments.

Step 2: Where and When

One of the more discouraging but also avoidable dilemmas is a failure to check in advance with key friends and family members about the date. It’s possible to ruin a graduation party by not checking that one of your son’s best friends is having his own graduation party.

Are you looking to have an outdoor event? An intense summer sum or a pouring of rain can’t dampen an otherwise perfect outdoor party if you’ve failed to reserve a tent far enough in advance. You can avoid such disappointments, however, by being flexible with location, venue, and date., and speaking to family and friends at least two months in advance (if possible, allow 8-12 months if you’re planning a wedding), and speaking to multiple venues.