mdolla: The Top 14 Websites for Throwing an Awesome DIY Event

Throwing an event without hiring a professional event planner can be a daunting experience. First, there’s the fear that no one will show up. Then, there are the overwhelming logistics, the details, the guest list, the delegating of tasks, the food and drink, the music- it just goes on and on. Thankfully, plenty of people have been there before. Here are some great websites that will help make your event incredible. Skip the Google search and consult this list to throw the best DIY event ever. Cheers!

1. Ticketleap Events University

You could be preparing for a professional, big-time event, or you could just be planning a backyard get-together. Whatever your event’s scale, Ticketleap has advice on topics like how much alcohol to order, how to get people chatting, how to get the word out on Facebook, which hashtag to choose, and how to sell tickets. There’s even info on what to do after your event. You can share your own advice here, too.

2. Doodle

A resource for getting everyone’s schedules lined up, Doodle works particularly well for event planning committees. Or, you can use it to schedule the main event. You provide the details and potential times for the meeting, and your invitees let you know when they can make it via Doodle’s app. There’s a free version and a professional, paid version.

3. Event Transportation Systems

Need to set up a transportation service for your attendees? If there’s alcohol involved, designated transportation could literally be a life saver, and your guests will be eternally grateful. Event Transportation Systems operates all across North America and can provide transportation for events of any size, although they specialize in the big ones. ETS has a full range of vehicles, from vans to sedans.

4. Event Marketer

This site is an educational resource for businesses seeking to market through events. Or, if you’re a marketer who wants to learn about experiential event marketing, you can find a ton of info here.

5. Rosenberry Rooms Blog

Throwing a baby shower, a kids’ birthday party, a holiday party, or a themed party? Susie Fougerousse’s Rosenberry Rooms blog is full of design ideas, recipes, crafts, activities, and inspiration. Here, you can see exactly how party ideas come to life, with a wealth of photographs and posts from people who are really doing this. You can submit your own helpful articles, too.

6. Ustream

With Ustream, you can create your own streaming video channel for your events. If you’re just throwing one event, you can use the free version. The difference between this and a Facebook or Twitter stream is security. UStream offers secure streaming for you to share with only the people you want to see it. Or, create a public channel and share with the world. You can also record and share later.

7. Pinterest

Pinterest is a huge digital library of photos and images. It’s a repository of ideas with tons of pins related to just about any type of event you can think of. This is helpful for coming up with design, decor, and theme ideas. Oh, and it’s free.

8. Bonjour Events and a la Reg

Bonjour Events has event planning tips, resources, and templates. In the tips sections, you can learn everything from how to set your table for a dinner party to how to throw an eco-friendly wedding. You can find venues and vendors there, while Bonjour’s sister site, a la Reg, offers event registration, donation, and volunteer forms.

9. MOO

MOO’s primary event offerings are invitations and flyers, with tons of stock templates and styles to choose from. If you’re throwing a business event, MOO can also do note cards and business cards. MOO’s specialty is Printfinity, with which you can feature different artwork on every piece of stationery. Upload your own images or use MOO’s.

10. Amsterdam Printing

For seminars, conferences, and other business-related events, Amsterdam Printing engraves all manner of accoutrements with your business logo. Everything is customizable, including the eco-friendly tote bags. You can even customize candy wrappers, chocolate boxes, and fortune cookies. Customized pens will help attendees remember who threw the event long after it’s over.

11. Events from Facebook

Ok, so this isn’t a website, it’s an app. You’re probably well aware of Facebook’s potential for getting the word out about events. The Events from Facebook App is specifically designed to take that to the next level, with an interface dedicated to all things event on Facebook. This makes it easier for people to connect to your event without wading through other distractions on the social network. If you’re not posting your events on Facebook yet, Events from Facebook wants to change that.

12. Sonic Bids

Your event could rock, it could swing, or it could croon. Sonic Bids lets you pick through a whole bunch of criteria to find a band for your event. Whatever type of band or solo artist you’re looking for, you can probably find them on this site.

13. PlanningHelper

Need a caterer? PlanningHelper has advice on that. Need to work on budgeting? PlanningHelper has advice on that too. Need to learn about virtual meetings? Accommodations? Site selection? Planning Helper has details on pretty much everything revolving around events, and you can download checklists, tools, and timelines for free. Voila!

14. Local Catering

This is a massive directory of caterers. The search function lets you include a lot of very specific information on your event, such as the date, number of guests, location, and type. From there, Local Catering narrows it down to show you the most applicable caterers in your area.

Featured photo credit: rawpixel via pexels.com

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