The BEV Event Center: Wedding Venue Spotlight

It’s Spotlight Day! Where we introduce you to incredible Orlando wedding venues and vendors,  and the stories behind their companies who help Wedding Venue Map couples have their best wedding day. 

It gives us great pleasure to introduce Leslie Ochoa from The BEV Event Center.

When people ask “what do you do”, how do you answer?

I get to alleviate some wedding planning stress by providing an awesome venue at a really smart price point.

What is your favorite thing about what you do? What’s your WHY?

I have two favorites. My first favorite thing is showing bridal couples how to have an awesome and memorable day without breaking the bank. Not all couples can afford their dream so they settle for finding something that is “ok” because it fits their budget. The BEV is here to say, ‘kick that thought to the curb!”

My second favorite thing is getting to further the reach of the Osceola Council on Aging (OCOA), The BEV’s parent entity, through the rental revenues we collect. The OCOA is Osceola County’s largest social service organization providing an array of services and programs to meet the needs of the community. Not only for seniors but families in need, which is why our tagline is “for all generations”.

What motivates you to do this every day?

I enjoy helping people plan one of the best days of their life, but I also enjoy the thrill of booking a piece of business in an industry that is so full of fun.

What’s your favorite wedding tradition?

My favorite wedding tradition is having the bride and groom spend a few moments in their venue space before anyone else gets there. Seeing the way it is decorated and getting the first look at how their guests will see everything when they arrive and just soak up the anticipation of the celebrating that is getting ready to go down!

What’s your favorite wedding color combination?

My favorite wedding color combo is red and turquoise because they are so different and not an expected color pairing.

How did you decide on the name of your company?

The BEV Event Center is actually short for the Barney E. Veal Event Center. Mr. Veal was a legendary philanthropist and community leader who donated the 6.37 acres of land and made it possible for the Osceola Council on Aging to expand and ultimately relocate to our existing Campus and build a state-of-the-art community service facility.

What is important for clients to know about your venue before they book you?

Our venue is for the bridal couple who are all about choices. We provide the space, tables, and chairs and allow the bridal couple to choose their own licensed and insured vendors, with our guidance, of course.

What is one of the features of why couples choose your venue?

Our venue is a large ballroom, just under 7000 sq, ft, however, it can be divided into four sections so it is a good choice for those couples who are looking for separate space for ceremony and reception or reception and lounge area.

What is the best compliment you have received from your clients?

We hear quite often that couples can’t believe that a large, modern venue such as ours existed in Kissimmee / Osceola County.

www.scribbledmomentsphotography.com

What types of events do you specialize in?

We specialize in Weddings of all sizes, from intimate parties of 25 to 450 (225 during COVID capacity).

Tell us about some of your package options. What is the price range for these packages?

We offer venue rentals of either half facility or whole facility for Friday through Sunday events which include tables, chairs, black linen, patio, and gazebo use as well as bridal suite space. Our rates begin at $900 + tax and vary depending on the amount of space and day chosen. We have in-house extras that can be added for an additional fee such as a wide array of different linen colors and napkins, audiovisual, staging, and centerpieces.

What are the most common questions you get asked by brides and/or grooms?

We get asked if we provide catering services and the short answer is “eventually”. Although we are blessed with a large commercial kitchen we do not currently have the staff to provide this vital service at this time. We do, however, allow licensed and insured caterers to utilize our caterer kitchens which include a hot box, sink, prep table, and storage.

The best piece of advice for somebody who just recently got engaged?

Embrace the planning stage! This is the fun leading up to the even greater fun of this special day. You’ll want to enjoy all of the pomp and circumstance that comes with putting your wedding together…choosing what you like, discovering what you DON”T like, and finally finding what you can’t live without.