Banquet hall for a wedding, anniversary or office party: how to choose
Count the total budget, not just the hire
Banquet halls offer terms of three kinds: hall hire plus a separate menu, a minimum spend with the hall free of hire, or an all-inclusive cost per guest. Because of this, two similar figures can mean different things. So compare the final total: menu, drinks, service, service charge, music, decor, and whether you pay extra for the hall after a certain hour.
Also find out separately whether you can bring your own drinks or cake and whether a corkage fee applies. This has a big effect on costs.
How to find a hall through BlaBlaPrice
On BlaBlaPrice you do not need to exchange messages with dozens of restaurants. You describe the event once, and venues in your city reply with offers in the chat: which hall, for how many guests, what is included in the price, and for which hours. Venues can see where their offer ranks, so they compete on terms. Only the one you choose sees your contacts.
What to put in your request
- Event — wedding, birthday, office party, naming ceremony, memorial gathering.
- Number of guests.
- Date and time, and the duration in hours.
- City or area.
- Budget per guest or for the whole event.
- Type of venue — restaurant, cafe, loft, resort outside the city, terrace; a separate hall or a shared one.
- Menu — sit-down meal or buffet, cuisine, whether you can bring your own drinks and cake.
- Extras — dance floor, sound, stage, kids' room, parking, rooms for stay.
Example: “I am looking for a banquet hall in Manila, for a 40-guest anniversary. 12 November, 5 pm to 11 pm. A separate hall with a terrace, a sit-down menu, our own drinks, a dance floor. Budget about ₱1,600 per person.”
What to check before booking
- The real capacity: how many guests sit comfortably and how many only “on paper”.
- Acoustics and noise limits, and the time the music must stop.
- Terms for the advance and for refunds if the date changes.
- Whether there is a kitchen on site, a cloakroom, toilets for guests, and access for people with limited mobility.
- Whether you can bring your own host, musicians or baker.
If you can, go for a visit and see the hall in evening light, or better still, during another event.
How to compare offers from venues
Ask each venue for an itemised quote for your number of guests and compare point by point: what is on the menu, how many dishes per person, which drinks, whether there is a service charge, until what hour the hire runs and what an extra hour costs. A venue with a lower price per guest can easily turn out more expensive because of extras if the hall, music and crockery are charged separately.
Reviews are shown next to each offer on the site, and venues can improve their terms as soon as they see a stronger reply above theirs. So do not rush with an advance: wait for several replies and book only then.
Build your event team
Once the hall is chosen, you can look for the rest: hosts and musicians, catering and decor. If you do not want to handle everything yourself, see turnkey weddings and events. For how the service works, see the “How it works” page.
