Didn’t Book With Us? Here’s What to Keep in Mind for Your Next Event

6/28/2025

First of all, thank you. Whether you reached out, toured, or just considered Bonaventure Brewing Co. for your event, we appreciate it. We know planning an event takes time, and even if we weren’t the right fit this time, we’re still happy to be part of the process in some way.

We’ve been in the events world for a long time, and we’ve learned that not everyone needs the same thing. But we also know a lot of people don’t always know what to look for or what to expect when planning something in Downtown LA. So even if you went in another direction, here’s some information that might help you now or later on.

1. All event venues are not created equal
It’s easy to fall in love with a venue based on looks alone, but what’s behind the scenes matters more than people realize.
When you’re comparing venues, ask questions like:

Is there staff on site during the event?
Do they help with setup and cleanup?
Are tables, linens, restrooms, and service staff included, or do you have to bring it all in?
Do they provide parking maps, signage, or vendor instructions?

At Bonaventure Brewing Co., we’re not just a space. We’re a fully staffed venue. That means we handle food, drinks, tables, event flow, vendor access, and more. If another venue doesn’t include those things, you might end up hiring multiple vendors to cover what we would normally handle in-house.

2. Budgeting gets tricky if you don’t know what’s included
You might see a venue with a lower rental rate, but by the time you add rentals, staffing, catering, and coordination, it’s not actually more affordable.
Here’s a short list of things people often forget to budget for:

Table and chair rentals
Bartenders and security
Linens, glassware, and trash service
Coordination staff or someone to direct vendors
Time for setup and cleanup (some places charge extra)

3. You don’t need a full event planner, but you do need support
If you’re planning a small to mid-sized event, you may not hire a planner. That’s fine. Many of our clients don’t. But you still need someone to help with the logistics.
That’s where we come in. We help with:

Guest arrival flow and signage
Vendor access instructions and delivery times
Event timeline and bar timing
Final forms for dietary restrictions, guest count, and setup
Parking info and venue contact numbers

4. Timelines matter more than people expect
One of the most common issues we see in outside events is the timing being off. Either it drags too long or everything feels rushed.
Here’s what we’ve found works best:

2 to 4 hours is the sweet spot for most private events
Include a dedicated time for food and a separate time for drinks and mingling
Build in at least 1 hour for setup and vendor arrival, even if you don’t think you’ll need it
Don’t forget to confirm cleanup time with your venue. Some charge if you go over

5. Outdoor events need backup plans, even in LA
Our weather is usually great, but LA isn’t immune to surprise winds, heatwaves, or an unexpected cloudy day. If you’re booking an outdoor space, ask:

Is there built-in shade or covering?
What happens if it rains?
Can we bring in heaters or umbrellas?
Are there indoor options nearby?

6. Guest experience is about the little details
Events feel good when they flow well. That doesn’t just mean having food and music. It means signage, clean restrooms, friendly staff, places to sit, a clear entrance, and working microphones.
Guests may not notice everything you do, but they will notice if those basics aren’t in place.

7. People often come back after seeing what’s out there
We’ve had many clients reach out, consider other venues, and then come back to us later. Sometimes it's because of price. Sometimes it's after they realize how much is not included at other places or how complicated it feels working with multiple vendors.

If that happens, you’re always welcome to reach out!

8. If you’re planning again, here’s how to reconnect

Our dates are first come, first serve, and we only require a 25 percent deposit to reserve
We’ll help you build a custom menu and timeline without pressure to figure it all out now
We don’t charge for walkthroughs or consultations, and we’re happy to hop on a call

You can also check out some of our other posts that might help with future planning:

We hope the event you’re planning turns out great, wherever you host it. And if you ever want to circle back, ask a question, or get advice, we’re always happy to help.