When the weather turns warmer in Minnesota, everyone wants to be outside soaking up the sun while they can. And who can blame them after months of frozen temps and shorter days?
If you’re planning on hosting a corporate event this summer, consider taking advantage of the beautiful weather and host it outdoors!
Start Planning Early
Planning an outdoor corporate event takes time, and venues start booking fast. Once you know you want to have an event, don’t wait!
You might be doing it on your own or have a committee. Whatever your organizational situation is, Event Lab will work with you on concepts and ideas to create a cohesive plan that will meet your event needs.
Give us a call — let’s get started planning an outdoor event that hits the mark and is a good time for all.
Planning Your Outdoor Event
When it comes to planning a successful corporate event, knowing the goals or purpose for your event will give you the direction you need. Your goals will help you make decisions, from the location to activities, food and beverages, and entertainment.
4 Popular Goals for an Outdoor Corporate Event
- Show appreciation
- Create camaraderie
- Employee recognition in a casual setting
- Team building
Once you know the purpose of your event and who will attend, it’s time to make decisions and fine-tune the details. This is where hiring an experienced, knowledgeable, professional event planning company will prove indispensable.
What an Event Planning Company Will Handle
- Location selection
- Food & beverages
- Transportation
- Festive Décor
- Entertainment
- Games & activities
- On-site event coordination and management
A professional event planner handles each aspect to create an event that is intentionally designed for FUN.
Location Selection
Our event planners have comprehensive knowledge of available venues in and around the Twin Cities and will present you with options perfectly suited to your needs.
The hardest part about planning an outdoor event is having a back-up plan for the weather. This could be an alternate date, a tent, or a venue where you can go indoors if needed.
The most popular venues for outdoor events include:
- Parks
- Waterfront locations
- Rooftops or patios
- Corporate campuses
Transportation
Arranging transportation to and from your event makes things more convenient, and safe for your attendees. Parking at your event location may be scarce. You may be serving alcohol at the event. Employees may be coming in from other locations and be unfamiliar with the area. Whatever the case, this is an aspect of event planning that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Food & Beverages
It’s all about food and beverages! Your event planner can help you select and book the right caterers for your event goal, theme, and budget as well as minding any special dietary restrictions.
Options and ideas for food and beverages are nearly endless:
- Burgers and brats
- Local breweries
- Open pit BBQ
- Pig roasts
- Fine alcohol tastings
- Food trucks
- Dessert stations
The layout and flow of your food and beverage stations will also be artfully considered.
Design & Décor
Have a theme like Wacky Olympics or Amazing Race? How about a unique lounge setting under a canopy or under the stars? Your event planner will help flush out ideas and tastefully weave them into every detail of the event.
Event Lab has an extensive on-site warehouse where you can shop for it all.
Want to display your company logo, or maybe you have a sponsor to recognize? From the invitations to the event lighting, furniture, tablecloths and linens, floral treatments and more, no detail will be ignored.
Entertainment
Everyone in a corporate setting has a different idea for the entertainment at a company outing: dueling guitars, strolling musicians and magicians, rock n’ roll for dancing, or a casino. A professional event planner can narrow down the choices and present ideas for your event.
Games & Activities
Giant Jenga, corn hole, Connect 4, beer pong, giant Plinko, Yahtzee, or Shuffleboard — there’s something for all ages and skill levels.
If you have little ones, activities like decorating t-shirts, painting and glittering caps, decorating flip-flops, or silly races are fun ideas.
Want to think big? Try carnival games or maybe even a Ferris Wheel. (No, we don’t own a Ferris Wheel, but we can get one!)
Whatever you have in mind, we will create the WOW that is needed.
Start Planning Early
Event Lab has been planning and managing events for companies for 25 years. Give us a call, and we’ll work with you to make your outdoor event one that is talked about for years to come.