A must-have resource for every event planner, manager, caterer, and student, this in-depth guide covers all aspects of the event planning process. Written by expert event manager Julia Rutherford Silvers, the book outlines the tools and strategies to effectively procure, organize, implement, and monitor all the products, vendors, and services needed to bring an event to life. Enhanced throughout with useful checklists, tables, and sample forms, the book includes chapters on everything from Developing the Event Site and Providing the Event Infrastructure to Ancillary Programs, Food and Beverage Operations, and Vendors and Volunteers. The practical information is supplemented throughout the book by "On-Site Insights" featuring real-world examples from successful event planners, as well as chapter objectives, discussion questions, and exercises in professional event coordination to help readers build key skills and test their knowledge. From weddings to corporate conferences and from intimate events to huge festivals, Professional Event Coordination is a versatile guide to planning events of all kinds.