4 things to check on your Event Planning Checklist 8-10 weeks Before

It’s 8 to 10 weeks before the eve of your event, and you feel like you have all the time in the world. Unfortunately, time is a devious phenomenon and tends to sneak up on you. That’s why it's crucial to prioritize your event planning checklist before it’s too late and you develop a stress-induced ulcer. LOL :D
Set Your Goals:

Without goals, you're aimless, and it’s to create them early on in the planning process. But without knowing your target audience it's hard to set even nonspecific goals. After all, there’s a big difference between organizing a networking event for executives and a birthday party for toddlers. One may get away with a Disney princess theme; the other may not. All jokes aside, your target audience will set the stage and the strategies for your marketing campaign.Once your intended audience is confirmed, it's critical to readdress your goals and make sure they're specific and attainable. The broader your goals, the harder it will be to keep them within your grasp and steer your team. By clearly stating them and getting your entire team on board, it will be much easier to throw a successful event.
Determine the Budget:

A budget makes your goals more concrete, and thus, more attainable. You may have all these grand ideas, but you need to be realistic. That chocolate fondue fountain may be out of your reach, but this is where the input of your team is most necessary. They can help you not only estimate cost, but make room for fees that you might have overlooked. For instance, where your venue is concerned, you should make sure that you track not only rental fees, but also any additional cleaning and equipment fees.
Other expenses may be attributed to transportation, decor expenses, and entertainment. Maybe your event has attendees traveling from far away and requires an airport shuttle or a coach bus. Additionally, events are often decorated with color themes, centerpieces and flowers, so put aside some of your budget your aesthetic purposes. And entertainment can be very costly depending on the audio-visuals and equipment you need.
Another large expense is catering, and these costs can account up to 30 percent of your budget. So carefully create an event menu that satisfies all your attendees. Additionally, there's no need to go above and beyond by providing your guests a three-course dinner, but consider the type of event you're planning first because finger food may more than suffice!
Lastly, don’t forget a contingency fund. Depending on how big your event is, this should include up to 20 percent of your budget. Despite careful planning and estimating, costs usually exceed what you originally planned. In the best case, you’ll have a small amount left over. Otherwise, this should keep you from exceeding your budget.
Select a Venue:

The venue will most likely be the biggest expense of your event, so it’s important to select one early on. Make sure to look around for hot or off-season rates. And always try to negotiate the venue rates price before settling. Also make an attempt to have your venue add a little extra for your money -- like hotel group discounts, free shuttle services, or complementary breakfasts.
When choosing a venue, don't be afraid to get creative. Your event doesn’t have to take place in a typical conference room, but opt for one outdoors like a rooftop, garden, or patio. Certain hotels allow you to use their lobby or patio for free if it’s connected to a bar, so consider that option. Just keep in mind the number of attendees you have and that there's nearby parking!
Pick Your Vendors:

Once you've set your goals, determined your budget, and chosen your venue, you can start making an inventory of the vendors you want at your event. A lot of research should go into this to ensure both satisfying and safe food options. Look for vendors with great reviews and recommendations by many people.
Once you’ve picked your vendors, it’s important to put down on paper what exactly you expect from them in the form of a checklist. Both of you should have a copy of this checklist to prevent confusion or any miscommunication. It’s also of paramount importance that you draft a detailed official contract with each vendor. Where your checklist is an informal draft of your wishes, the contract will legally cover you in case something goes wrong.
Don't Wait!

All the above points take time- usually more time than you'd think. These steps should be considered at least a couple months in advance to be safe. Save yourself and your team unnecessary stress by planning early to ensure an event people will talk, tweet, and Facebook about for weeks to come.