Recipes

Invite-Only Event

An invite-only event restricts who can register. Forge supports two distinct modes: a hidden registration page (where guests access registration only via a private link) and a fully manual mode (where an event planner registers attendees on their behalf with no self-service registration at all).

Event Info tab — Visible toggle controls whether the event appears in public listings.
Event Info tab — Visible toggle controls whether the event appears in public listings.

Before you start

  • Decide which mode you need: private link (guests self-register via a secret URL) or fully manual (event planners add attendees from within Forge).
  • Have your guest list ready if you plan to use the Invite List or manual attendee creation flow.
  • For private-link mode, plan how you will distribute the link (email, calendar invite, personal outreach).

Steps — Mode 1: Private Registration Link

  1. Create your event as normal. On the **Event Info** tab, find the **Visible** toggle and set it to *Off* (false). This hides the event from any public event listings or browse pages — but the direct registration URL still works.
  2. Set the event Status to *Active* so the registration page is live.
  3. Copy the registration URL from the Overview tab and send it directly to your invited guests. Only someone with the link can access the page and register.
  4. Optionally, go to **Tickets & Items** and use a **Discount Code** with a required access code to add a second layer — guests must enter the code at checkout to complete registration.

Steps — Mode 2: Fully Manual Registration

  1. On the **Event Info** tab, set **Visible** to *Off* and also enable the **Hide Register Button** option. This removes the registration button entirely from the event page — even if someone has the URL, they cannot self-register.
  2. Set the event Status to *Active*.
  3. To add attendees, open the **Attendees** tab within the event workspace. Click **+ New Attendee**. Fill in the attendee's name, email, and ticket selection. Forge creates the `conference360__Attendee__c` record directly in Salesforce without a payment transaction (or you can charge them separately if needed).
  4. Repeat for each guest on your list. For large lists, use the **Import Attendees** option to upload a CSV.
  5. Send confirmation emails manually from the **Communications** tab using the bulk email tools.

Invite List vs. manual creation

The Attendees tab lets you create individual attendees one at a time. For large guest lists (dozens or hundreds), the CSV import feature (also on the Attendees tab) is faster. The import matches on email address and links the attendee to an existing Contact or Lead in Salesforce where possible.

What this creates in Salesforce

Salesforce Field Mapping
ForgeSF ObjectSF Field
Visible = Off (hidden from listings)conference360__Event__cVisible__c
Hide Register Buttonconference360__Event__cHide_Register_Button__c
Manually created attendeeconference360__Attendee__cconference360__First_Name__c / conference360__Last_Name__c / conference360__Email__c / conference360__Status__c

Attendee PII stays in Salesforce

Names, email addresses, and other personal details you enter when creating attendees are stored exclusively in Salesforce (`conference360__Attendee__c`). Forge displays this data just-in-time from Salesforce and does not persist it in its own database.

Verify

  • The event does not appear in any public event browse page or listing.
  • For Mode 1: the registration URL works for invited guests; an uninvited visitor with only the base domain URL cannot find the event.
  • For Mode 2: the direct URL shows the event details but no registration button; attempting to navigate to the registration form URL results in a closed/unavailable message.
  • Manually created attendees appear in the Attendees tab with Status = Registered.
  • Salesforce shows the `conference360__Attendee__c` records linked to the correct event.