Which industry guide should you follow?

The industry guides walk a full event type end to end, from the first inquiry to day-of coordination. Each follows the same thread: receive and qualify, create the event, quote and get it signed, then prepare the function sheet.

They exist because a wedding, a corporate seminar and a private hire aren't run in quite the same way: contacts, deadlines and logistics differ, even though the Joinways building blocks stay the same.

Rather than reading everything, start from the event type you handle most often. Here's how to choose.

Before you start

These guides assume your Joinways workspace is already set up: at least one venue, your availability up to date, and Inquiries connected to your enquiries address.

If that's not the case yet, go through the getting-started articles listed below first: they lay the foundations each guide builds on.

The thread every guide shares

Whatever the event, each guide runs through the same four steps:

Receive and qualify: the request lands in Inquiries, you qualify it and identify the contact.
Create the event: you turn the request into a dated event, tied to the right workspace and venue.
Quote and get it signed: you build the quote, send it and track its approval.
Prepare the function sheet: you record the operational details for the big day (BEO).

The guides don't change these steps: they adapt the pace and the options to the event type.

Wedding

Pick this guide for a long-cycle private event, where the decision plays out over several months and the relationship matters as much as the quote.

It covers the visit, the option on the date, the deposit, the floor plan and caterer coordination all the way to the big day.

It's the most complete guide: useful whenever preparation stretches over time and involves several exchanges with the client.

Manage a wedding with Joinways

Corporate seminar

Pick this guide for a professional contact and short deadlines, where responsiveness and the administrative framework come first.

It covers the company to qualify, the fast (sometimes multi-day) quote, invoicing and a purchase order.

Best when the client is a company and response time is what tips the decision.

Manage a corporate seminar with Joinways

Private hire or private party

Pick this guide for a shorter, logistics-heavy event: birthday, company party, private hire.

It covers the private-hire package, drink options and service organization.

Best when the challenge isn't the sales cycle but the logistics of the night itself: capacity, drinks, service.

Manage a private hire or private party

All three guides share the same Joinways building blocks (Inquiries, events, quotes, function sheet). Once you've mastered one, the others follow the same logic.

How to choose

If you're unsure, go by the shape of the request rather than the event's name:

Long cycle, private client: start with the Wedding guide.
Corporate contact, short deadline: start with the Corporate seminar guide.
Short event, heavy logistics: start with the Private hire guide.

Either way, the thread stays the same: the difference is mostly about pace and which options you switch on.

FAQ

Do I need to read all three guides?

No. Start with the one that matches the event type you handle most, then come back to the others as needed: they all follow the same structure.

What if my event doesn't match any of the three?

Lean on the closest guide and adapt the package and options to your case. The thread (receive, create, quote, prepare) still applies.

Where should I start if I'm new to Joinways?

The Wedding guide is the most complete end to end; it's a good starting point even if you don't handle weddings, because it illustrates every step.

Do the guides replace the detailed articles?

No: they give the overall thread and point, at each step, to the dedicated articles (availability, quotes, function sheet).

Can I combine several guides for one event?

Yes. A hybrid event (say a company party with a private hire) can borrow steps from two guides: follow the one matching the dominant profile and pull options from the other.