How to Set Up WP Engine Hosting for Event Espresso

When you’re hosting events — from small workshops to large conferences — your website needs to be fast, secure, and reliable. That’s where WP Engine comes in. Combined with Event Espresso, one of the best event registration plugins for WordPress, you can create a smooth booking experience for your attendees.

This guide will walk you through setting up WP Engine hosting specifically for a website running Event Espresso, so you can get up and running quickly and efficiently.

Why WP Engine and Event Espresso Work Well Together

• WP Engine provides managed WordPress hosting, meaning your website will automatically stay fast, updated, and secure without you having to lift a finger.
• Event Espresso is a feature-rich plugin that allows you to handle event registrations, ticketing, payment processing, and more — all within WordPress.

Both tools are built for performance and scalability, which is crucial if your events grow in size.

Supporting Source:
WP Engine Features Overview
Event Espresso Plugin Overview

Step-by-Step: Setting Up WP Engine for Event Espresso

1. Create a WP Engine Account

First, sign up for a WP Engine hosting plan.

• For most Event Espresso sites, the Startup plan is sufficient, but if you expect a lot of traffic, consider the Professional or Growth plans.

Get WP Engine Hosting Here

2. Set Up Your WordPress Site

Once you have an account:

• Log in to the WP Engine User Portal.
• Click Add Site.
• Choose Create New Environment (production) — this will set up your main WordPress site.
• WP Engine will automatically install a fresh version of WordPress for you.

3. Point Your Domain to WP Engine

If you already have a domain:

• Update your domain’s DNS settings to point to your WP Engine environment.
• WP Engine provides an easy-to-follow DNS guide during setup.

Supporting Source:
WP Engine – Go Live Checklist

4. Install an SSL Certificate

Event registrations often involve payments, so having a secure HTTPS connection is mandatory.

• WP Engine offers free SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt.
• In the User Portal, go to SSL > Add Certificates > select Free SSL.

5. Install and Configure Event Espresso

Now it’s time to install Event Espresso:

• Log into your WordPress Dashboard.
• Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
• Upload the Event Espresso plugin ZIP file (you’ll receive it after purchasing a license).
• Activate the plugin.
• Enter your Support License Key in Event Espresso → General Settings → Your Support License Key.

Download Event Espresso Here

6. Adjust Hosting Settings for Best Performance

Event Espresso is a powerful plugin, but certain features like ticketing, registration forms, and payment gateways can be resource-heavy. Here’s how to optimize:

• Caching:
  WP Engine has built-in caching. However, you should exclude Event Espresso’s critical pages (like checkout and registration pages) from caching to avoid issues.
  • Go to WP Engine > Site Settings > Advanced > Page Cache Settings > Add URLs to Exclude from Cache.
  • Example pages to exclude:
    • /registration/
    • /thank-you/
    • /event-checkout/
• CDN Settings:
  If you’re using a CDN through WP Engine, make sure not to cache dynamic Event Espresso pages.
• Backups:
  WP Engine automatically backs up your site daily, but you can trigger a manual backup before launching a new event.

Supporting Source:
Event Espresso – Caching Plugins and Hosting Issues

7. Test the Registration Process

Before opening your event registration to the public:

• Create a test event.
• Go through the full registration and payment process yourself.
• Confirm that confirmation emails and receipts are working properly.

Quick Tips for Success

Setting up WP Engine hosting for Event Espresso isn’t just about technical setup — it’s about creating a seamless, secure experience for your event attendees. When done correctly, your site will handle registrations smoothly and be ready to scale as your events grow.

By following this setup guide, you’ll position your events (and your brand) for success.

Further Reading:

• WP Engine – Getting Started
• Event Espresso Documentation Center