Venues

The party venue, whether it's for a wedding, anniversary or other special event, is often one of the first things that couples and party hosts think about when planning their event. This is because not only does the availability of potential party locations dictate the date of the big day, but it can also set the scene for the entire event. 

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The first question to be asked when planning an event is how many People are you wanting included and attending your event comfortably.

 

Do you want a more intimate space or will you Need a bigger space? For example, securing a banquet hall in a hotel is very different from a city park, as is hosting a party at an apartment very different from a huge mansion.

 

Your event venue will primarily dictate needs and considerations differently as well as determine boundary and other such limits that you may not realize until you sit down and really start loking at the planning .  

 

Another important question is,  are you wanting a formal event, or a more casual affair? An obvious example of the difference can be quickly found in the attendants of a wedding vs. a birthday party, though there Are in-between's such as anniversary parties. Or, perhaps you are wanting a Theme event which will consist of costume or other such attire. The expected dress will effect not only those involved in the event but also those catering it if not the guests themselves, and it's something that needs clearly made known to all who will be involved in the event.

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The next logical question to be asked is do you want your party indoors or outdoors? The season and weather will surely be key factors when considering your answer, or at least they should, especially if you're looking to utilize the great outdoors in any way shape or form.

 

Another more common option is to have multiple locations for an event, meaning that you want your reception gathering venue to be different from the main event ceremony, or an after-gathering elsewhere.

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Museums, aquariums, and zoo's have become increasingly popular party locations, especially encompassing children based events, whereas old buildings such as banks, churches and saloons have found successful platforms for adult-themed parties as well . The architecture and open space of these buildings provides a unique setting for larger events such as birthdays but too, weddings and galas are known to be hits too, and gives guests plenty to chat about. 

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More often than not, the majority of celebratory type of events tend to be held indoors more than outdoors, although too, the outdoors can be implemented and utilized if your mind and heart are set on it... Creator willing.  An indoor event greatly reduces the emphasis on seasonal weather impact, but not completely as you want your guests able to attend opposed to winding up snowed in, and too, it's a good idea to keep them as dry as possible, at least until the events end.

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Outdoor spaces often lend themselves as assets to special events particularly during the warmer months especially when it comes to adding space. For example, a child's party consisting of a bouncy-house might be best utilized outdoors opposed to being constricted indoors, or too, if you're including any animals such as a pony for photos.

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Do you want the event space(s) to include catering and wait staff?  There are many questions to ask yourself to narrow down your choices encompassing this question alone, which ultimately befall to you as the host.
 

It is generally a good idea to find an outdoor space that also has an indoor space or tent as a backup plan for bad weather if your event is scheduled for either spring or fall months.

 

Gazebos, gardens and courtyards are all wonderful settings for pictures as well as for the entertainment. 

Once you've looked at a few possible reception sites, you'll get a better idea if you prefer banquet halls or more casual locations such as a restaurant. Either way, ask if you can visit the venue when there is an event going on so you can see how they set up the space and how it looks with the lighting, decorations, and people!