An event planning template is a ready-made document that serves as a centralized space where you can keep and track all event-related data. 

These templates help you plan and execute events from start to finish. You can organize tasks and assign people, set deadlines, and track vendors and budgets, so nothing gets overlooked.

We’ve compiled multiple templates for event planning in different formats like Excel, Word, Google Docs, Adobe PDF, and the most popular Google Sheets format. 

Which event template do you need?

The choice of the right template for event planning mostly depends on:

  • The event type 
  • Goals of the event
  • Event needs
  • Budget
  • Audience

For example, if you organize a team offsite, you need to keep the event within your team’s budget and use a template that helps you track expenses. 

Take a look at the table below to see recommended templates for different event types:

Event typeRecommended templatesKey planning priority
Corporate meetingEvent task tracking & timeline template
Event proposal template
Event budget template
Plaky’s event planning template 
Streamlined workflow & timeline, productivity
ConferenceBasic event planning template
Event speaker template
Event registration template
Event schedule templates
Standardization, data accuracy & organizing logistics
Product launchEvent proposal template
Event planning checklist template
Event feedback template
Event vendor template
Process improvement, efficient decision-making & error reduction
WeddingEvent venue template
Event catering template
Event budget template
Plaky’s event planning template
Streamlined event planning, confusion reduction & bird’s-eye view of the process
Team offsiteBasic event planning template 
Event budget template 
Plaky’s event planning template
Organizing logistics & financial clarity
Community eventEvent proposal template
Event planning checklist template
Event vendor template
Event task tracking & timeline template
Efficient decision-making, accuracy & consistency
GalaEvent planning checklist template 
Event venue template 
Event catering template
Process improvement, error reduction & time-saving   
PartyParty planning template
Event budget template
Plaky’s event planning template
Accuracy, financial clarity & standardization

#1 Coordinate events in real-time with Plaky’s event planning template

Plaky's event planning template

Get Plaky’s event template now 

If you prefer having all event details — from vendor list to event schedule — in one centralized space, then Plaky’s event planning template is your go-to tool.

Here, you can break down your event plan into stages, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track task status. You can also communicate with teammates and get approvals faster.

Plaky’s event planning template is highly customizable — just add different custom Fields to add details like checklists or links to vendor contracts.

The best thing is you don’t have to switch between different tools or spreadsheets as you keep all event-related details in one location. 

#2 Manage events of any size with a basic event planning template

Basic event planning template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Looking for a simple template to outline event details for a team gathering or casual networking event? If so, our basic event management template is a great way to start.

Here, you can include organizer information, add event details, and track expenses and risks

The template also includes an event task list where you can add tasks, assign people, and set deadlines. When a task is completed, you can simply check it.   

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Interested in learning more about different types of event planning? Take time to read the articles below:

#3 Go the extra mile with our event planning checklist template

Event planning checklist template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Find it difficult to remember every teeny-tiny detail of your upcoming event? 

If such situations stress you out, make sure you download our event planning checklist to keep track of all important tasks and eliminate last-minute surprises.

This checklist includes sections for pre-event, event-day, and post-event tasks. It covers tasks from defining event type to promoting event success — so you’re fully covered.

Also, you can add assignees, set due dates for each task, and mark tasks as “Done” for maximum piece of mind.

#4 Define your event program with event schedule templates (single-day and 5-day)

5-day event schedule template

Download: Google Sheets | Excel  

If you’re organizing a conference or a workshop and need a template with a full timeline for all event activities, our event schedule templates are a great starting point.

Whether you’re in charge of managing a single-day or a multy-day event, these templates help you lay an orderly plan with event details and pre-set (yet adjustable) time slots. 

A single-day event schedule template lets you plan 3 activities across 15-minute time slots. It gives you a clear overview of multiple activities running simultaneously.

The template includes another sheet for a 5-day event schedule that features 30-minute time slots. This one is great for seminars or training programs allowing you to prevent overlaps and avoid unnecessary downtime.  

