Setting Up Your First Event

Creating your first event on Church RSVP is straightforward.

Before You Start

Have the following information ready:

• Event name and description
• Date(s) and time(s) for your event
• Location details (address for in-person or URL for virtual)
• Capacity limits (if any)
• Banner image (optional but recommended)
• Support email for attendee questions

Step 1: Create Your Event

Basic Information

From your organization dashboard, click “Create Event” and provide:

• Event Name: A clear, descriptive name for your event
• Event Slug: A URL-friendly version of your name (e.g., “easter-service-2024”)

Step 2: Customize Your Event Landing Page

Make your event page beautiful and on-brand:

Visual Branding

• Banner Image: Upload a hero image for your event
• Background Color: Choose a background color that matches your brand
• Accent Color: Select an accent color for buttons and highlights

Event Content

Add rich content to your event page using our editor:

• Formatted text with headers and emphasis
• Photos and images
• Embedded videos
• Links and contact information

Step 3: Set Up Locations

Church RSVP supports three types of events:

Physical Events

For in-person events, add:

• Venue name
• Street address
• City, state, and zip code
• Any special directions or parking information

Virtual Events

For online events, provide:

• Meeting URL or livestream link

Hybrid Events

Host both in-person and virtual attendance by adding both location types. Attendees can choose their preferred option when RSVPing.

Step 4: Create Event Occurrences

Occurrences are specific time slots when your event happens. For example, a church might have:

• 9:00 AM Service
• 11:00 AM Service
• 6:00 PM Evening Service

For each occurrence, set:

• Date and Time: When it starts (with timezone)
• Location: Which location from your list
• Capacity: Maximum number of attendees (optional)

Capacity Display Options

Choose how to show remaining capacity to attendees:

• Always show: Display remaining seats at all times
• Never show: Keep capacity hidden
• Show at threshold: Only display when capacity reaches a certain percentage (e.g., show when 75% full)

Step 5: Configure Seat Types

Seat types let you categorize attendees. Common examples:

• Age-based: Adults, Children, Students
• Seating areas: Main Floor, Balcony, Wheelchair Accessible
• Service needs: Childcare (ages 0-2), Childcare (ages 3-5)

Each seat type can have:

• Individual capacity limits per occurrence
• Maximum seats per RSVP
• Custom capacity display settings

Step 6: Set Up Notifications (Optional)

Configure automated email notifications for:

• RSVP confirmation
• RSVP updates or cancellations
• Event reminders or follow-ups (scheduled notifications)

You can customize email templates with:

• Personalized content using placeholders
• Event-specific information
• Location and occurrence details

Managing Your Event

Your event is now live! From the Church RSVP dashboard you can:

• View all RSVPs in real-time
• Monitor capacity for each occurrence
• Export attendee data
• Create or edit RSVPs manually as an admin
• Update event details at any time
• Archive events when they’re complete