The Shelbyville Event Center: A Spotlight on The West Room

The West Room at The Shelbyville Event Center is versatile enough to host nearly any event you have in mind.

The capacity of the West Room is 400 guests, which leaves enough room for your entertainment and a dance floor. Although the room is large, it can accommodate the smallest events as well. The room fills up beautifully for parties of 30 to 400!

We’ve hosted over 60 events in this room over the past 3 years including wedding ceremonies, receptions, and showers; as well as concerts, dinner fundraisers, retirement parties, reunions and more.

In the off season (January-May) the west room is used as a gym for volleyball practices for the local schools and Rapid Fire Volleyball Club. Our space is so versatile that it can completely transform in just a few hours. The beautiful draping hides away and the chandeliers come down to create the perfect informal space for sports or a casual get together.

There are 2 floors that appear in the West Room. During sports seasons, there is sport court on the floor, but during wedding season, it’s a beautiful stained concrete floor. Honestly though, when you get tables and chairs in there for your event, you wouldn’t even really notice the difference! The colors and shapes are mimicked on purpose to keep consistency.

Our barn doors are one of our favorite aspects of the West Room. They were custom made for us by Nelson’s Door Company in Arthur and they are swoon worthy! They bring a subtle rustic elegance that is great for our area.

Our curtains were custom made by an amazing company in New Jersey, Rose Brand, who took our vision and made it come to life. They allow for an elegant feel that makes music sound so great you can’t help but dance!

Sometimes you don’t want a big formal feel for your event. In this case, the bride wanted a “backyard” feel with the lights. So the ceiling swags came down to create a cool wall pattern, and we put up Edison Bulb lights over the main part of the reception.

The goal for this room was to do a lot of white (photographers LOVE us—we’ve been told multiple times) so that it was neutral. This way, our clients could let their vision pop without being overshadowed by the room itself. But, let’s be honest, if you don’t want to do a lot of decor, it’s okay! The room itself can add that touch of elegance to allow the simplest decor to still look fabulous.

Our room is a big rectangle and nearly everything is movable. That means you can choose the layout you want! Of course we will guide you to what we think will work best, but ultimately, we’re always up to try something new!

We’ve even done a simple, small, ceremony only in our space. We cut the room in half and used the drama of the ceiling drapes to create an amazing alter area feel.

We did our first west room flip this year! This isn’t available for all events due to size constraints, but it turned out so well for this small 100 person ceremony and reception.

Do you have a small event that you don't need much space? Bridal shower, baby shower, luncheon—great events to use the West Room with the partition! This event was a bridal shower set for 80 with plenty of room. If you just need a small space for tables, snacks, and mingling, we can hold up to 100 people in our half room setup.

Thanks for reading about our beauty at the Shelbyville Event Center, the West Room. Email us to schedule a tour or book your next event!

Remembering Those Who Are Unable To Celebrate Your Wedding Day

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life. For most couples though, someone special to them is missing; someone who would have definitely been there to celebrate and support the couple on their big day. Although the loss is apparent and the pain doesn’t go away, there are several ways to remember those who couldn’t be in attendance.

Today we take a look back at some of the ways our couples have chosen to honor lost loved ones. 

A sign, pictures, and sometimes a candle or lantern is a common and efficient way to remember lost loved ones.

Personalized floral arrangements that represent a special loved one is a unique touch. Adding a bouquet charm or an honorary corsage or boutonniere can keep those most missed, close on your day.

Floral in the photos by Late Bloomer on Main in Shelbyville, IL.

Art, trinkets, flags, clothing pieces, or items that were distinct to an individual are an extra memorable touch.

It’s important to appreciate, honor, and respect those taken too soon or left before they could celebrate the big occasion. We hope these ideas can help you share the love you have for those key people at your gathering.

A Flashback to the First Event at The Shelbyville Event Center: June 10, 2017

Our first event was a very special situation. The mothers of the Bride & Groom had come to see our facility in Fall of 2016, when there was concrete floors poured, half walls, and the skeleton of the upper floors. They left with drywall mud on their shoes and the decision to book the wedding with us for June 2017. The race was absolutely on as we knew it was going to be a very large event and the first thing we would host other than sports practices. 

The venue was coming together, but the big details that we are now known for, were taking longer than expected. After several setbacks with our wall draping, we finally found a company to finish it just in time for the event. Drape and chandeliers were officially installed and ready on June 1, tables and chairs arrived and were set June 7, and our beautiful barn doors were hung and ready for grand reveals on June 9. Talk about a close call; but we knew we could do it.

That week, the family and friends of the couple came in to help set decor and be a part of the process. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with for our first event. 

On June 10, as we were setting up the finishing touches, I took a deep breath and couldn’t help but shed just a few tears. We pulled it off, at least as far as being ready to go for guests to arrive!

And they did—guests arrived in a higher capacity than we could have imagined to celebrate this amazing couple. It also happened to be the hottest day of the year thus far, topping out at almost 100 degrees outside. Regardless of the heat outside and inside, people were having a great time. Still today, it was the most people and tables that we have hosted in our facility to date. Definitely a go big or go home moment for us! 

The day was beautiful and fun and full of love and support for the couple, their families, and amazingly—to us; the brand new venue in town. 

We can’t thank Ashley (Tabb) and Neil Yockey and their families enough for all of their trust, understanding, and support as we worked through the trials and triumphs of the very first event. They must have enjoyed themselves though, because since June 10, 2017; we’ve hosted 4—going on 5—Yockey events, and another Tabb wedding! We are still wishing them the best in life and cannot wait to work with them all again!

