Especially with the current pandemic, couples are wondering now more than ever what are the benefits or differences between having your event at a restaurant versus an event space? Banquet halls are usually part of a hotel or restaurant that are used mainly for weddings or other personal events. Most banquet hall providers offer food and catering along with the hall. Event venues are usually very large spaces for larger events and parties.
So which option is better? It depends on your needs! You’ll need to consider, budget, event feel, location etc. After years of being experts in the industry, we weigh in on the elements you should consider to help you make your decision below.
Space
- Restaurant/Bar: The biggest pro or con to having your event here is that restaurants will most likely have a designated look and feel. Your decor will be minimal if anything at all. This is great if you’re looking for minimum work or just love the feel of that restaurant! On that same note, make sure that the restaurant, space, and it’s furniture or rentals are maintained. You don’t want anything looking run down on the day of your event. There are lots of restaurants that have a gorgeous patio or rooftop for your experience, so get creative!
- Venue: When you select your own venue, you’ll have much more freedom in customizing the look, feel and overall experience. While this will require much more work or planning on either your part or your planners, this allows for a customizable experience with lots of room for creativity. The options are endless!
Food
- Restaurant/Bar: Most restaurants will offer a pre-set menu for your occasion. It’s the easiest way that allows for fewer servers to manage a large group setting together rather than various complicated dishes. Remember that you have to work within the restaurant’s scope, so food options may be limited. This may be difficult to ensure you have something available for a broad range of tastes and dietary preferences.
- Venue: While some venues do work with preferred caterers, you will still have much more freedom on crafting your menu here than at a Restaurant or Bar. Play with different trends and unique food presentations to make your event memorable! Here you have the option to customize everything from the canapés, cocktails to the sit-down meal. Great food and drinks will stay in the minds of your guests!
Cost
- Restaurant/Bar: Having your event here means you’re seeing all of the costs upfront. Rentals like chairs, silverware, tables are usually already part of the restaurant, so that will help you save money! Another bonus here is that restaurants are more likely to accommodate additional seats, food, or drinks last minute since everything is in house. Just like a venue, certain days of the week may cost less to host your event. Avoid prime restaurant hours for a better deal. A note that you may or may not run into; time limits at restaurants.
- Venue: Working at a venue often includes costs that people don’t expect. You’re not only paying for the event space, but you will need to add in costs for rentals including chairs, silverware, linen and more. Finding an all-inclusive venue will help you here. If you have additional guests or last-minute food needs, it may be harder to solve than if you were at a restaurant. Most venues offer discounted rates for avoiding prime event times, so be sure to account for this when setting prices for location.
Capacity**
- Restaurant/Bar: The most important question is how many guests will that space accommodate easily?** We’ve all been to an event where our elbows touch the person next to us and we have to shimmy just to get out of our seat. Work with the venue host to select the right size space and different options if there are multiple selections. A smaller space will make your guests feel uncomfortable, while a larger size might affect people’s perception of its success.
- Venue: One of the first things you should look at when selecting your venue is the capacity of the event space.** Remember that you’re looking at a space without all of your rentals, guests and additional decor involved, so ask the expert opinion of your venue host. A larger capacity won’t hurt your event space as much as a smaller space would. You want people to move easily, and of course have space to dance the night away!
Amenities
- Restaurant/Bar: This is where restaurants can really sweeten the deal! An established restaurant working as a venue will have in-house AV equipment, Wi-Fi capabilities, and even a designated parking lot or valet service for your guests at no extra cost. Additionally, they include a fully trained staff that understands excellent customer service.
- Venue: Working with a venue, especially a smaller one, will come with its own set of questions and potential issues. Where will everyone park? Valet service will probably be an additional fee. You will have to bring in AV equipment and a lighting company to get your desired look and feel. The last thing you want to do is serve up a less-than-stellar experience because the event is understaffed and a little sloppy… However working with experienced professional vendors you or the planner have picked will easily solve any issues in the venue!
** The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges regarding capacities for event spaces and for actual allowable attendance. Please check with the Restaurant/Bar or Event Venue management or your planner and vendors regarding current legal allowances.
Looking for more insight? We work with a number of event professionals including restaurants, unique venues and more – so we can give you tips on what the best option is to fit your needs! Inquire with us about your next celebration! Call 84 West Events today at 954-236-9000 or drop us an email at Celebrate@84WestEvents.com.
