When you are thinking of holding an event the first thing that comes to mind is the reception centre. It is important to book the venue well in advance to ensure that you do not have to compromise in that department later. Even if you are booking a birthday venue make sure you do it well in advance as this party cannot be postponed or celebrated before time. Birthdays are best celebrated on the designated date. However, finding the right venue can be a task so here are some guidelines that might help.

• Location - The whole point of hosting a party is to gather people and celebrate together. If you pick a location that is too far away, many people would be reluctant to come. Make sure that you pick the birthday venue close to easy public access points so that people from far and wide can attend the event. Make sure there is clear access to bus, rail and other public conveyances nearby. It helps if your chosen reception centre has a web presence where the location is clearly marked on the map. This makes it easier to inform friends and relatives about the exact location so they can conveniently navigate to it.


• Size - We all have a fair idea about the number of people that will be attending the party, especially in bigger events like a wedding. With RSVPs being maintained, we can gauge almost the exact number of people who will attend. That is why it is important to select a location of the adequate size. Do not think that bigger is always better. If you do not have a substantial number of guests an overlarge reception centre will look empty and awkward. It is better to go for a small to medium size so that the guests have a cozy feeling. However, make sure that there are enough chairs around so that even if all the guests get tired together, they each have a place to sit.


• Parking - At a time when most people travel by cars, it is essential to hire a birthday venue that has ample parking space. If there is designated valets to park the cars then there is nothing like it. However even if there isn't, enough space in the parking lot will guarantee that even the amateur driver will find a parking spot without denting cars. Having an onboard parking lot will also be a big relief for the guests as they do not have to constantly worry about the running parking meters and neither do they have to worry about the safety of the car when parked in a dark alleyway. Besides, who likes to walk miles when draped in fineries!


• Catering - A reception centre that offers catering services is hard to find but if you find it, you can consider yourself lucky. Even so, go through the list of menus meticulously, arrange for a tasting if required. It would be disastrous if the perfect birthday venue serves the most pathetic food. Once you have confirmed that the food is of good quality, you can go ahead and choose the menu that will be most appreciated with your band of guests.

Finding the right reception centre is no rocket science. It just needs some effort, some thought and wee bit research.