How To Select Your Venue
Choosing the right venue for your event can feel overwhelming, but asking the right questions can quickly bring clarity. I guide my clients through three simple considerations: city or suburbs, hotel or non-hotel, and traditional or novel. Each choice helps narrow the search, revealing the venues that truly fit your vision, vibe, and priorities.
Good luck out there!
Michael Siagel
City vs. Suburb?
Start by answering this question and save yourself time and energy. Which do you value more: The convenience and efficiency of a suburban venue? Or the excitement of celebrating with your guests downtown?
Hotel vs. Non-Hotel?
Hotels make excellent venues, but there are other options to explore as well. Would you appreciate the guidance and oversight from an experienced hotel hospitality team? Or would you like to venture out and explore the less frequented settings for your celebration?
Traditional vs. Novel?
Whether you are in a city or suburb, hotel or non-hotel, you still have to choose between a traditional event space and a novel event space. Traditional spaces are easier to plan in because they offer familiar spaces, services, and support. Novel venues have unique traits that make them special but potentially more difficult to work within.
Venue Class
City
Clients choosing city venues often expect to pay a premium, whether through higher venue fees or increased transportation costs. However, they benefit from a wider variety of food and space options. Certain city venues can also offer cost efficiency, though they may come with limitations in terms of capacity, service, or overall desirability.
Suburb
While the suburbs offer fewer venue options, clients benefit from added convenience and, in some cases, lower costs. Suburban venues range from budget-friendly options like halls and recreation centers to elegant country clubs and unique estates. Many choose suburban venues to save on costs, enhance convenience, or enjoy a more tranquil and serene atmosphere.
Hotel
Clients who choose hotel venues are typically prepared to pay a premium, often through food and beverage minimums. However, they benefit from enhanced customer service, streamlined planning, and the reliability of a proven hospitality track record. Additionally, hotels often include essential rentals as part of their catering packages, which can be a significant advantage.
Non-Hotel
Clients who opt for non-hotel venues typically do so to avoid hosting their event in a traditional hotel setting. This choice may stem from a desire to steer clear of high food and beverage minimums or simply to break away from the conventional. It's important to note that non-hotel venues can sometimes result in higher costs due to their limited services and unique layouts. However, the primary advantage lies in escaping the standard hotel packages and spaces, allowing for a more personalized and distinctive event experience.
Examples: Temples, Country Clubs, Restaurants, Bars, Mansions/Estates, Halls/Rec Centers, Night-Clubs, Homes, Blank Slate Venues*
Traditional
Clients who select traditional venues are usually prepared to sacrifice some novelty for convenience and planning ease. Those who select a traditional venue benefit (in some cases) from elevated customer services, simpler planning, and piece of mind knowing that they are not "re-inventing the wheel".
Examples: Standard Hotel Ballrooms, Temples, Most Country Clubs
Novel
Clients who select Novel venues are usually prepared to pay a premium to cover the unique challenges presented by unique spaces and destinations. Oftentimes these challenges are also opportunities for creativity and for providing a special guest experience. Those who select a Novel venue benefit (in some cases) by having the freedom to design outside of the traditional.
Examples: Unique Hotel Ballrooms, Restaurants, Bars, Mansions/Estates, Halls/Rec Centers, Night Clubs, Homes, Blank Slate Venues*
Venue Catagory
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We've all been there! This is both a benefit and a drawback. Hotels are experts at hosting seamless events in their spaces, allowing you to simply fill in the event planning "blanks" and scale the event to your needs. However, food quality and prices can vary significantly within this category.
While most hotels follow a traditional format, some suburban and primarily urban hotels offer unique twists on the norm. Whether it's stylish furniture, a trendy bar area, a stunning outdoor space, or a distinctive theme, these hotels feature standout elements that can make your event even more memorable. Just be mindful of potential limitations like guest capacity, additional event planning requirements, and the flow of guests between multiple rooms.
Some suburban but mostly urban hotels do offer a twist on the norm. Whether it's chic furniture, a swanky bar area, a beautiful outdoor space, or a special theme, these hotels have distinguished features that can make your event even more special. Watch out for limited guest capacity, additional event planning needs, and multi-room guest flow.
