If you’ve been asked to choose a venue for an event and don’t know where to start, we’ve got some top tips lined up. Whether you’re looking to host a wedding or work event, there are certain tricks to make your venue selection a smooth experience.
Plan Your Venue Selection
First things first, budget! Your venue is likely to take up a huge chunk of the overall cost of your event. So you absolutely must work out your budget before you choose a venue. It’s all too easy to fall in love with a great place only to go through the heartbreak of discovering it’s over your price limit.
Once the budget is set, work out how much time you have. Ideally, you want to give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect place. Venues often book up way in advance, so the more notice you have, the better.
Size and Season
The amount of people attending your event has a big impact on suitable venues. If you want a big, dramatic event with 500 people, that quaint cottage with a capacity of 50 isn’t going to work.
The size will affect the atmosphere too. Look for smaller venues if you want cosy, intimate vibes and bigger areas for larger groups.
If you’d like some space for outdoor games, make sure your plans match the season. The Great British weather isn’t famed for its reliability, and nobody wants a game of rounders in a hail storm.
Where?
Once you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to look at where to host your event. Do you need to find somewhere near hotels? And what about transport links? A summer funfair in the middle of a field is all fun and games until you need to coordinate getting everyone there and back again.
Practicalities aren’t always fun, but the right location goes a long way to making your event run without a hitch.
Food and Drink
A biggy! Planning your food and drink needs is a key part of venue selection. Food is a massive social element that can make or break an event.
Some venues are decked out with everything they need to provide food, drinks and clearing services. If this is the case, check to see if there’s a minimum guest or spend amount before you choose a venue.
If you opt for somewhere without these facilities, you’ll need to factor in extra elements, like table hire and crockery hire. Got keen chefs in your group? Why not look into hiring catering equipment and having a truly personalised menu for your guests.
How you want to manage your food and drink has a big impact on the best place to host your event.
Conclusion
Choosing a venue for an event is a big decision to make. It affects the whole style and vibe of the day and has knock-on effects for practicalities.
If you’d like any help with your event catering supplies, use our contact form or call us on 02920 232408.