What you want in a function centre, function romo or function venue will depend on what type of function you are holding and most importantly, what your personal preferences are. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions of the venue or conference centre about the function facilities or conference facilities, and make sure you get the information you want before committing to anything.

Your Function

Your requirements are going to be very different if you are organising a convention for 1500 attendees than if you are organising an intimate party for your parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Make sure you know what your requirements are before going to see function centres, it will save you a lot of time. The larger your function is, the rarer a suitable function centre will be. You may also have fewer options if you are organising a small social function out of business hours, many function centres only have smaller rooms available for day use.

Personal Preferences

If you want to have a party with a country theme you should probably steer clear of the castle that doubles as a function centre. Likewise, if you want a sophisticated wedding function for fifty people, you should save your time and skip the function centre that seats four hundred people. Have an idea of what your preferences are before visiting sites. Although having an open mind is a great thing, if you haven’t thought about the kind of function you want before visiting function centres, you will be influenced by the sites rather than your tastes and preferences.

Things to look for in a function centre

• Location – is it where you need it? If you are getting married in Sydney, a function centre in Bathurst probably won’t be suitable for your reception.
• Size – it is suitable for the amount of people you are expecting? Remember to consider if you want attendees or guests to be seated.
• Catering – if you want to serve a three course meal the function centre will need to have full kitchen facilities and staff. Think about whether you are willing to cater for yourself.
• Access – if you want to have Great Aunt Maude at your wedding, make sure you have the reception somewhere she can get her wheelchair into. Think about your guest list and check the entry points.
• Liquor Licence – if you want to serve alcohol make sure the venue has the relevant licences. Also check the hours that the licence is valid for.
• Price – some function centres charge for the room as well as per head for catering. Make sure you are aware of all the charges that will be involved.
• Furniture – some function centres have different types of furniture available for events. Check the different costs and availability of what you want.
• Shared Location – many function centres have more than one function being held at any one time. If you want to be the only function on site, check for this option.
• Facilities – check the toilets for cleanliness and adequacy and don’t forget about parking.
• Staff – ask about how many staff will be working your event. If you are planning a sit down dinner for two hundred people they will need to have more than a couple of staff working.
• Insurances – check that the venue has public liability insurance and that it is up to date.
• References – don’t be afraid to ask for references. Many function centres will have testimonials on their website but don’t be shy to ask for more.

It is important to choose a venue where you feel comfortable and whose staff you feel you can work with to achieve a successful event. Take your time to investigate thoroughly and be aware of any terms before paying a deposit.