Los Angeles is a huge city with endless fun to be had! Whether you’re planning a gathering for local family and friends, or for out-of-towers, there are many different factors to consider to make your event a success. Choosing a part of town, restaurant and cuisine can be a challenge when you live in a city with so much to offer. Carefully plan your event to ensure it will be fun for all attendees. For your typical Angeleno, transportation is a huge factor when deciding whether or not to attend an event. One way to alleviate the stress of navigating cluttered roads, battling traffic and finding parking is to opt for a 12 passenger van rental. LAX visitors and local commuters alike have numerous options to choose from. 10 Tips to Successfully Plan a Large Group Gathering in LA Learn everything you need to know about organizing a large get-together in Los Angeles. You can get started by following these 10 tips: 1.Choose a Central Location: The City of Los Angeles is huge — 472 square miles to be exact. If possible, it’s always wise to think about where your guests are coming from and base your location around that. You’re probably not going to get a very good turnout if most people have to drive an hour or more to get to your event. Thankfully, there are great places to host large groups throughout the entire city of Los Angeles. 2.Plan in Advance: If you’ve ever tried to plan a big group event, you know how difficult it is to sync the calendars of multiple busy people. There’s always something fun — or more likely dozens of great events — happening in LA, so people’s calendars often book up early. It’s always best to give your guests as much notice as possible, so that they can fit your gathering into their schedule. It’s inevitable that at least one person is probably going to have something come up at the last minute, so expect that. 3.Be Mindful of the Start Time: Nearly 4 million people live in the City of Los Angeles and a total of 10.1 million live in the county, which means traffic can get pretty heavy. Angelenos always have traffic on their minds, so if you plan gatherings in areas or during times of day that are notorious for congestion, people aren’t going to be too excited to attend. If your group gathering is on a weekday, it’s probably best to have it in the middle of the day or wait until after 7PM. 4.Offer Transportation: Will guests be drinking alcohol at your gathering? If so, it’s always nice to provide transportation to get them to and from the event safely. This is also a courteous gesture if many people attending are too young to drive or don’t have a license. State Van Rental offers great deals on a 12 passenger van rental. LAX is near our pickup/dropoff point, making it super convenient if you need to get anyone to or from the airport. 5.Have a Backup Plan for Outdoor Events: It’s true that California is in a drought, but that doesn’t mean that it never rains. There’s a very good chance the weather will be great on the day of your gathering, but every savvy event planner knows it’s always smart to have a backup plan. There’s nothing worse than having to scramble to find a somewhere, anywhere to host your get-together because of an unexpected rainstorm or a massive heat wave rolling through town. 6.Try to Make it Pet Friendly: Los Angeles is an incredibly dog-friendly city. It seems like nearly everyone has a furry best friend, and these pooches like to get out of the house too! If your event is going to be outside, try to find a spot that allows dogs, so that your guests can bring them along for the fun. Most parks in the city and countless restaurants and bars are happy to host friendly, well-behaved dogs. It’s hard not to have a great time when you have some adorable furry guests! 7.Make a Reservation: As previously noted, millions of people live in the City of Los Angeles. This means it’s always important to have a reservation when you have a certain spot in mind — especially when you’re bringing a large group of people. If the place you really want to host your event doesn’t take reservations, it’s probably best to head elsewhere. The last thing you want to do is have the place at capacity, when you’ve invited a large group of people to join you there. 8.Search for Specials: Do you have a set budget for your party? If money is indeed an object, conduct some research to find some great deals to cut costs. There are farmer’s markets every day of the week in neighborhoods across the city that can help you find affordable fresh fare, if you’re catering the event on your own. You can always find happy hour specials at bars and restaurants in every part of the city too, allowing you and your guests to enjoy substantial savings on your bill. 9.Scope Out the Location: If possible, visit your location of choice before locking it down, to make sure it’s a great choice. Check out the layout, the parking situation and the scene to see if it’s a good fit for your group. It’s always best to know what you’re getting into ahead of time, instead of realizing it isn’t the best location on the big day. If you absolutely can’t get to the venue ahead of time, look for pictures and reviews online to scope it out. 10.Send Reminders: Some people put events on their calendar the minute they accept an invitation, but others aren’t quite as organized. Don’t assume each of your guests fall into the former category, as it’s likely that some people will forget if you don’t remind them. Send out a text or email reminder to your guests a few days before your gathering to make sure they remember. Planning a gathering for a big group takes a great deal of time and effort, so you want to make sure everyone shows up! Make Your Own Fun in LA There’s never a dull moment in Los Angeles. No matter what your group is into, you will find a wide variety of activities, events and places to choose from on any given day of the week. Sports fans can head to Carson to check out a Galaxy Game; trek to picturesque Dodger Stadium to see “The Boys in Blue” take on a visiting team; or catch a Lakers, Clippers or Kings game downtown at the Staples Center. Groups interested in celebrity spotting can book tours with companies like TMZ and head to Hollywood-area hotspots in hopes of catching a glimpse of someone famous. Beach cities, like Malibu and Santa Monica are filled with delicious seafood restaurants, gorgeous ocean views and the chance to feel the sand beneath your toes. The city also has countless opportunities for culture, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Getty Center, and the Hammer Museum — just to name a few! LA is also home to stunning concert venues, such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theater, which make seeing your favorite artist even more memorable. Whether your group is interested in a casual fun-filled day or a sophisticated evening event, Los Angeles has you covered. The city has so many options that it’s basically impossible not to plan an enjoyable event for your group. Dedicate the time and effort needed to make it great, so everyone can go home with lasting memories of the wonderful time they had. Planning an event for a large group isn’t always easy, but it will be well worth your efforts if you’re proud of the end result.
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