Questions to ask when renting a banquet hall
By the Magic Place team · Published
Before you put a deposit on a banquet hall, ask how many guests fit with the layout you want, how many hours you get and when the party has to end, what happens to your deposit if you cancel or change the date, what the price includes, whether you can bring your own food, where guests will park, who will be in charge on the day and when you can tour the venue.
Get the answers in writing and ask every venue the same questions so you can compare them side by side. Under each question we tell you how it works at Magic Place, or we tell you to ask us on the phone when it depends on your event.
This list works even if you end up booking somewhere else. We are a banquet hall in Lake Worth Beach, near West Palm Beach, and we host quinceañeras, weddings, baby showers and birthday parties. The short answers about our own venue are in the Magic Place FAQ. This guide explains why each question matters and what to look for at any venue you visit.
How many guests can the venue really hold?
The number a venue quotes is usually the most people allowed in the room. Once you add a table for every guest, a dance floor, a dessert table, the DJ and a head table, the usable space changes. So don't just ask for the capacity. Ask how many guests fit with your layout, how many tables they set up and how many people sit at each one.
Have a rough guest count before you start touring. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggests picking a space where your expected attendance lands just under the limit and never over it. Too small and people feel crammed; too big and the room looks empty.
At Magic Place
The hall holds up to 130 guests. How many tables we set and how they're arranged depends on the dance floor and the setup you choose, so tell us your guest count when you call and we'll work it out with you.
How many hours do we get, and what time does the party end?
Ask how many hours come with the rental and whether setup and cleanup count inside those hours or on top of them. Ask about the closing time too: a party that starts at 7 and one that starts at 5 are very different if the venue closes at the same hour. If you'd like to stay longer, ask whether you can and what each extra hour costs.
The BBB recommends a contract that spells out dates, times and overtime charges, so nobody argues about it on the night of the party.
At Magic Place
An event runs up to 6 hours, and parties end by midnight. Ask us when you call what time your decorator or family can come in to set up. Planning a quinceañera? Our quinceañera timeline, hour by hour shows one way to use those six hours.
How much is the deposit, and what if we cancel or change the date?
This is the question to settle before you pay anything. A lot of people assume there's always a few days to back out of a contract. The Florida Bar explains that there is no automatic right to cancel a valid contract, and that only certain kinds of contracts come with one. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule, which gives three days to cancel some purchases, doesn't cover sales you finalize at the seller's permanent place of business. In practice, what your contract says is what counts.
Before you leave a deposit, ask:
- How much the deposit is and whether it comes off the total.
- Whether you get any of it back if you cancel.
- Whether it can move to a new date, and how much notice you need to give.
- When the balance is due and how you can pay it.
- What happens if the venue is the one that can't deliver.
The BBB advises paying the deposit only after both sides have signed, and paying by credit card, since a card charge is easier to dispute if something goes wrong.
At Magic Place
Your date is held with a $500 deposit, paid by Zelle, cash or card. How your deposit works if you later need to change the date or cancel is something we go over with you before you pay it, so ask us when you call (561) 293-6674.
What does the price include, and what costs extra?
Two venues with the same price can be offering very different things. Some rent you the empty room; others include tables, chairs, linens, decor, food and staff. Ask for a written, line-by-line list of what's included and what isn't, so you're comparing like with like.
Questions worth asking:
- Are tables, chairs and linens included?
- Is there staff to serve and clear, and who cleans up at the end?
- Is there a fee to bring in an outside cake, drinks or vendors such as a DJ or decorator?
- Are tax and gratuity already in the quote?
The BBB lists these outside-item fees among the things to ask any venue, and suggests leaving room in the budget for overtime and last-minute changes.
At Magic Place
We don't have fixed packages. We put each event together around what the family asks for, which is why we give you the price over the phone. The photos on our site show parties we've hosted here; they aren't a list of what a package comes with. If you're thinking of bringing your own DJ or decorator, ask us about it when you call.
Can we bring our own food and drinks?
Some banquet halls require their own catering; others allow outside food. If you plan to bring yours, ask whether there's a serving fee or a corkage fee, whether there's somewhere to warm food, and who serves and clears. If there will be alcohol, ask whether it's allowed and who pours it.
At Magic Place
It's your choice. If you'd like a full package, we provide the food and drinks. If you'd rather bring your own, you can. Alcohol and how it's served is something we go over with you on the phone. Before you decide, read our guide to bringing your own food to the venue.
Is there enough parking?
It's easy to forget when you tour on a weekday morning. Ask how many cars fit, whether the lot is shared with other businesses and what it's like at night, when your guests are leaving. The BBB also reminds you to check the restrooms.
