Picking an Event Location
Planning a large event? Whether you are making plans for a wedding, a baby shower, a birthday party, a family reunion, a business get together or something else entirely, one of the first things you will need to decide is where you want the event to take place. There are many things to consider when determining where to hold your event.

Outdoors or indoors?
Outdoor venues can be very attractive and are good places for large get-togethers because of the space available, often at a more affordable price than a similarly sized indoor venue. For instance, a park can be a lovely and affordable option for any event. However, outdoor locations are susceptible to environment and climate. Many parties have been ruined by rain and bad weather. In locations and during the times of year when weather might be a problem, it is highly recommended to have some sort of a sheltered option for the party to move to whether it be a temporary tent or a more permanent structure. If the event will last after dark, outdoor lighting is also important.

Indoor venues offer a more controlled environment. There is no question about whether the day will be too hot or cold, or too wet or windy. This is especially important during winter months! The set up is often simpler as many facilities have some or all of the furniture needed for large events and the availability of kitchens and electricity makes catering or food prep easier. Parties are not limited to daylight hours. Indoor facilities are often limited in space and generally cost more to rent than a similarly priced outdoor facility. They also do not usually have the built in photogenic appeal of many outdoor locations, though there are some indoor venues that are absolutely lovely.

A third option is to use a facility with both indoor and outdoor facilities. These venues can be pricier to rent, but they offer the best of both worlds. The party can move indoors if the weather gets bad, and part of the party can be held inside and part outside.

Use your own location or rent?
Some people are lucky enough to have a large enough facility available, in the family, so they do not have to rent a location for a party at all. Using your own location can save considerable expense and may also have special sentimental value for those involved. However, keep in mind the preparation and clean up necessary to use your own facility. How many people can the location comfortably host? Will it be necessary to rent or buy chairs and tables for the party? Will the party be held indoors or out? If the event is planned for outside, is there an alternate plan in case the weather turns sour? Is there sufficient parking? Are there enough bathrooms to keep the guests comfortable or will rentals need to be procured? What work will be necessary to prepare for the party and who is going to do it? Depending on the necessary preparations, there are situations where it might be cheaper to rent a facility after all.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of renting a facility for a party is the options available. There are facilities available for any size party priced to fit a wide range of budgets. There is no need to prepare your home and garden for a lot of guests and no risk of having valuable family treasures broken by an apologetic guest. Other benefits of renting a facility depend on the facility to be rented. Some facilities are all inclusive while others require the event holders to do most or all of the work themselves. The price of the rental will most likely reflect the amenities and services provided by the facility, as well as the facility’s popularity, availability and size.

Far away or close to home?
A wedding at a romantic location has a strong appeal to many couples. For instance, weddings in Hawaii are beautiful and a wedding in Vegas can be lots of fun. Other events can also be made extra special by a far away location. The problem with using a location that is not close to home is the travel time and expense will likely limit how many of the guests are able to make it to the event. The event will most likely have a smaller attendance than one that is close to home. The event will also probably cost more due to the travel and lodging expenses for the individuals hosing the event and the necessity of renting furniture and other items which might be already owned or available to borrow locally. Having an event far from home can make a lot of sense when the guests are coming from different locations. For instance if a bride and groom come from opposite sides of the country, a central location might provide a good compromise so family members will have a similar distance to travel to get to the event. A family get-together in an exotic location for a family that lives around the country will attract the guests for the location almost as much as the event. The event can become an excuse for the vacation of a lifetime.

Close to home events are generally less expensive and easier to plan. Living in an area makes it easier to know where the best venues are in that area and also what the weather is likely to be during the time the event is planned. Local guests will have an easier time getting to an event that is closer to home since the cost and time needed to attend the event will be minimal. For events such as weddings, the location might also have special sentimental value.

Decided or need more help?
Know where you want to hold your event? Great! Book it as soon as possible! Popular event venues fill up early, so the sooner you make your reservations, the more likely the dates you want will still be available.

If you are still trying to determine the best place for your event, we are putting together event venue lists for locations across the West United States on this web-site. These guides will be made available on our web-site as soon as they are completed.

