This week is an exciting week for blogging. We started our business in 2015 designing SPECIAL OCCASIONS before branching into weddings. Though Wedding are big part of Party Designs by Jax, it’s not the only special occasion we plan. In fact, right before Christmas I was ask to help a High School in need of direction and organization for their Senior Prom. I’m excited for two reasons 1. I’ve never planned a prom before and 2. these kids have such an amazing imagination, I just couldn’t say NO.
I’ll use this PROM to share tips, questions to ask when it comes to finding a venue for weddings, parties, even a prom.
First things first…You need a THEME… A theme sets the mood, it gives your guests a vision of who or what you want them to feel. For the PROM, the committee settled on “MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM” And what a dream it will be.
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The place where something happens, especially and organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports event.
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The scene or locale of any action or event.
Just like your theme, your venue set’s the mood, In fact they go hand in hand. Before coming on board, the prom committee did a lot of research into venues and choose their location at SHERATON in Downtown Raleigh. But like most, if you don’t have a place in mind, here’s a few tips to help you choose the perfect venue… Remember the venue is critical to your overall event’s success.
One- The Date
Two- Guest List
How many people are you expecting? 100, 200, 500+
Having idea of the amount of guest attending will help the venue know if they can accommodate your group.
Another example, a barn wedding. Because the venue is a barn your guest maybe limited due to the size of the barn. You won’t have the luxury to use multiple rooms to accommodate your guest. So knowing the amount of guest will help you determine what size barn you need.
As you can see, having an estimate guest count can really assist with know which venue will be best.
Three- Budget
Knowing your budget or at least a range from least to highest, will assist in knowing which place is right for you. Venues vary in price. Packages vary in price. So it’s very important before visiting the venue to know what you can afford.
Four- Venue Packages, Services, & Restrictions
Are they inclusive venue i.e. catering, bartending, rentals, all included. If so great because you get more bang for your buck. But if not, you have to outsource these items which can drive your finances up. Know the value in your venue to know if it’s right for your event. Here are a few questions to think about…
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Does this venue offer good parking options or valet?
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Does this venue offer security?
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Does this venue offer additional services like catering, floral arrangements, linen and table rentals, etc.?
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Does this venue have a setup and clean-up crew?
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Does this venue restrict what other vendors you work with?
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Does this venue have food and beverage minimums?
Here’s a full list of Questions to ask your Venue before signing the contract.
Five- Venue Walk-Through
Super, Super, Super important, once you narrow your venue list meet with each venue director/coordinator and complete a walk through. I recommend you bring along a colleague or friend to walk through with you. Having an extra set of eyes to help notice any details of venue you wouldn’t have caught by yourself. Walking a mile in your guest’s shoes before you commit to the venue will help your planning go along way.
I hope you find these to helpful when it comes to your venue search. I’d love to hear what you did when search fr your perfect venue.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH:
Party Designs by Jax is a wedding & events planning company in Clayton, NC focused on creating a Fun, Memorable and STRESS-FREE planning experience for all your event needs.
Leave your feedback below or send an email to Jaclyn@partydesignsbyjax.com. If you’d like to know more or meet up for coffee, we really look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks for some tips to find the right venue! I liked that you mentioned about knowing if the venue is inclusive which means they include catering, bartending, rentals, all included so that you would know which services you’ll just need to add on to them, as you’ve mentioned under “FOUR- VENUE PACKAGES, SERVICES, & RESTRICTIONS.” I’d be sure to do your suggestions, especially the venue walk-through to familiarize myself with the location. I’ll have my fiance decide this with me so it can accommodate both our preferences.