By the time summer rolls around and the sun starts to peak through the clouds, people tend to get excited about the possibility of enjoying the outdoors, so a lot of outdoor events are planned. If you happen to be someone who’s planning an outdoor event, then there are a few things you should consider since it’s different than planning an indoor event. Knowing what’s involved in planning an outdoor event can minimize the amount of stress that you experience, both before and during the event.
For starters, you’ll need to get a permit once you identify where you want to hold the event. You should also know the timeframe in which you want it to occur. You should have a few dates identified when you go to get the permit, just in case it’s a busy season and one or two of the dates are already taken. This is especially important since a lot of outdoor events tend to occur around the same timeframe. If you’re thinking about planning an outdoor event without a permit, then you might want to rethink that plan because if a permit is required, there’s a good chance that your event will be shut down, which can be especially problematic if you’ve spent a lot of money.
During the process of getting a permit, you will likely obtain information about ordinances and local laws, such as noise or nuisance regulations. This is can be an issue if you plan to have loud music playing. There are also issues like safety codes and restrictions that you should know about if you plan to sell tickets or charge for attendance. You can also find information online, especially if there’s a website for the outdoor venue that you plan to use. If you’re holding the event on your own property, then a permit is not an issue, but there might be regulations if you have a homeowner’s association.
Outdoor events held at places like community centers or hotels might already have the infrastructure provided for you, such as seating and canopies. If not, those are items that will need to be rented in advance and scheduled for the appropriate time. If you’re planning a large event, then you’ll probably want to gather a committee of people to help – it can just be a few people with a willingness to pitch in to make sure everything gets done. For instance, you can put one person in charge of invitations and another person in charge of any restroom trailer rentals. Sanitation is an important aspect of outdoor events. You’ll also want to share responsibilities like food preparation or working with a caterer.
When planning an outdoor event, you’ll want to check the average temperature during the chosen date and monitor the weather just in case you need to make any adjustments to the date or location. Inclement weather can certainly become a problem if you have an outdoor event, but you can always have a backup plan, such as portable pavilions that will protect you and your guests from the rain.