Event Venues

Arizona
* Apache Junction * Avondale * Bisbee * Buckeye * Bullhead City * Carefree * Cave Creek *
* Chandler * Chino Valley * Cornville * Flagstaff * Fort McDowell * Fountain Hills * Gilbert *
* Glendale * Gold Canyon * Goldfield * Goodyear * Greer * Litchfield Park * Marana * Mayer *
* Mesa * Naco * Oracle * Paradise Valley * Peoria * Phoenix * Pinetop – Lakeside * Prescott *
* Prescott Valley * Rimrock * Scottsdale * Sedona * Show Low * Skull Valley * Somerton *
* Sun City * Tempe * Tucson * Wickenburg * Yuma *

California
* Agoura Hills * Anaheim * Arcadia * Auburn * Bakersfield * Balboa * Bel Air * Berkeley *
* Beverly Hills * Big Sur * Brea * Brentwood * Burbank *Calabasas * Carmel * Carmichael *
* Carson * Castro Valley * Cayucos * Chula Vista * City of Industry * Claremont * Coalinga *
* Commerce * Coronado * Culver City * Davis * Del Mar * Diamond Bar * El Segundo *
* Encino * Escondido * Eureka * Fairfield * Fontana * Fremont * Fresno * Gardena *
* Granada Hills * Hayward *  Hollywood * Imperial Beach * Jenner * La Canada Flintridge *
* La Jolla * Lake Elsinore * Lake Tahoe * Long Beach * Los Angeles * Malibu * Marina Del Rey *
* Mather * Modesto * Monterey * Monterey Park * Napa * Newhall * Newport Beach *
* Northridge * Oakland * Ojai * Ontario * Pacific Beach * Pacific Palisades * Panorama City *
* Pasadena * Point Loma * Redding * Sacramento * San Diego * San Francisco * San Jose *
* Santa Catalina Island * Susanville * Torrance * Truckee * Walnut Creek * Westley * Whittier *
* Winterhaven * Yountville * Yreka *

Idaho
* Boise * Caldwell * Coeur d’Alene * Eagle * Garden Valley * Lewiston * Middleton *
* Moscow * Pocatello * Sandpoint * Stanley * Twin Falls * Twin Springs *

Nevada
* Battle Mountain * Boulder City * Carson City * Elko * Genoa * Henderson * Jean *
* Lake Tahoe * Lamoille * Las Vegas * Laughlin * Mesquite * Old Nevada * Primm *
* Reno * Searchlight * Virginia City * Winnemucca *

Oregon
* Albany * Ashland * Astoria * Baker City * Beaverton * Bend * Boring *
* Canby * Cannon Beach * Coos Bay * Corvallis *  Creswell * Dallas *
* Eugene * Florence * Gearhart * Gleneden Beach * Grant County *
* Gresham * Haines * Happy Valley * Hillsboro * Hood River * Jacksonville *
* Keizer * Klamath Falls * La Grande * Lake Oswego * Lebanon *
* Lincoln City * McMinnville * Medford * Milton-Freewater * Milwaukie *
* Mt Hood * Neotsu * Newberg * North Bend * Oregon City * Pacific City *
* Pendleton * Portland * Redmond * Salem * Seaside * Shady Cove * Silverton *
* Sisters * Tigard * Tillamook * Troutdale * Waldport *
* Warrenton * Yachats *

Washington
* Amboy * Bingen * Chehalis & Centralia * Crystal Mountain * Dayton * Ellensburg *
* Husum * Ilwaco * Kennewick * Mead * Naselle * North Bonneville * Pasco* Paterson *
* Prosser * Quincy * Richland * Seaview *  Spokane * Stevenson * Tri-Cities * Trout Lake *
* Underwood * University Place * Vancouver * Walla Walla * West Richland *Yakima *

Now what?
Once you have decided on a place to hold your event, there are many other things that will need to be planned. Don’t forget any large event should be photographically documented. A photographer is a good place to start. Another great idea, that provides entertainment and take-home souvenirs for the guests, is to rent one of our photo booths for your event. Choose from photos or the always fun flip-books.

Suggestions?
Have a recommendation for a great place to hold an event? Send it over to submissions@gophotoevents.com. Let us know all about the venue and we’ll add our favorites to our lists. Event venue listings are free.