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The first event I ever planned was for my Army unit. It was an annual event, and around 100 unit leaders and their spouses were expected to attend. My boss had just been switched out, and I made the false assumption that my new boss would like the same venue that had been used in previous years—and I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Event planners can fall into the trap of assuming the policies from one venue apply to others when they can be entirely different.

Unfortunately, many venues for mid-size events of 20-200 people have limited information on their website about such policies. Contacting them to find out more is always a mixed bag, too. Some venues will get back to you immediately, while others may take days, and some you may never hear from again.

Even after you do the heavy lifting of planning your event and you’ve found your venue, and have all the details confirmed, don’t just kick back and wait for the event to happen. Remember, great events don’t just happen—they happen because the planner commits to creating a remarkable experience for all who attend.

The simplest event-planning mistake to avoid is also the most obvious, yet people make it time and time again. Many planners fail to start the event-planning process by thinking about the type of event they’re planning—or why they’re hosting it at all.