When first starting out event planning in London it can seem to many to be overly extravagant spending thousands of pounds on a fancy charity dinner event, when that money could otherwise go to the charity in question. However, after a while you realise that many of these events help to raise millions of pounds, or at least a vast margin over the amount that they put in, which usually boils down to the guests that attend and the methods that the event planners use to extract money from the purse holders. It is important to consider the guests that you have coming and many charities will have their own team of specialists who are responsible for bringing in the big spenders. If you are planning an independent charity dinner event then this is something to keep in mind and if you are unsure then it is a better idea to keep costs as low as possible while still producing a decent event.

Most venues and suppliers are willing to offer special rates and discounts for charity events, so be sure to search for this and ask. Think of ways that you can help these groups publicise their generosity and make that clear when you approach them as the good PR is definitely valuable to them.

Another way to get better deals on venue hire and suppliers costs is to explore off-peak days that may be available. Many venues in London will be willing to offer better charity dinner and charity event rates at times when they are less busy. In different parts of the city this can be different times, for example City of London venues are often quieter on weekends, as well as Mondays and Fridays. For certain charity events these may also be less desirable times and your guests may be less likely to attend, although for certain charitable causes this can in fact be a time when people are more likely to attend. The best thing to do is to speak to the venue manager and straight up ask them when the off-peak days and times are. It is not a secret and many venue managers are actively searching for ways to fill these dates.

From planning hundreds of charity dinners and charity events over the years, our team of event experts have realised that a good charity auctioneer, whether it is a celebrity personality, or a gifted individual can help to loosen the purse strings and increase the amount raised in any charity auction. Another important and often overlooked element to a charity event, is the silent auction, which involves a second auction that runs in parallel to the main auction, with a separate set of prizes. Bidders will traditionally write their bids on a piece of paper, although this is now much more popular to do on an iPad, with specialist charity silent auction suppliers who can manage this element of the event entirely for you.