Introduction to Best Bet Events & The Shelbyville Event Center

Who We Are:

This business is a combination of 3 unique services that aims to provide all of the outlets you need to host a flawless event.

A venue—The Shelbyville Event Center, planning and coordinating services—Best Bet Events, and rental and custom decor—Best Bet Events Rentals.

You can choose to use any or all of the services to create a strategy for your perfect day.

What We Do:

The first aspect is the venue itself—The Shelbyville Event Center. The SEC presents different spaces to accommodate your event from the smallest gatherings to a large party. We’ve hosted over 60 events in the last 3 years, including weddings, rehearsals, bridal showers, baby showers, reunions, holiday parties, vendor events, dinner theaters, and more. Our versatile space lends itself to allow your vision to become a reality. From the simplest tablescapes to the most extravagant decor, it all will look great in our venue.

 The second aspect is where it all started—Best Bet Events. We provide full service planning and coordinating services to ensure your preparation is smooth and the day is stress free! Best Bet Events features on-site as well as off-site services. Not using our venue for your special event? No problem! We offer in-person and virtual planning services to anyone hosting an event and travel for day-of coordination at any venue.  We go above and beyond to make sure the details are divine and worry for the day washes away.

The final aspect is our newest endeavor—Best Bet Events Rentals. Our rental shop supplies a wide variety of centerpieces, backdrops, and accessories to make your own unique vision come to life, on and off site. We will take your inspiration, and pin-spiration, and tailor it for your occasion.  It’s important to us for your day to look and feel just the way you want it. Custom pieces, signage, floral arrangements and more can help make your event more memorable. Let us create special designs to help bring the wow factor.

Who You’re Working With:

Brittany

Owner & Lead Coordinator, Best Bet Events. Shelbyville Event Center, Manager

In my opinion, you can make or break an event in the first few steps.  There are so many pieces of the puzzle to put together when working on an event; the experience we bring can make that process more effortless.  I started this business because I have a passion for planning and organizing and making an already special event, even more remarkable.  I pride myself on creating a relationship with clients from start to finish, being there every step of the way; making sure that day-of, they can count on me and my crew to ensure every aspect is easy and enjoyable.

A Little Background of Best Bet Events

Each milestone in your life is an important one. Birthdays to weddings to baby showers and anything in between; we know that you do not throw a celebration for just any occasion!  That being said, we want you to understand where Best Bet Events came from and why you should trust us to help aid in creating the perfect atmosphere in your next big day.

First, I’ll introduce myself.  My name is Brittany; Owner and Lead Coordinator of Best Bet Events.  Growing up in Shelbyville, like any small town, you kind of become known for something—especially with your peers.  From the time I was in junior high, I was the organizer.  I can honestly remember being at a sleepover at a friend’s house, rearranging and reorganizing her bedroom at 2:00am.  It was almost a given that if there was something to be celebrated, I was hosting a party.  From themed birthday parties to surprise parties to football game after parties, I loved it all.  Junior year of high school when it came time to plan Prom, I couldn’t wait; that was my first real taste of a big organized event. 

Then I went away to college as a psychology major.  My plan was always to get a doctorate in clinical psychology but through the time of undergrad in dorms and sorority living, I noticed that my passion for curating events was growing.  It was always a joke amongst my friends and I that if psychology did not work out I could just be a professional organizer or event planner.  After moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma for graduate school, I saw so much opportunity living in a big city and long story short, I gave up my psychology graduate program to really try my hand at this hobby passion I had. 

In Tulsa, there are countless companies, venues, etc. that work in the wedding/event industry; so the emailing began.  After numerous emails, phone calls, and resumes sent, I got a job offer.  My amazing boss, Sharon Holm of Tulsa Weddings and Designs, a top wedding planner in Tulsa, took a chance and offered me a position as an event coordinating assistant.  With no formal training, I was extremely willing to listen, learn, and soak it all in.  I met with Sharon only a few times and a few weeks later she assigned me a wedding to coordinate solo.  The wedding was a whirlwind of problems and solutions, questions and answers, and at the end of the night—I was hooked.  Over the next year, I worked closely with Sharon; attended several Tulsa Wedding Society meetings, coordinated a few freelance events that I landed through my other job at a bridal store, and learned more than I could ever imagine.  At the same time, I was planning my own wedding as well as completing an Event and Wedding Planning Certification program through the US Career Institute. 

Fast forward to 2016, my husband, Chase, and I decided to come back to Illinois.  I was faced with what to do for my job situation, but I knew I wanted to continue on my event coordinating career path.  The thought that I would be able to help the community that I grew up in and work with the hard-working local companies was very appealing. That was the moment that the idea of Best Bet Events came to life. 

So here we are.  After following my gut, and my passion, Best Bet Events is alive and growing.  I never dreamt that I would start my own business before my 25th birthday, but I could not be happier in how the chips are falling or more thankful to my amazing parents, husband, friends and family for all of the unconditional love and support.  We have so many business ventures in the works for the coming year and cannot wait to help the community celebrate all of the special days to come!

If you have any questions—please feel free to contact me.  My heart and soul has been put into this business and that is why you can trust me.  Our goal is to make your special time as easy, stress free, and enjoyable as possible. So let us join in your celebration and be your “Best Bet” for a perfect fairy-tale day!

Love,

Brittany