How to Pick a Banquet Facility
- 1). Determine the environment you're looking for. Your event may be a formal, black-tie affair in which a ballroom with marble floors and chandeliers are ideal, or you may be planning an informal family get-together and require only room to move around.
- 2). Choose a date for your event. Popular banquet facilities fill up fast, so plan your event far enough ahead to get the location you want. If you're in an area that has four seasons, take into consideration the winter months in which travel isn't preferred.
- 3). Consider the physical location of facilities. If your guests are coming from out of town, look for a facility near hotels and with easy access to the highway.
- 4). Make contact with your top banquet facility choices. Places to consider include hotels, large restaurants, country clubs, town halls and party centers. Receive referrals from friends and family concerning their past experience at different banquet facilities.
- 5). Ask about prices and what's included with each facility. Most banquet facilities require use of their food, services and staff, so the food choices may increase the overall price. Also ask if you can bring your own live entertainment and if there is parking near the banquet facility.
- 6). View your top selections. It's not wise to book a banquet facility sight-unseen, so go in person to evaluate each location and determine if it fits your needs.
- 7). Pick your banquet facility. You may be required to place a monetary deposit for some or all of the expected costs. Know the cancellation policy of the facility and whether you'll receive your deposit back in the event of changes to your plans.