#5 Keep an eye on every task with this event task tracking and timeline template

Event task tracking and timeline template

Download: Google Sheets | Excel

Dealing with complex event logistics but need a simple template to handle multiple teams and tasks and also track task dependencies? No worries — our event task tracking and timeline template will do the work for you.

This advanced task-tracking template breaks down tasks into team-specific segments, specifying tasks, assignees, deadlines, current status, and more. Thanks to such a template organization, every team and team member knows who’s responsible for what.

What’s more, the template includes a Gantt style event timeline page allowing you to track dates and status of your tasks. This helps you spot overlaps and reschedule tasks so that everything is ready in time for the event day. 

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If you’d like to try out additional templates for task tracking, take a look at these:

#6 Get a “yes” for your events with our event proposal template

Event proposal template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Searching for a suitable template to present an event idea in a professional way? In that case, feel free to use our event proposal template to stay on the right track. 

The template includes separate sections for organizer information, event overview, and expense breakdown, which is ideal to communicate your vision clearly. 

You’re able to provide all relevant details like event’s scope, expected outcomes, and total projected costs in an effective way allowing superiors, clients, or sponsors to get the info they need before approval.

#7 Stay on budget with this event budget template

Event budget template

Download: Google Sheets | Excel

Uncontrolled overruns and missed expenses are not something you want to face when you plan an event. To prevent such outcomes, you can simply use our event budget template to track all expenses. 

This template allows you to break down costs in multiple categories and track the total and projected costs for each category. You can also compare planned vs. actual expenses making it easy to spot budget overruns.

Thanks to this template, you can stay on top of every expense, as it helps you eliminate guesswork and track your event’s cash flow no matter the type of event you organize. 

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Wanna learn more about different budgeting methods? Check out this article:

#8 Get direct event insights with our event feedback template

Event feedback template

Download: Google Docs | Word | PDF

If your current feedback form leaves you with blind spots preventing you from capturing attendee satisfaction or speaker effectiveness, consider using our straightforward event feedback template.

This template makes gathering feedback a breeze thanks to a Likert scale questionnaire, which rates various aspects of the event on a scale from 1 to 5. This approach directly helps you pinpoint what worked well and what needs improvement. 

There are also open-ended questions where you ask attendees for some extra thoughts on the event. 

Overall, the feedback received from this standardized template will help you refine your approach for every future event.

#9 Collect attendee information with this event registration template

Event registration template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Need a proper guest list to send out invitations or a record of people who registered for your event? No worries, we have a perfect template for you.

Our event registration template gathers the most important attendee information such as name, contact information, and company they work for. There’s also a section where you can leave additional notes like dietary preferences, accessibility needs, and more.

Thanks to the information included in this simple template, you’ll be able to plan for the right number of attendees, track important details, and ensure smoother communication about important event updates.

#10 Simplify catering organization with our event catering template

Event catering template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Want to compare different caterers and avoid guessing menu quantities? Our event catering template helps you with both.

The template has separate sections for catering company information including website, point of contact, email, etc., and event details like the event type, number of guests, and required staffing type. This way, you keep the main information at a glance.

The next section allows you to add details such as service overview, certificates and permits as well as total cost, deposit, and payment due date.

Also, to prevent over or under ordering, use the product details section where you can list the number of servings and price per serving along with total cost for each. This helps you stay within budget and avoid unexpected costs.  

#11 Select the perfect spot with this event venue template

Event venue template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

If you need a template that includes all details you need to check out potential event venues or compare a few of them using the same data, you’ve just found it.

Our event venue template has sections for venue details, capacity, parking, and additional venue services including staging equipment, in-house catering, teardown with fees. This helps you evaluate the most important factors relevant to your event type and facilitates budgeting.

Plus, you can also check venue policies along with licences and permits to make sure the venue matches your event standards.

#12 Easily manage speakers’ requests with this event speaker template

Event speaker template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Looking to offer a seamless experience for both speakers and attendees at your conference or panel discussion but don’t know what you need to keep in mind? 

