Do I need a paid account to create a potluck?

Nope! Creating, managing, and participating in potlucks is 100% free. We do offer premium features for less than a cup of coffee (in the Seattle area) that enhance the experience of managing larger events like Photo Galleries, Automated Reminders, and Custom Notifications.

How do I create a potluck?

Creating a potluck is simple:

1. Click "Create Your Free Potluck" on the homepage
2. Enter your email address
3. Choose a template (Thanksgiving, BBQ, Italian Night, etc.) or start from scratch
4. Set the date and time of your event.
5. Specify how many guests you expect.
6. Click "Create Potluck"

We'll email you a magic link to manage your potluck.

What templates are available and what do they do for me?

We offer pre-made templates for popular events to help get you started with a quick pre-made and pre-scaled menu:

• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Hanukkah
• Easter Brunch
• St. Patrick's Day
• Traditional BBQ
• Tailgating Party
• Italian Night
• Taco Tuesday
• Breakfast
• New Year's

Each template includes suggested menu items based on your guest count. These templates are designed to help you plan your event with ease and efficiency, ensuring that you have everything you need to make your potluck a success. If you just want to roll-your own menu; pick the Blank template. Blank templates include set-up help and tear-down help sign-ups since that's a common need across any event.

How do I share my potluck with guests?

After creating your potluck, you'll get a unique link (like potluckplan.com/potluck/abc123xyz). This can be found on the Potluck Details page. Share this link via email, text, or social media or by providing a QR code that guests can scan using the Camera app or a QR-Code scanning app on their phones and tablets.

How do I manage my potluck?

Using the management link sent to your email or by navigating to the Dashboard From the management page, you can:

• Add, edit, or remove menu items (The menu includes non-food items too -- think of these as individual sign-up opportunities).
• View who signed up for what
• Send custom notifications to participants
• Download a printable signup sheet
• Generate a QR code for easy sharing
• Download calendar invites (.ics files)
• Archive the potluck

Can I add items after creating the potluck?

Yes! From your management page, you can add new items at any time. Items are organized into categories: Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Desserts, Beverages, and Help.

Can I send reminders to my guests?

With a Premium Potluck upgrade, you can send automatic email reminders and custom notifications to all participants. Free potlucks can manually share the link as a reminder.

What is the "Who's Coming" feature?

All potlucks include RSVP tracking. Guests can indicate how many adults and children are attending, even if they're not bringing a dish. This helps you plan for the right amount of food and seating.

Do I need an account to sign up for an item?

No! You can sign up with just your name and email. We'll send you a confirmation email with a link to cancel if needed.

How do I sign up for an item?

On the potluck page:

1. Find an item you'd like to bring
2. Click "Sign Up"
3. Enter your name and email
4. Optionally add notes (e.g., "homemade" or "store-bought")
5. Click "Confirm"

You'll receive a confirmation email with details.

Can I sign up for multiple items?

Yes! You can sign up for as many items as you'd like. Each item can only be claimed by one person.

How do I cancel my signup?

Use the cancellation link in your confirmation email, or click "Remove Signup" next to your name on the potluck page.

Can I add notes to my signup?

Yes! When signing up, you can add notes like "gluten-free," "vegetarian," or "serves 8." You can also edit your notes later if you're logged in.

Can I add the potluck to my calendar?

Yes! Download the calendar invite (.ics file) from the potluck page. It works with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and other calendar apps. The invite includes what you're bringing.

What's included in a Premium Potluck?

Premium Potlucks include:

• Photo Galleries: Let guests upload and share photos from your event
• Automatic Reminders: Send email reminders before your event
• Custom Notifications: Send updates and announcements to all participants
• RSVP: Track guest counts (Children/Adults) for events -- even if they aren't bringing a dish.

How much does a Premium Potluck cost?

Premium Potlucks are a one-time upgrade per event. Check the pricing page for current rates.

Can I upgrade an existing potluck?

Yes! From your management page, click "Upgrade to Premium" to add premium features to your potluck.

What are Organizations?

Organizations allow teams, clubs, or groups to manage multiple potlucks together. With an organization subscription, all potlucks created under that organization automatically get premium features. Multiple members can manage potlucks collaboratively.

How does passwordless login work?

We use "magic links" for authentication. When you enter your email, we send you a secure link that logs you in automatically. Upon successful authentication, a cookie is then set in the browser as a reference to the current session in your browser. No password to remember or reset!

Is my data secure?

Yes. We use industry-standard security practices, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure authentication, and we regularly apply security updates and maintain the application. We never sell your email address to third parties.

Can I access my potluck from my phone?

Yes! PotluckPlan is fully responsive and works on all modern devices / browsers. We test our website regularly on phones, tablets, and computers.

What happens to my potluck after the event?

Your potluck shifts into a read-only state and remains accessible. You can view past potlucks from your dashboard. Premium potlucks keep their photo galleries available for you to revisit memories for 45 days after the event.

Can I delete my potluck?

Yes, you can archive the potluck. From your management page, scroll to the "Danger Zone" section and click "Delete Potluck." This action cannot be undone and will trigger a removal of photos as well.

I didn't receive my magic link email

Try these steps:

1. Check your spam/junk folder. Look for e-mails from noreply@potluckplan.com
2. Wait a few minutes - We've observed that some e-mail providers take around five minutes to process and deliver e-mails. E-mail client applications may require a manual "Synchronization / Refresh" to pull e-mail
3. Make sure you entered your email correctly
4. Try requesting a new link on the login page.

My magic link expired

Magic links expire after a certain time for security.

Navigate to the login page and attempt a fresh sign-in. A new login link will be sent to the e-mail used. Once you are authenticated, you should be able to access whatever page you were trying to access earlier.

I can't find my potluck

Check your email for the management link, or log in to view your dashboard which shows all your potlucks. You can also check "Recently Visited" if you've viewed the potluck before.

... I still can't see my potluck ... or any potlucks I created ...
Double check you're signed in using the same e-mail address you originally used to create potlucks (Search your inbox for previous e-mails). At PotluckPlan, potlucks and sign-ups are associated with a specific e-mail address.

Someone signed up for the wrong item

The person who signed up can cancel their signup using the link in their confirmation email. As the organizer, you can also remove signups from your management page. The individual who signed up for that menu item will be notified when the potluck organizer removes their signup.

What does "Pending Verification" mean on a signup?

This means that the person who signed up for an item hasn't confirmed their email yet. Perhaps they haven't checked their e-mail yet, or provided an invalid one. In any case, they're halfway there. But we can't confirm that their e-mail address is valid.