How to budget for your event?

This article lists the main items of expenditure to help you draw up a budget for your wedding or corporate event. Indeed, the equation between desires, needs and budget is not always easy to solve. The first task will therefore be to define the contours of your event.

Identify the expenditure items for your wedding or corporate event

Start by listing all the expenses in order of priority. In other words, ask yourself what comes first. The venue? The decor? The entertainment? Ask for several quotes to get an accurate picture of your expenses. Also try to determine what can be done in-house. All this work will enable you to define an average budget for your event, which you will need to refine. 

The venue

Renting the venue for your wedding or corporate event, event tents and other marquees is often one of the main items of expenditure. Don't forget to rent your structure including the time needed to set up and dismantle it.
Depending on the location and the season, you should also plan for electrical equipment for your event (generators, cables), sanitary facilities, air conditioning or heating.

Decor and furniture

Furniture hire for your wedding or corporate event is not always included in the venue hire. Make a list of your needs (tables, chairs, armchairs, cloakrooms, bar, etc.) and make sure you hire enough. Another important budget item is decoration (flowers, carpets, velum etc.). Be careful because the bill can quickly rise.

Entertainment

Speeches, conferences, debates, shows, music groups... what kind of entertainment are you planning? In all cases, bear in mind that all this requires the use of a service provider (DJ, moderator, orchestra, etc.) and the hiring of dedicated equipment (microphone, control room, screen, cable, etc.).

Food and drink

You are planning to offer a catering service. Whether you opt for a cocktail party or a gourmet meal, you need to approach a caterer and anticipate your needs (tables, kitchen, outdoor areas, etc.). The price of the caterer for a wedding or a corporate event will depend on the type of meal you wish to organise and the level of service you choose. Most of the time the caterer will also provide the drinks, but this is not always the case. Please note that for a public event, it is necessary to rent a licence IV.

Reception and security

Some events require the use of receptionists, security guards or security guards. This is a cost that should not be overlooked! Finally, it is sometimes necessary to hire a security company to look after your car park. Don't forget to make a request to the prefecture beforehand.

Communication

Do you need to print invitations, design signage, launch a communication campaign? Don't forget to add the costs of graphic design, printing and distribution to your budget.

Anticipate unforeseen events to control the cost of your event

A successful event also depends on the peace of mind of its organisers. And on this point, there is no miracle recipe, but two conditions: anticipate as much as possible and surround yourself with a team and service providers you can trust. 

Another piece of advice: add a line to your budget of about 10% of the overall sum to be able to anticipate the unexpected, the detail that might have escaped you.
 

Get a quick quote for your wedding or corporate event

We have developed a quick and easy 3-step quote request tool to allow you to get an approximate budget based on the city, the number of guests, the event and the needs of your event. Of course, our advisors will make sure that your needs and your budget coincide.