In addition to the speaker details section, there’s a section for presentation information where you can include presentation title and overview along with date, time, and rehearsal date. Keeping this data in one place helps you ensure smooth scheduling and coordinate rehearsals. 

The required equipment section allows you to list everything event speakers need for providing successful presentations as well as prevent overlooking any single detail.  

#13 Manage vendors effortlessly with this vendor management template

Vendor management template

Download: Google Sheets | Excel

Want to keep vendor information and easily coordinate vendor logistics in one place? Try out our vendor management template to optimize operations in a simple way.

This customizable template includes all vendor details such as ID, service type, contacts, address, and more. You can also use a dropdown menu to mark if you’ve signed a contract with a particular vendor, which helps you prevent costly disputes.

In addition, the template lets you track the total amount of vendor service, deposit, payment due date, and payment status, which simplifies budgeting and spending analysis. 

#14 Organize memorable parties with our party planning template

Party planning template

Download: Google Docs | Word | Google Sheets | Excel | PDF

Planning a party and want to make sure no detail slips through the cracks? Our party planning template can save you time and prevent last-minute panic. 

The first section includes party details (title, date, time, location) whereas the second section is dedicated to organizer information

In addition, you have an expense list where you can track full cost, deposits, due dates, and payment status.

The major part of the template is a task list that helps you keep all details under control and reduce stress during the organization process. 

FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about event planning.

What are the 7 stages of event planning?

The 7 stages you need to go through when planning an event are:

  • Setting event goals and objectives 
  • Defining budget and schedule 
  • Selecting a venue and securing vendors 
  • Promoting the event 
  • Managing attendees 
  • Executing the event
  • Doing post-event review 

What are the 5 C’s of an event planning?

The 5 C’s in event planning represent a framework where each “C” stands for one of the phases of the process. The 5 C’s are:

  • Concept — the phase where you define the event’s purpose, target audience, location, and theme.
  • Coordination — at this point, you manage event schedules, teams, vendors, etc.
  • Control — this phase is about ensuring that things run smoothly in terms of schedule, budget, venue logistics, security, etc. 
  • Culmination — this phase focuses on the event day and secures good coordination.
  • Closeout — this phase includes financial review, feedback analysis, and team discussion.

What are the 5 steps of event planning?

The 5 steps of the event planning lifecycle are:

  • Research and goal definition — conduct research and define goals to set the basis for your event.
  • Framework building — develop the strategy, select the venue and vendors, gather the staff.
  • Planning and managing — launch the promotional campaign, train staff, set up the registration system, select catering. 
  • Event execution and coordination — make sure everything runs smoothly and coordinate staff, speakers, vendors, etc. 
  • Event evaluation — measure the event success and see if the event reached its goals.

What are the 5 P’s of event planning?

The 5 P’s of event planning refer to the key pillars that ensure you organize a successful event in terms of logistics, promotion, attendee satisfaction, and every other aspect. 

While the “P” values may differ depending on the industry, these are the most common values:

  • Purpose
  • People
  • Place
  • Plan
  • Promotion

Plan your events and manage all elements in one tool with Plaky  

Templates are a great way to standardize event planning, but to avoid juggling multiple templates, consider using centralized software like Plaky by CAKE.com. 

Plaky is a powerful, yet user-friendly and affordable solution that offers many practical features for event management.

Plaky allows you to automate workflows, centralize communication in task Comments to speed up approval process, and share task-related Files in one place that’s easily accessible to everyone.

Plaky's comments tab

What’s best about Plaky is that it allows unlimited users, boards, and files, no matter the plan you opt for! 

As a cherry on top, you can sort and filter your event data to narrow down your focus to specifics that are important to you. 

All in all, Plaky by CAKE.com is truly a solution for everyone. Whatever the event, Plaky’s intuitive interface and powerful features make the planning process smooth and efficient.

Plan events with ease. Sign up for a free 7-day trial today!

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