VenueNow Reveals: What makes an unforgettable event

What does the VenueNow team classify as the 'best event' they've ever been to? The results may surprise you – cocktail parties, bluegrass festivals, a spectacular 30th birthday and our own Christmas events (we know how to party). 

VenueNow helps people and businesses find the perfect venue for their event. As you can probably imagine, we as a team have attended a fair few (MANY) events. Even the Product Team, who can generally be found in front of a screen, headphones firmly placed over ears, are prone to hitting up bar and restaurant openings, doing their bit (it's a hard life) to explore the very best venues around Australia.

With that in mind, today we thought we'd hone into the VenueNow team's considerable event knowledge – to bring you a list of the very best events we've ever been to. The most memorable, the most fun, the most 'let's-do-that-again!' events.

Ying Wang (co-founder): We always love attending corporate functions with our team, where teams celebrate milestones or success within a business unit. Whether it's a small, warm event at places like Terminus Hotel or Henry and The Fox, or a large event at places like The Park or Metropolis - I just love celebrating things! Celebration means lots of cheer, good moods and providing closure on a set of goals - I love that.

James Giang (co-founder): Christmas is probably my favourite time of the year, all the festive celebrations bring out some of the best events I’ve been to. The most notable one recently was Bobby McGee’s Block Party, it is a stunning venue with an interior to blow your socks off! Coupled with delicious finger food, tasty drinks and a ripping dance floor - we had a great time celebrating the end of 2016 with the VenueNow team there. Also: shoutout to RedLove Fridays – still my home away from home and favourite place to party any Friday of the year!

Marcus Hughes (Marketplace Growth Manager): An event at the Crown Palladium. It was the first really impressive cocktail-style event I'd attended. The atmosphere was great, and the food choices were a serious highlight. Not only were there multiple choices, they weren't the usual 'beef or chicken' items. As a result of this inspiration, I ended up having a cocktail-style wedding – I didn't know until that point that it could be a viable option. 

Grace Collins (Marketplace Growth Manager): Taste of Tasmania. It wasn't trying to be anything it wasn't already;  it was totally on brand. The food was varied, fresh and a legitimately a delight to eat (even though it was pouring!). Every glass of rose cider, honey mead, gewurztraminer and and Aperol spritz was created with such authenticity and passion I was practically begging the vendors to take my money.

It wasn't a ticketed event so the crowds were quite large, but the event's accessibility meant it didn't have any pretentiousness or doubt of "value for money". Everyone was just enjoying themselves while surrounded by the gorgeous harbour and happy to be eating delicious food and wine. I think that really sums it up well - we were all just enjoying the simple things in life together. 

Sagie Saposhnykov (Marketplace Growth Manager):  A really memorable, awesome event I went to was the AFL Coaches Awards at Peninsula in Docklands. It was great to rub shoulders with celebrities, eat some great food and enjoy the end of footy season celebrations. They really put on a show!

Lauren Carlyle (Corporate Business Development Manager): My 30th birthday. I held it in the Lake Eyre Penthouse at The Olsen, on Chapel Street in South Yarra. Guests enjoyed canapés, an oyster bar, as well as delicious, endless champagne. The view back to the city from the rooftop is spectacular! 

I had a custom-designed gold foiled cake, light up letters and a magician working the room. All that, with the best RnB DJ belting out some dance floor tunes! It was hands-down the best event I've been too - even if I do say so myself!  

Rebecca Mery (Content Manager): Out on the Weekend Festival! A ferry took us from the Docklands to Williamstown, featuring a well-stocked bar and a band on board to get the vibes going. The festival itself is a glorious day of great bluegrass, country and Americana music (Marlon Williams and Robert Ellis were highlights), coupled with good drinking and excellent eats. At the end of the festival we couldn't catch the ferry back due to weather – instead, the legendary boat afterparty was held in the Seaworks 'Pirate' bar, featuring the day's headline acts joining each other onstage to belt out country classics. I lost it.

Hayley Tantau (Content Producer): My brother's wedding last year was amazing. It was at Abbotsford Convent which is dreamy enough as is. There was champagne and canapés galore in the courtyard after the ceremony, then a three-course dinner. It was hella lavish.

Pippa Skillington (Content Producer): The best event I've been to was my college end of year breakup party at Red Scooter. After eating college food for a year, the menu at Red Scooter was a godsend! Great venue, great dance floor, great night.

Leah Doan (Venue Booking Manager): The event that has stuck with me till this very day was my first ever trance event. Held at Festival Hall back in 2012, I went to see the German DJ/producer duo Cosmic Gate. Not only was it amazing to see them perform live, but the crowd and the overall vibe throughout the event was absolutely amazing. 

Michael McKenna (Venue Booking Manager): The 2016 VenueNow Christmas party! Think sunset views over St Kilda beach from Republica on a summer afternoon with cocktails in hand, followed by a delicious dinner (the wagyu beef blew my socks off!). This was combined with the efficient and friendly service from the waitstaff –  all while seeing colleagues sharing jokes and stories over a glass of wine. What a night! 

Kayetlyn Lee (Accounts Assistant): Our recent Christmas party at Republica. The staff were funny and lovely, and the food was amazing! I believe I had the ribs. Food and drinks right by the sea with great company, what more could you ask for?

Ellie Reid (Venue Booking Manager): The best event I went to was a Christmas party at my old job in England. Held in a really beautiful converted barn, the Christmas dinner was amazing, drinks were yummy, and they had heaps of celebrity look-alikes wandering around talking to people, like Will Smith and Del Boy. A random comedy dance act was there from Britain's Got Talent, and then they had a live band for everyone to dance to. PLUS at the end of the night everyone got a Christmas gift to take home!

Kira Odling (Customer Service Agent): The best event I've ever attended or help organise was a 21st at the Brunswick Cider House. The space was bloody beautiful, and they had everything really well organised before we got there to set up. It was a perfect space to have all the formalities, and also for getting down and boogying later on in the night. Wait staff were also super friendly and always had food (yas).

Jude Hordern (Analytics Intern): We held our wedding at Camp Marysville. After the traditional ceremony and reception (complete with a colouring-in contest and alcoholic prizes), we held a barn party with full disco set up and supplied piles of marshmallows for making s'mores around the fireplace. All the accommodation was onsite, so everyone could easily crawl into bed when they’d had enough dancing and get up for a smashed avo for breakfast come morning.

Feel like you might need some function and event prowess for your next celebration? Head to VenueNow to find and book the perfect event for your event >>