Choosing the Perfect Venue for Your Event
Organizing an event is tough work. Whether you’re planning a wedding, a birthday party, or any other kind of celebration in between, one of the most vital things to consider is your event venue.
When searching for a venue for your event, keep in mind that the earlier you start looking, the better off you’ll be. Venues typically book events out months or even years in advance, depending on the type of event, so once you have basic things like your budget, estimated event size, and space requirements laid out, you’re ready to start looking for a venue that will best fit your needs.
Here are some things to consider when finding the right venue for your event:
Service and Amenities
Do you need a kitchen readily available? Mountain View Events has a fully-equipped commercial kitchen, which is perfect for bringing in caterers to serve your event.
Does the venue offer tables, chairs, and linens for use? If a venue does, this can oftentimes save a significant amount of money and effort by using materials that the venue already has. Mountain View Events offers tables and chairs for gatherings of up to 60 people or less, and basic table settings are available for a fee.
Does the venue offer a setup/clean up crew? It is rare that venues have a dedicated set up and clean up crew, so if you find a venue with one, you’ve found a gem! Mountain View Events offers setup and breakdown assistance for your floor plan so long as you are utilizing our chairs and tables.
Does the venue have audio/visual capabilities? Some venues have built in AV equipment for you to use, while others will require that you bring your own. Mountain View Events boasts an in-house sound system, including a portable PA and microphone.
Location & Parking
Arguably one of the most important things to consider when choosing your venue – the location. When thinking about location, be sure to consider things like lodging, traffic, transportation, and parking options. Although Mountain View Events doesn’t offer onsite lodging, we can recommend several nearby accommodations within a short drive. At our venue, we can accommodate up to 175 cars onsite.
Capacity
What’s the capacity? You’ll need to ensure that your guests will fit in your venue comfortably. 500 people can’t comfortably fit into a room with a 250-person capacity, so always be sure to ask what the maximum capacity is for the venue. Mountain View Events has indoor and outdoor seating options that can accommodate up to 250 people. Indoors, the dining room and dedicated bar area can host up to 150 people.
Layout and Aesthetics
When searching for your venue, have a general idea of what kind of activities you’ll be including in your event, and subsequently, the kinds of amenities you’ll require and needs of your attendees. Make notes of where outlets are and where AV equipment is.
Think about the flow of traffic through your event – what areas will have high traffic? Keep this in mind when setting up tables and chairs. Will you be having a speaker or performer at your event? If so, you’ll need some kind of stage or designated area for them.
Also, be sure to consider the aesthetic and vibe of your chosen venue. How a venue looks will influence the atmosphere of your event. For example, the requirements for a farmhouse-style wedding will greatly differ from that of a gala or an expo. If the venue doesn’t align with your event’s tone (ex. upscale, farmhouse, modern, etc.), you might need to invest in more decorations.
Another thing to consider is accessibility. All attendees, particularly those with special needs, should be able to utilize the venue and its amenities. Ensure that you understand your attendees and their requirements before deciding on a venue.
While there is a lot to consider when choosing a venue for your event, by taking the above information into consideration when doing your research, finding the perfect venue for your event should be a breeze!