You made your goals, you spent weeks preparing and planning, you’ve mapped out each detail, and it’s finally the day of the event. Now what? You’ve grown accustomed to having so much on your plate that you’re more overwhelmed by the knowledge that all your hard work is about to pay off. To ensure that you don’t get distracted, we’ve cultivated a list of 10 things you should remember to the day of your event.
Eat Before.
Even if the event is catered, you never know how much running around you’ll need to do and you may miss your meal. It’s the classic wedding-day dilemma—there are so many things to do and people to talk to that you completely miss the food. Eat ahead of time (and maybe bring a snack too).
Location.
Make sure you and your staff know the location, time, and directions for the event. It doesn’t hurt to send out an extra email reminding people where to park and when to be there. The last thing you want is someone getting lost and being late.
Print Instructions.
You never know when a phone or computer is going to die, break, or get lost. It always helps to have a hard copy of the directions—it’s more reliable than technology and that way people can’t be confused with the plan because it’s spelled out right in front of them.
Bring Water.
Bring extra. Have enough water for you and your whole team. This may not be an event that conveniently has a drinking fountain right outside and you don’t want people disappearing to find water when you might need them. Go the extra mile and prepare by bringing a couple of cases of mini-waters. We promise they’ll be gone by the end of the night.
Be Early.
Get there with time to spare so that you can ensure that each team is running smoothly and you can deal with any last-minute changes or surprises. 
Being on time also sets a professional example for your staff and client that you are taking the event seriously.
Check-in.
There are many people who make an event run smoothly and everyone should know their role and responsibility. On the day of the event, you should be checking in with the head of each committee to determine what still needs to be done. By keeping your communication narrowed to a few people instead of a dozen, you don’t get lost in mass communication.
Do A Walkthrough.
Once each committee is in order, you should be able to go through your ~printed instructions~ and prepare for each detail of the event and ensure that everyone is on the same page. There’s a reason weddings have rehearsal dinners—doing a walkthrough helps prepare you for the unexpected and assures accuracy.
Check Your Communication Strategies.
How are you communicating with your team? Walkie-talkies? Carrier pigeons? Morse code? Tin-cans? Whatever you choose, make sure that it works before people get there. And if you don’t have a communication plan… make one.
Say Hello.
The doors are open and a couple of your VIP guests and sponsors are here? Go say hi. Although you have a lot on your plate, it’s important that you acknowledge people who support you. A personal impression may be what brings them back to a second event.
Breathe.
Take the time to enjoy the event. Be sure to notice things and make notes so that you’ll have something to give during the feedback session of the post-event. Besides, you just spent weeks, if not months, planning this event—you might as well appreciate your hard work.
Make event day successful by using this list to cover all your bases. And don’t forget to follow-up on your event with our post-event advice. Best of luck!
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