WARNING: This blog is FULL of questions, they can be overwhelming, I apologize. The good thing is I am not requiring answers, it’s all just for you to think about.

So you are engaged, graduating, married 25 years, celebrating retirement, planning a fundraiser, or you just want to celebrate. Before you can do much else, you need a space. What should you be looking for?

Before you really look at a space think about the event, how do you envision it? Is it outside or inside? How many people are there? What type of food? What type of seating? Where do you go after the party? Is there a fireplace and snow outside? Is it Summer and air conditioning? Are you in the city or the country? Ten people or 110 people? Once you see the idea, write it down (in pencil of course since it’s subject to change).

So now that you have vision how much are you willing to spend? Things can get super costly quickly, a budget will always help tame any dream. If your budget is less than $100, then this party is probably only for ten people and at home. Unless you do a potluck, then maybe it can have thirty guests. Those parties are super fun, if that’s how it is, than it’s okay and you are making great memories!

If you are planning a wedding, they say the average WI Wedding with 150 guests is approximately $30,000. WHOA!!! If that is your goal, maybe you need to plan a few years out, and that is okay too.

So you have the dream, and the budget has lead you to know you are inviting 100 guests, and the event is in one year. That’s is a great start! Now you can begin your venue search. If you are thinking indoors, in Central WI, downtown, than you have found the Rose House and we would love to be considered for your celebration.

First you should check availablity and packages prices, as well as occupancy, if you can work with that, than schedule the tour.

When you come to the tour, bring your questions. These questions are great for all venues:

1) What is included in the rental cost? The cost may just include the room with everything else being additional, that is important to know upfront.

2) What is the time frame of the day rental? Is there a specific time we need to leave by? What time frames limitations are there for the vendors? Sometimes vendors want to drop items off the day before, or see about picking up the next day, for a lot of venues that is not an option.

3) Event Insurance-is this required?

4) What is required to secure the date? How much is the security deposit? Are taxes included in the rental fee?

5) Parking. Are there any limits? What about deliveries and loading zone?

6) Can we bring in our own food and beverages? You might be thinking grandma’s roast beef would be the best meal for this party. In WI there are some health codes that prohibit food brought in if the space has a licensed kitchen, you definitely want to know that upfront. If you can bring food, is there a prep area for you to use? If you are not permitted to bring in your own food and beverage, what is permitted? Do you have to use their in house food/beverage service? Are there any limits regarding caterers? Do they have a preferred vendor list? Regarding the cake, does it have to be a licensed baker? Another note on cake-many bakers drop the cake off early. And they just drop off a cake. When it comes to the cake cutting there are no plates. Is there a cake cutting fee from the venue? If there is and you prefer to avoid it, be sure to plan a person to cut and distribute the cake, also to bring the tableware for the dessert and the cutting utensils. *There is always risk in allowing food to be brought into a venue, if everyone got sick, problems could arise to paint the venue as the responsible party, please be understanding if they have set up perimeters to prevent that.

7) Are there any decorations that are not permitted? In our venue we do not allow unattended candle flames, that is something you want to prepare for and would like to know in any space. I know there are some outdoor venues that don’t allow Styrofoam plates, also a good thing to know.

8) What is expected in the clean up? Do they want you to sweep and mop or just take your things at the end of the event? Are you allowed to leave bagged garbage or do you need to take it somewhere?

I know this is more like 25 questions for your venue tour, but they are all good questions! I am sorry to throw so much at you. There is always a lot to think about. I hope you find this useful. In another blog someday soon, I will answer these for the Rose House. For now I just thought you’d enjoy them for anywhere you go.

Thanks for reading!

-Rosalind