At Magic Place
We have plenty of parking. We're at 3044 S Military Trail, Unit A, in Palm Coast Plaza. Here's how to find Magic Place.
Who will be in charge on the day of the event?
The person who gives you the tour isn't always the person there on the night. Ask who will be in charge during your event, who you call if something goes wrong and whether that person knows what you asked for. The BBB recommends that the contract name the key staff.
At Magic Place
Magic Place is run by Magdalena, the owner. We'll confirm who will be at your event when we talk about your date. Here's what one guest at a quinceañera held here wrote, exactly as posted:
Excellent, everyone involved in the party we assisted was really nice and professional, great place for celebrations.
Excelente, todas las personas a cargo de la fiesta de 15 a la que asistimo fueron muy amables y profesionales, un muy buen lugar para celebraciones.
Can we tour the venue before booking?
Whenever you can, go in person. The BBB puts it plainly: nothing replaces seeing a venue with your own eyes, because online photos can be misleading. On the tour, look at the restrooms, the air conditioning and the entrance, and notice how the staff treat you. If possible, see the room both set up and empty.
Before you decide, look for reviews outside the venue's own website, on Google or the BBB for example, not only the ones the venue chooses to show. That goes for us too.
At Magic Place
We show the hall by appointment, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We're closed on Mondays. We have a 5.0 rating on Google from 28 reviews, as of November 12, 2026. This one is from a client who toured several venues before choosing:
I’m so glad I chose Magic Place Banquet Hall for my baby shower—it truly exceeded all my expectations! After visiting several venues, nothing else even came close. The space is beautifully renovated, fresh, and elegant, creating the perfect atmosphere for such a special day.
Magdalena and her team were absolutely incredible—so warm, attentive, and genuinely dedicated to making everything perfect. They went above and beyond in every way, ensuring every detail was just right. I felt completely taken care of from start to finish.
I’m beyond grateful to have found this venue and highly recommend it to anyone looking to host a memorable and stress-free event!
A one-page checklist to compare venues
Take this table to every tour and write down each venue's answers. The last column is what we'd tell you.
| Question | What to write down | At Magic Place |
|---|---|---|
| How many guests fit? | The number with your layout, tables and people per table | Up to 130 guests |
| How many hours, and until when? | Whether setup counts and the cost of overtime | Up to 6 hours, ending by midnight |
| How much is the deposit? | Whether it comes off the total, is refundable or can move dates | $500 by Zelle, cash or card; the rest, ask us when you call |
| What's included? | A written list and every extra fee | Custom packages; price by phone |
| Can we bring food and drinks? | Serving fees, who serves, alcohol rules | Yes, or we provide them |
| Is there parking? | How many cars and what it's like at night | Yes, plenty |
| Who is there on the day? | That person's name and phone number | Confirmed when we talk about your date |
| Can we tour it? | Day, time and whether it will be set up | By appointment, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 5 |
Before you sign, get it in writing
The Florida Bar notes that a spoken agreement can be binding, but a written contract is almost always better because it heads off disputes about what was agreed. The BBB says a contract should list dates, times, what's included, prices, the names of key staff, cancellation and refund terms, and overtime charges. It also warns against committing on the spot because of a "today only" deal. If there's anything in a contract you don't understand, the Florida Bar recommends talking to a lawyer before you sign.
How to check a date or book a tour with us
Call us at (561) 293-6674 or message us on WhatsApp with the date you have in mind and your guest count, and we'll go through every one of these questions with you. If someone in your family prefers Spanish, our Spanish line is (561) 562-9694.
Sources
- Better Business Bureau, "BBB Tip: Finding an event venue for your next party," 2022
- Better Business Bureau, "BBB wedding planning guide," updated November 2026
- The Florida Bar, "Legal and Binding Contracts," updated May 2026
- Federal Trade Commission, "Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help," 2025
How we made this guide: it was put together by the team that runs the Magic Place website, with help from AI tools. The details about the venue are the ones Magdalena, the owner, confirmed. Everything else comes from the sources linked above, which we read on November 13, 2026.
More guides
- Banquet halls that allow outside food: what to check
What to know before bringing your own food and drinks to a banquet hall: who serves, what equipment you need and what to ask before you sign.
- Quinceañera timeline of events, hour by hour
An hour-by-hour order for a six-hour quinceañera reception: grand entrance, waltz and surprise dance, dinner, toast and open floor.
Read this guide in Spanish: Qué preguntar antes de rentar un salón de fiestas
Ask about your date.
Tell us what you’re celebrating and what day. We’ll tell you if it’s open and the price.
We show the hall by appointment, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call (561) 293-6674