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Parties hosted in restaurants and bars can be a fun and unique experience! If you choose the right venue, your guests will enjoy a lively atmosphere and, hopefully, some fantastic food. While some restaurant managers are skilled at hosting private events, many are not, especially when it comes to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Don’t expect hotel-level hospitality at every establishment, as it may be harder to come by. It’s best to manage your expectations for a laid-back, enjoyable celebration or enlist a professional event planner to ensure everything runs smoothly!
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Channel your inner Gatsby and prepare for a truly elegant affair. Historic venues often provide excellent hospitality, featuring experienced banquet managers, delicious food, and stunning surroundings. The main challenge you may face is creating a seamless event flow that aligns with your goals. Large parties often spill into multiple spaces, which can make certain events tricky. It can be difficult for entertainers to gather everyone, especially when cozy, charming nooks lure guests away to explore. Multi-room events can be fantastic, but be sure to consult with your planner before expecting guests to move effortlessly from one room to the next. Unlike many mansions and estates, farms and other rustic venues often offer ample space to keep your guests together in one area. Some have structures, while others use tents, so make sure you have a solid plan for inclement weather, logistics, and infrastructure at these venues.
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Hosting an event at home can be a truly special experience, offering unmatched comfort and intimacy. It provides the flexibility to bring your vision to life and the opportunity to control costs more effectively. However, potential downsides include the risk of damage to the home, cleanup challenges, limited power sources, restricted space, catering service difficulties, and fewer options for weather contingencies. A major pitfall when planning a large gathering at home is the assumption that it will cost less. We would caution that this is not always the case, as building the necessary infrastructure for an event—where none exists—can be a big endeavor. See From Good to Unforgettable: The Power of Addressing Basic Human Needs in Event Planning
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Blank slate venues can seem like the ultimate event spaces. With their open layouts and unique atmospheres, such as libraries, penthouses, warehouses, garages, theaters, or studios, they are ideal for special gatherings and brimming with potential, making you eager to host an event just to utilize the space. These raw spaces may appear to require little decoration. However, the reality is that you’ll likely need to invest more here than at more traditional venues. Even with a minimalist approach, everything—from furniture to lighting—must be brought in, which can be a significant challenge for those without a planner or experience. When executed professionally, however, these venues can showcase some of the most spectacular event setups the city has to offer.
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Some venues stand out due to their unique theme, location, or purpose. Sports stadiums, theme parks, and arcades offer exciting options for nontraditional events. When considering these spaces for your celebration, be aware that they often come with plenty of distractions for your guests. It’s best to embrace the vibe and let your attendees enjoy the unique environment you've chosen. However, if the idea of managing those distractions feels overwhelming, it may be worth exploring other venue types.
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Halls and recreation centers offer plenty of flexibility when it comes to decor and food, with lower costs that allow you to allocate more towards entertainment—something we love here at Siagel! Our clients appreciate the savings and convenience, but often don’t realize they’ll need to take on the role of event planner for these venues. Usually, there is a point of contact, but they may not have event planning experience or limited bandwidth to share. If you have high expectations and limited time, an event planner could be a good investment, as these spaces aren’t always naturally stunning and don’t always offer exceptional hospitality. However, if you’re laid-back and ready to roll up your sleeves as a part-time event planner, these venues could be a perfect fit!
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Country clubs provide an elegant setting for special events, offering exceptional service, delicious food, and stunning suburban views. They can be an excellent choice for a memorable celebration, though the costs and membership requirements may be prohibitive for some.
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Nightclubs are a blast, easy to plan, and full of high energy. Since these venues are highly profitable after 11:00 p.m., expect your event to take place at an unconventional time or end a bit earlier than usual. The benefits include incredible audio, a stunning light show, and the convenience of not needing many outside vendors. Hospitality is their specialty, so you can count on excellent service but they my not be super experienced in your particular event type. Other drawbacks include limited customization, food options, earlier event endings, and city-related challenges like transportation and parking.