When it comes to celebrating your special day, you want everything to be perfect, and finding a wedding reception venue is no exception. What do people look for in a wedding venue? We’re glad you asked, you came to the right place. We put together a list of tips and tricks to find a venue that you’re over the moon about. 

Tips to Find a Reception Venue

If you find yourself wondering what the most important factor is in selecting a venue, we narrowed it down to four for you:

1. Capacity

You will first want to figure out your guest count when it comes to the wedding reception so that you can find a reception venue that is appropriate for your number of attendees. If you have a large guest count, you will want to make sure an event space has a large enough capacity to hold everyone and to also make sure it is comfortable. The last thing you want is guests feeling uncomfortable because they are cramped into a space that’s too tight for them. You also want to make sure you avoid the opposite as well, having a venue that is too big for your party size where it is awkward, empty space in between.

2. Event Planning Team

We also recommend finding a venue that has an event planning team because this will make your job significantly easier and a whole lot less stressful when you have a team to turn to. An event planning team can help you with every detail of the party ensuring nothing goes missed. At Ovation Square, we have a team of event planning experts behind us that will make sure your vision comes to life exactly the way you imagined it. Then when it comes to the big day, all you have to focus on is enjoying it rather than orchestrating it.

3. Aesthetic and Atmosphere

You will also want to choose the right venue based on the aesthetic and the atmosphere. The event space is what brings your event to life and it’s important you can envision yourself in this venue. If you have certain themes and décor you want to incorporate, does the event space match the aesthetic or will it clash? Does the atmosphere feel how you want your big day to feel? What is the setup and layout of the venue, and can it accommodate the things you would like to host on your day such as dancing, a live band, traditional activities and so forth? These are things to consider when choosing the perfect place.

4. Amenities

Another factor to consider when planning a wedding reception is the amenities that the venue has to offer. How many bathrooms do they have and is it appropriate for your guest count? Do they have the equipment and on-site staff to help mitigate issues or technical difficulties? Do they have a stage if you want to have live performances? What about display screens for photo displays or videos? You will want to make a list of the things you need and want to make your day go off without a hitch.

5. Location

If you find yourself searching for reception venues near me, you may want to consider where a convenient place would be not only for you but your guests as well. For example, if you’re looking at wedding venues in Los Angeles, and realize some of them have more convenient options for parking than others or are easier to get to right off a highway rather than driving up winding roads and bluffs, that may be a better option when it comes to your guests arriving on time and not being frustrated by figuring out where to park their car. 

At Ovation Square, we have an excellent location downtown in the heart of Long Beach. We can bring your special day to life exactly the way you envision it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If the venue we find is in a trickier location, what do you suggest?
A: We would recommend setting up travel accommodations for guests to make it easier. Maybe hire a valet team to take care of guests or a shuttle service to drop guests off at the door. This way people can avoid frustration altogether.

Q: What if I love the venue, but it’s too big for the guests I want to have?
A: You can always ask the venue if they have separate spaces within the event space or if they can section off certain areas to make the venue feel closer and more intimate. 

Q: What does an event planning team help with?
A: They can be as involved as you want them to be. If you want them to plan everything from start to finish, they can, or you can have them be in charge of a few things, while you take charge of others. It’s totally up to you and what you had in mind for a budget.