Ask the Planners
Some questions are too specific for a general guide. Ask the Planners is for those: the odd room shape, the tricky family seating plan, the permit you are not sure applies to you.
What makes a good question
The more context you give, the more useful the answer. Helpful details include:
- The type of event, the guest count and the approximate date.
- The city or area, and the venue type if you know it.
- Your budget range, if the question involves cost.
- What you have already tried or been told.
Leave out anything private you would not want published, such as full names, addresses or contract terms. We remove identifying details before answering in public.
Before you ask
A quick search of the Encyclopedia or the tools may answer it straight away. Capacity, bar and food quantity questions in particular often have a calculator ready to use.
What answers are and are not
Answers come from practical experience. They are not legal, tax or insurance advice. For permits and regulations, we will point you to the body that makes the rule so you can confirm it.
What happens next
We read every question. We cannot answer each one individually, but we choose questions that are likely to help other readers and publish answers with the identifying details removed. Questions that keep coming up often become new guides or Encyclopedia entries.
If your question is urgent, such as a permit deadline next week, say so, and check the official source at the same time rather than waiting for us. If you are looking for vendors rather than advice, the quote request is the faster route.
Post a question; working planners answer. The forum opens in a later phase. Until then, send your question and we will answer the best ones in the blog.
Examples of good questions
The questions that lead to the most useful answers are specific and practical. A few examples of the kind we are glad to receive:
- We have a long, narrow room for 90 guests. Should we use long tables or rounds, and where should the speeches happen?
- Our backyard party for 60 will have a bartender and wine we buy ourselves. Do we need a permit, and who should apply?
- The venue's quote includes a service charge and HST. How do we work out what we will actually pay?
- We are mixing two cultural traditions at one wedding. How do other couples structure the day?
- Our holiday party has dropped in attendance for three years. What changes tend to bring people back?
How answers are prepared
Questions are answered by people who plan and work events in the GTA, using the same editorial standards as the rest of the site. Where a question touches on regulation, the answer explains the general rule and names the public body that sets it, such as the AGCO for alcohol permits or the relevant municipality for parks, tents and noise, so you can confirm the current requirements yourself. Where the honest answer is that it depends, we explain what it depends on.
Using published answers
Published answers are written so they help readers with similar situations, not only the person who asked. Adapt them to your own event rather than following them word for word, and check details with your venue and vendors, who know your specific site and contract. If you notice an answer that is out of date or incorrect, let us know through the contact page and we will review it.
Other places to look
For definitions, the Encyclopedia is often the quickest route, and the business and legal terms cover most contract questions. For a structured grounding in the whole process, the free Academy learning paths work through planning from the first meeting to the final report. If you are a student or new planner looking for ongoing guidance, the mentorship programme may suit you better than a single question.