These tips can go a long way toward helping you find the perfect event center or banquet hall for your event:  

• Look Early – The sooner you start looking for a venue the better. You should start looking as soon as you have a good idea of your budget, estimated event size and space needs. Definitely book your venue 4-6 months in advance, if not earlier  

• Location – The event center location is important too. For an event with mostly local attendees, look for a space that’s within a reasonable distance from guest’s homes or work. If a lot of people are coming from out of town, look for a venue that is close to airports or hotels. Don’t forget to think about traffic, parking and other forms of transportation.  

• Parking – What kind of parking options do the venues have? If a lot of your guests will be driving, look for event centers with plenty of parking spaces or valet parking. Always check for parking, don’t assume it will be taken care of. If you’re in a pinch, you can try and reserve nearby lots of spaces, or look into ride share discount codes for the event date.  

• Minimums – Most event centers have spending minimums for almost all events for at least food and beverage, if not more. Make sure that any venue you are looking at has minimums well within your range so you’re not wasting money on paying for items you don’t need. If you’re going to be well above the minimum, you can also ask about complimentary add-ons like WIFI access or A/V support.  

• Capacity – Always double check event center capacities. You should get a space that can fit the number of guests you will have. Also, try and leave a bit of wiggle room just in case. For example, if a venue capacity is 150 and your event is looking like it will be 150, it might be a tight fit. 

• Included Services – Read the fine print on venue contracts to be sure you know what services are included. Is there onsite catering, or do you have to bring your own food? Are tables, chair and linens included? What about china, flatware and glasses? Don’t forget to ask who will be in charge of set up and clean up, and what the A/V capabilities are.   

There are a lot of things to think about when choosing an event center, but it doesn’t have to be stressful if you use this list of tips and ideas. If you want more tips or would like to learn more about your options for event centers in San Juan, TX, Memorial Event Center is here to help. You can visit us at 208 E Canton Rd, Edinburg, TX 78539, or give us a call at (956) 720-4332.